propane daily driver

[kitb]

my description being great

I have a gm 350 mated to a rangerII torquesplitter mated to a factory 4 speed, I get 12 miles to the gallon on gas(even before the dual fuel) and 10 on propane( no mater how I drive),this is on 33'S giving you an idea of gearing.propane in oregon is 2.39 just down from my house, and 1.90 about 12 miles away, at this rate I'm up there with diesel at cost per mile. and I hove an extended range of an extra 24 usable gallons of lpg.
I think everybody should check it out, its hot hard to do yourself, just rresearch and source your parts through anywhere but ebay! propanecarbs.com was mentioned here I think.
I post pics but I have a 2 year old, know what I mean?
HHO generator is next month!

[GAS-A-LOT!]

impco 300 mixeron got it....

dizzy adavence kit? lighter springs????? where and how much?

26 gal tank huh.... Will check tomorow....

[Mace]

Jim C can rework your dizzy..

I believe that Mark can as well.

[GAS-A-LOT!]

Just filled my reg. pane taks at my spot..... 2.19/gal for now.... Asked about filling cars.... kid at counter said they get a few cars once every great while..... All I need to do is liquify some assets next week (Gold) And will order the kit hopefully by next friday.....

will keep you guys posted...

[krookedpandas]

I just got roughly $900.00 in graduation money so I'll be there soon. However I would still like a list of everything you ordered.

[Cruiser Jimmy]

I'm starting to think about a propane system for my 80. I know what I need to get, the problem becomes what issues do I need to overcome to make the system work.

My dizzy is elec so I need to be able to advance it. Idea: use a 2F dizzy.

My throttle plate needs to stay where it's at because of the tranny kickdown cable (I was thinking about using a 2f manifold and soon scrapped that idea), so mounting the carb is going to take so engineering.

Here's detail I found on propane market pricing.
Heating Oil and Propane Update
I also checked into the current price of propane in Indy yesterday, it's running at $2.69/gal plus tax. And the tax rate is dependent on how much you buy. Don't know why.

[krookedpandas]

GAS-A-LOT have you found a tank yet? I have been searching for awhile now and haven't found anything that could be placed under the truck.

[krookedpandas]

Ok well this project is either going to be postponed or abandoned for me. Some problems came up and the funds just went south.

[Sarcastro]

Originally Posted by kitb

you should just buy mine

alternative fuel 1984 toyota landcruiser fj60

why are you selling it? what kind of mileage do you get on a 350 propane?

[kitb]

my just brought me an fjc to work the other day,I have a dune buggy and a vespa, 2 year old, dog,guns snowboards, lots of other toys
10 on lpg
12 on gasoline
hho generator comes in the mail next week?
then maybe better?

[GAS-A-LOT!]

Hno Generator?

[wengejor]

This looks like fun. I was doing some calculations last night and according to my spreadsheet the break even would be somewhere between 7500 and 12000 miles of driving, depending on how much you spend on the propane tank and how much propane costs.

Gas-A-Lot is going to spend total of $1600, but at $2.19/LPGgal, his break even is still around 12000 miles.

inputs:

MPG-Gas = 14
MPG-LPG = 13
Gas/gal $ = 4.2
LPG/gal $ = 2.5
Kit Cost $ = 1100

Also, if I did this, I would have little financial motivation to dive my VW Rabbit(30mpg) to work anymore. Does anyone know if I could use my Weber base instead of the Holley?

Here's the results: the price if the kit is the initial offset to the pink line, the slope changes with LPG$/gallon

[kitb]

go to propanecarbs.com and you will see the different lp carbs jout there,ther is like 25 different carbbasesjust for the ca100 model( that is what I'm putting on my vw buggy)

[wengejor]

So for the dual setup case....if you tune the engine for propane use (advanced timing etc.) would it really run ok with 92 gas + octane boost? KITB, have you tried to do this with your truck?

[GAS-A-LOT!]

Wenejor.... It makes sense to me cause my 60 is my DD... I have a runner now that is not working.... I looking at my investment paying for itself in under a year.... And that is with conservative driving... I have a Market/grocery store 1/2 block away, Church is 3 min. drive and well I mostly do work driving and don't go out much due to the cost.... now I might go out more ... wont do it on my 4banger cuzz I get bout 17mpg... If I pull the rear top off I could get a little more due to the reduction in weight.... If you get great mileage.... well you don't spend much on petrol to begin with..... If you got a massive commute, then yes You will benefit.... but in that case I would drive a diesel with propane injection.... cuzz your pane tank options are limited...

[roscoFJ73]

Originally Posted by ontherox

Umm?? is it leagal to have a propane car as a daily diver??

The legalities will most likely be having it installed correctly so it doesnt leak and go bang.
In Oz ,our number plates have a little LPG symbol so fire and rescue know it has a gas tank.
Ford,GM and Toyota all sell dedicated LPG vehicles at the dealer.
Dual fuel works better on engines that have a computer so the engine can be adjusted to suit either fuel.

Like petrol powered vehicles,LPG fuel lines need some flex where it goes from the tank to frame and frame to engine.

[wengejor]

GAS-A-LOT,

Yeah for me the rabbit is getting just over 30mpg and that's what I drive all of the time. I've had the 60 now for like 5 months and so far put on like 3500 miles. I did two 800+ mile trips in it over the holiday weekends and we are likely going to do some more trips this year. I think it would be cool to have 60 that drives like a VW Rabbit from the wallet perspective.

Personally, I would consider doing the dual fuel setup with propane as the main fuel source. I am interested in the results of your project.

wengejor

[wengejor]

Fiberglass 33-Lb Forklift Propane Cylinder Tank

have you seen these transparent composite tanks?

[kitb]

i run 89 octane fuel with no additives, its fine,however my engine has stock compression so I don't need higher octane stuff anyway, lpg the rabbit!

[dp777usa]

First of all, propane is a waste product/by-product of the gasoline refining process. It is a lot more volatile than natural gas. The thing that makes propane expensive is if you are buying it as a "motor fuel." If you are, it is taxed out the ying yang. I use to sell the conversion kits back in the 80's. The technology has not changed much. Dual-fuel is the way to go. First of all, it is a good idea to run gasoline through the engine every now and then because it is wet fuel and it does lubricate the upper end a little bit. Obviously propane is dry. It is higher octane, and the timing will have to be adjusted a little. There are ways to do all that with a simple switch in the cab that shuts off the fuel pump and lets the propane vapor flow. It is good stuff. I don't know what it does to the catalytic converter though.
IMPCO use to be the manufacturer of these products that were sold mainly to companies that had fleets of vehicle.

[Mace]

Propane is a by product of nat gas production as well..

All on road motor fuels are taxed the same way. I believe the road tax for a highway driven car is ~ $0.55 per gal. Nothing horrendous.

Also, there are a bunch of additional tax credits for owning a propane vehicle.
Propane: Exceptional Energy

A "wet" solvent (gasoline) does not lubricate anything, it does help to prevent deposits from forming, but since propane burns so much cleaner than gasoline that is not really needed. A dedicated propane motor will last much longer than a dedicated gasoline motor with the same mainteneance. Heck, there is nothing to really lubricate in the upper end of a motor anyway... If you have a fuel injected truck, it is a good idea to run a tank of gasoline through the system to keep the injectors clean and firing...

Propane also has a lubricant in it. It will mannifest itself as the tar like substance that forms in the evaporator if you do not keep it near vertical.

Cat's are fine with propane..

[GAS-A-LOT!]

I'm luvin it!!!!!! too much! The spot I go to charges me the same weather for the car or the the bbq @ home.... I found the 26 gal pane tank.... I will see if I can fit a bigger one under there with the spare in the trunk..... oh man! I cant wait!!!!!

[wengejor]

Originally Posted by kitb

i run 89 octane fuel with no additives, its fine,however my engine has stock compression so I don't need higher octane stuff anyway, lpg the rabbit!

Nope, the rabbit is minty mint with the original bosch fuel injection setup. Plus it's too small to have tanks taking up a bunch of space.

I'm stoked to see how it turns out GAS-A-LOT

[mot]

Originally Posted by GAS-A-LOT!

I'm luvin it!!!!!! too much! The spot I go to charges me the same weather for the car or the the bbq @ home.... I found the 26 gal pane tank.... I will see if I can fit a bigger one under there with the spare in the trunk..... oh man! I cant wait!!!!!

GAL,

I'm subscribed to this thread now.

Keep us posted!

[kitb]

Ihaven't paid road tax in almost 2 years

[webelk6]

Another possibility is checking with Schwann's frozen food company

SCHWAN'S®: Fine Frozen Foods Delivery Service, Online Grocery Shopping & Home Food Delivery

They have been running on propane as long as I can remember.