E85 Solutions Presents:
Below is a 350 vortec (5.7L) from a 2000 Tahoe (old body style) This truck is a NON flex fuel that was run on E85 since day 1. It was taken apart at 110,000 only to see what the internals looked like. There were numerous drivability complaints (factory stock programming), but it was done to prove/ investigate any negative effects of operating an engine on the fuel that was not designed for it. You will notice in the picture that it still has the FACTORY ORIGINAL fuel pump (how many vortec owners can say that?) and you will also notice there is no ridge on the top of the cylinder walls! Teardown completed May 2006
above are pics of the pistons and cylinders (remember 110k) Oil was changed on this engine at approximately 3000-3500 miles using 5w-30, no additives
Exhaust valves show some pitting, but this engine was not properly tuned for the fuel and owner of vehicle never reported any mechanical problems- compression and leakdown were within spec. Factory fuel pumps (E85 on the left) Factory STOCK cat converter
oil pump and main bearings
Inside of the intake, chamber, and factory platinum spark plugs
TPIS 427- MTI heads, 12:1 compression, Kooks 1 7/8, TPIS 90mm LS6 intake, etc. 12bolt rear
Engine received 7000 miles of beatings summer of 2006 on E85, it is now being torn down for new intake and L92 cylinder heads (and to peak and see what the guts look like...) Teardown completed December 2006
***Pictures were taken after cylinder walls were lightly honed and crank polished (oops)- engine builder did not know we wanted pics- pistons are obviously untouched. Engine builder commented it was probably one of the cleanest teardowns he's witnessed- clean-up was done on crank and cyl walls as engine will be freshened since it's apart...
