My current insanity

[slim_chance]

I been looking into propane conversions since I saw an article in 4-wheeler magazine that had an 85 Toyota truck converted to popane fuel. Does anyone have any experiance with running propane in a carburated gasoline vehicle? I keep running in to how easy it is to convert an older vehicle but not much else.
Logan

[fordman]

i think the last i heard the kits were around 500 dollars or more. you need a tank the plate that goes under the carb a regulator hoses and something else.

[Ranchero50]

The most important thing is having a place to fill it that will fill it local to where you are going to drive it. There is nothing around here except BBQ bottle fillers and the big tank refillers won't do retail vehicle fills.

Jamie

[Mancar1]

Jamie that is a good point.

[slim_chance]

Just done some reseach on fueling stations and apparently U-haul will refill vehicle tanks along with regular propane tanks.

[basketcase0302]

Logan,

Run a search on "propane" here and you'll find a few threads on it. I believe we have two members in Australia who have converted their bumps to propane, (I think SMClaren might be one). My older brother ran it for some 10 years on his rock crawler, no more carbon is just one of the many benefits it has.
Maybe someday I'll have one powered by propane also...
I've got a bunch of links still I believe to propane sites, PM me if you'd like a few?

[onetuford]

I did a little e-search since I was wondering the same thing. Here's what I've found: it's not difficult, makes the appropriate power, and its kind of pricey.

http://www.patooyee.com/propane/propane_1.htm

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Impco-42 ... 415c89903a

The ebay link doesn't account for tank straps or a tank or fittings and hoses!

*Edit: a link to an article from "Mother Earth News", circa 1972 where a guy made dual-fuel...

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Green-Tr ... rsion.aspx

[Whateverman]

for years the provincial gov't here used to give out a grant to help convert your vehicle to propane,they've since stopped doing that and propane filling stations are harder to find now
(if it's a propane only setup )other than the tank theres a regulator and a mixer (basically a propane carb) coolant needs to flow to the regulator to keep the propane in a gaseous state (run out of coolant and the sucker will freeze up the reg and your not going anywhere
propane makes less power than gasoline,but has a higher octane value so you can run way higher compression ratios
the heads usually get reworked ,but i can't remember exactly how,probably getting milled & different valves or something

propane motors tend to run much longer than gas engines - ex 1:the old welder i used to work with had a 350 powered chev van with over 500 000mi on it,still ran really good (except for blue smoke on start up) before it was roadsided for excessive rust
ex 2: my bro had a 67 tempest lemans with a 200 000 mi 400 pontiac engine converted to propane,200 000mi later the rod bearings were toast ,but the heads were still like new
ex 3 : my buddys 78 f250 dually (yeah... its a f250 dually) with a 400/c6 - daily driver/fence installation work truck (overloaded all the time) - has had the truck for 12 years putting 70 000mi on it per year ,got the truck with at least 100k mi on it & finally replaced the engine 2 years ago...

[averagef250]

Propane is real easy to install. Propane never goes bad. Runs at any angle. water in oil issues for low load applications. The mileage isn't very good. Propane doesn't start easy.

It's nice on vehicles that sit a lot, offroad stuff and forklifts. I wouldn't choose it for a vehicle I drove every day.

[slim_chance]

Thanks for the replies. onetuford Thanks for the links that has helped me alot. When I get back to the states in November I am going to do quite a bit of calling around. One thing is to makesure U-Haul does refuel vehicles. Whateverman thanks for the knowledge on vehicles you have known to run it that shows that I can depend on it for dependability. Ill keep you guys updated on it. Sadly this is not for a bump but if succesful then when I get my bump it most likely will be converted too.

[yeager351]

there is a couple locals with converted propane cars and trucks and our local Farmers co-op will do the
refills. Most kits ive saw replacedthe carb with aa different type of mixer.

[slim_chance]

Ok so my reseearch on propane fuel conversion is going pretty good so far. I even got emails from the alternitive energy division of the Texas Rail Road Commision. He has provided me with some material on converting newer cars I have yet to read it. Also apparently TX is pushing hard to get automotive refueling points installed around the state. I am also researching the statuse of propne fuel in South Carolina if anyone is interested. I am moving back there after I leave the Army.
Logan

[onetuford]

If that info is emailable I would be interested in reading it.

[slim_chance]

Ok onetuford just pm me your email. It is on troubleshooting propane systems. Any one else want the email just pm me

[basketcase0302]

2nd what Dustin said about starting. Now that I remember...the 318 Chrysler powered generators we had in the nursing home had engine heaters to help this.