Propane - Need info

[Jim Oaks]

Hey guys, I need some info on propane.

http://www.gotpropane.com offers a kit, but it's over $1,000.

One of the pains in doing an engine swap in a off-road truck is dealing with fuel injection. Engine swaps use to be so much easier when things were carbed, but it seems you just gotta have FI to be happy on inclines.

Supposedly propane is like fuel injection and happy at odd angles unlike a carb. So the issue is, what is involved in putting propane on a motor that has a carbureted intake? Can you source the parts yourself without shelling out $1,000+ on a kit? Is this a bolt on application?

 

[Chris.S.]

If I can thread jack a little, I've always wondered what the advantage of propane is? Cheaper to run maybe?

 

[Jspafford]

We currently sell propane at $3.95 a gallon... Don't think it's any cheaper.

 

[Will]

It's known all around the world as cooking gas.

Fuel injection is simple. And it's definately worth studying on.

 

[colinrmitchell]

I found this info, which may or may not help:

Burning gasoline: 46 kilojoules per gram
Propane: 50 kilojoules per gram

Of course, the ideal mixture of gasoline air-to-fuel is 14.7:1 I found that propane will not burn unless it is mixed with air at 2.15 to 9.6%.

So it seems that gasoline would be easier and more efficient to burn, not considering extreme-angle off-roading.

I doubt any of this helps, but I drove some propane-powered tow motors in a shop for a little while and though that it would be REALLY cool to make my truck propane powered. As another question, if anyone knows, is this emissions-legal in Ohio for road vehicles?

Finally, to be an idiot, who will be the first to burn nitromethane in their Ranger??

 

[Ozwynn]

it is emissions legal but it won't work that well with fuel injection. you are right about the efficiency. on Liquid Propane you will get around 75% of the power and 75% of the mileage.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

It leaves the engine freaky clean, tear it down to work on it and they are SPOTLESS inside.

Propane tractors usually made comparable if not a tad more power than the same model with a gas engine, but they had a higher performance engine (more compression, better heads/manifolds...)

 

[AllanD]

Per Lb propane has slightly less energy than gasoline,
but because of it's higher Octane rating you can run
higher compression and get some or most of that back.

Frankly, fuel injection isn't that big a deal you just need
to have proper documentation (manuals)

Once it's in, set-up and running actual problems are rare.

AD

 

[armyets2003]

If its a true carbed motor then its easy to swap it to propane its basically all bolt on stuff. You can source your own parts, if you look around some of you local junk yards it is possible to find complete systems. It basically consists of the tank, a "converter" that converts the Liquid to gas and then holds it until the engine pulls it out with vacuum, the "hat" w/adapter that bolts to the top of the carb, and the hoses. I have propane on my 87 2.9, the early FI tolerates the propane very well the kit is for a carbed motor but i had an adapter for the hat made so i could attach it to the end of the intake hose. Im no expert but if you want more info ill answer what i can.

Shawn

 

[killacal]

Per Lb propane has slightly less energy than gasoline,
but because of it's higher Octane rating you can run
higher compression and get some or most of that back.

Frankly, fuel injection isn't that big a deal you just need
to have proper documentation (manuals)

Once it's in, set-up and running actual problems are rare.

AD

The low intake charge temperatures make propane an ideal candidate for a supercharged or turbocharged setup. The low intake temps also allow you to throw more timing into any combination yielding at least the same power, and in many cases more.

Turbo mustangs has had some great write ups showing the potential of a propane setup which are definitely worth the read if you want to know more about it.

 

[Snoranger]

Hey guys, I need some info on propane.

http://www.gotpropane.com offers a kit, but it's over $1,000.

One of the pains in doing an engine swap in a off-road truck is dealing with fuel injection. Engine swaps use to be so much easier when things were carbed, but it seems you just gotta have FI to be happy on inclines.

Supposedly propane is like fuel injection and happy at odd angles unlike a carb. So the issue is, what is involved in putting propane on a motor that has a carbureted intake? Can you source the parts yourself without shelling out $1,000+ on a kit? Is this a bolt on application?

Your gonna need a carb, a regulator/vaporizer/converter (different companies use different names, they all do the same thing.) , a fuel shut-off (either vacuum lock-off or electrical), a hydrostatic relief valve, a tank and mounting brkt, a rego coupler (if you want to use forklift tanks and have them removable), and a lower temp t-stat.

For the carb, regulator, and vacuum lock-off, id go with Impco products. ive got 10+ years experience with propane engines, and impco is the best out there.

BTW: converting an engine to propane there will be approx a 12-15% power loss from gas (if the A/f and timing is adjusted properly), unless the compression ratio is raised (in which case, the engine CAN make the same or more power)

 

[JFA_Spyderman]

Yo,
We are retailing propane at $2.39/gal right now. I would be interested in converting, if nothing else, maybe just to change my oil every 10K miles.

 

[Lifted2x]

My old 2.8 is propane only, and I get it the local gas station for 1.75 a gallon. Mine is converted using forklift parts and it runs good but there is some power loss, mainly because my vaporizer and carb are only rated for 100hp. It is awesome off road never stumbles, super fast throttle response. Starts easy even when its below freezing. I think its a good upgrade from a carb. I noticed there is a huge price variation from station to station, 1.75 the cheapest up to 3.75 at some places.

 

[Lifted2x]

Oh and Ebay has almost everything you need search impco and all kinds of parts come up.

 

[dangerranger83]

Got pics. of your propane set up Lifted2x? That would be great to add to this thread.