Stock '79 Trans Am w/400 running 10% Ethanol?

[BanditWS6]

Hey all.

I've got a '79 Trans Am with the Pontiac 400 mill and 4-speed tranny languishing in a garage up north, hasn't been driven since 2005 and I'd like to bring it down to Florida and rescue it from a life of perpetual sitting and rotting. It's been in my family since it was new and it has huge sentimental value.

However, Florida law has mandated that all of our gasoline now contains up to 10% Ethanol, and E10 is now all I can find in my area. I'm concerned that this is gonna degrade the rubber components in the T/A's carb or other parts of the fuel system. I know 10% isn't that much, so maybe it's not a problem.

The car is all-original 1979 spec parts, nothing has ever been rebuilt. The fuel tank was dropped and cleaned out in 2005 and the heater core was replaced about 15 years ago. Other than that, she's about as stock as they get. If I got it down to FL I would drive it for pleasure only, probably put gas in it once a month if that.

Any advice? Do I even need to worry about putting E10 in it?

[sneitzel]

Many areas have mandated EtOH in their fuels and many of the refiners are moving to EtOH blended fuels voluntarily to meet the upcoming renewable fuels qualifications.

Some areas (NY/NJ, Chicago, California, DFW and others) have required Reformulated fuels with added oxygenates (primarily EtOH but some had MTBE) to be used for over 10+ years.

The only negative effects that I am aware of are reports of slightly lower MPG when switching from a conventional fuel to an oxygenated fuel. If there were major issues with 10% EtOH they would have shown themselves by now. I think the big issues are with tuning carb. vehicles to account for EtOH. Most modern fuel injected vehicles can do that on their own.

I don't think it will be an issue for you.

Having said that, there was a letter to the editor a couple of months ago in High Performance Pontiac about a carb re-builder that was having problems with pump seals. The solution was a different type of seal to account for EtOH content.

Oh, and by the way...

[BanditWS6]

Thanks! I was hoping it wouldn't be too big of a worry. I'd also heard that E10 has been mandated in several states for a long time -- including some warm-weather states where there's gotta be a large amount of classic cars -- and figured we'd have heard more about this by now if it was a big problem.

I did just find reference to that HPP article today during my searching around. I figure I'll probably take a chance and deal with a carb rebuild if and when it becomes necessary. I know I'd be in for trouble if I was planning on putting E85 through it, but that's definitely not on my radar.

Oh -- and in an attempt to improve the thread's value, I attached some pics.

[sneitzel]

\\Turns green with envy

That is a beautiful car!

[Joe 1320]

sweet pics. I had a '79 back in the day, I put quite a few miles on that car.

[BanditWS6]

Thanks guys! It's a blast to drive it, just wish I had more time to get up north and treat it properly. That time is coming!

[RAF7789]

Thanks! I was hoping it wouldn't be too big of a worry. I'd also heard that E10 has been mandated in several states for a long time -- including some warm-weather states where there's gotta be a large amount of classic cars -- and figured we'd have heard more about this by now if it was a big problem.

I did just find reference to that HPP article today during my searching around. I figure I'll probably take a chance and deal with a carb rebuild if and when it becomes necessary. I know I'd be in for trouble if I was planning on putting E85 through it, but that's definitely not on my radar.

Oh -- and in an attempt to improve the thread's value, I attached some pics.

Holy Moses! Its glorious!

[97WS6-Bird]

That car is awesome. I see why you want it in Florida. Hopefully the gas won't be an issue.

[Trash man]

the e10 is more corrosive, it may it thru the rubber fuel lines. when we finished my old boss's 73 duster, we had hard lines unless we needed to run rubber(from the sending unit on the tank, to the hardlines on the frame, then from the lines on the front to the fuel pump) we installed a fuel filter right be4 the fuel pump so that if any rubber had come loose, it wouldnt make it to the fuel pump or carb. i beleive the filter is 5$ from the local parts store