Insane idea? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Big69C20 Toy · 05-30-2002, 06:11 AM

Ok i muddled around with that whole propane idea a bit as some of you may have read in other posts. Well it's 3am here and i cant sleep so i've got more ideas.

I was looking at getting a set of heads for my rat. Well from what i can tell it's got low compression as is and that's with closed chamber 98cc heads. I'm looking at buying some nice aluminum heads, open chamber design and all that jazz. Well if i did put those heads on my compression ratio would be so low i'd have some bad problems from what i can tell. Most of those open chamber heads are 110cc for the ovals, and even bigger for the rectangulars.

My thought is this: If i dumped a nice new set of heads on, my compression would drop probly down to around 7:1 i think (anyone wanna figure it out fer me?) and that in my mind is making me think prime candidate for turbocharging. This in mind, a propane fed bi-turbocharged 396 with compression that low and having the propane (104 octane) i could probably push some MAD PSI with those turbos.

I want some thoughts on this guys, i know it's a wild idea, but hey its 3am. Some of you may laugh at this but i'm really thinking this could be one insane little thing. I've got old friends at Garrett Turbo (biggest manufacturer out there) so getting turbos wouldnt be bad. I've never worked with turbos on a vehicle nor have i worked with propane, so all this would be a great leap for me with lots of hopin and such involved.

Ok this post is long i know but i think it could be one heck of an idea. So come on all you motor gurus and crazy sum-biatches out there, think with me on this and throw me some ideas, criticisms, kudos or something.

Enuf of my rambling, but i'm still gonna be awake all night!

okietruck · 05-30-2002, 08:25 AM

Sounds like fun if you got the funds. Hot Rod TV did a bit a while back on putting propane injection on a Dodge diesel pickup, and it made some impressive dyno numbers. I've never heard of doing it on a gas engine. Go for it!

nroden · 05-30-2002, 09:12 AM

A guy around here, the owner of WELLINGTON OIL AND GAS, coverted his 89 (I think it was, that body style) converted his truck to propane but has since then converted it back to gasoline. He did that to show that it could be done since WELLINGTON OIL AND GAS sales propane (we dont have gas around here, everyone has a propane tank).

ckhd · 05-30-2002, 09:54 AM

Propane on a diesel = more power, not sure about economy.

Propane on gas = less power, less economy

Propane on a diesel is just supplimentary - like nitrous, but not as powerful or damaging. It doesn't replace the diesel. Propane on a gas is replacing the gasoline. Propane doesn't provide as much power, and it takes more to do the same job.

Big69C20 Toy · 05-30-2002, 12:05 PM

Right, i know that it'd be instead of gas. But my motivations are as follows : price is comparable, octane is way higher (so more compression or turbo..), clean fuel to environment and engine, engine lasts much longer.

I know that propane doenst have as many btu's so it's therefore less efficient but considering i've got a BB i'm not super concerned anyway.

Plus how cool would it be to say i've got a bi-turbo rat! It could tune out some way serious hp with turbos.

ckhd · 05-30-2002, 02:33 PM

It would be cool if you could make it work.

68 Suburban · 05-30-2002, 02:36 PM

I have a stock pile of propane parts if you decide to get that way

Big69C20 Toy · 05-30-2002, 02:50 PM

Well i've definately been thinkin about it but i dont know anyone who's ever done a conversion or have any knowledge first hand myself so i'm kinda worried. 68 Suburban you've got parts, you done conversions too perhaps? (propane i'm talking)

If you'll let those parts go for not a ton and i can figure it all out i'd definately be interested in some stuff.

68 Suburban · 05-30-2002, 02:54 PM

I have not done one yet, but I am planning on doing a dual fuel conversion on my burb. It is suppose to be a pretty easy to do. I just picked up a 78 Buick Park Avenue that had dual fuel and it is set up real nice. I have also collected a few dual ignition box set up for the dual fuel set up since you run a more advanced timing for propane than you want to run on gas.

There use to be a guy that posted on here from Michigan that was big into these propane vehicles, but I have not seen him post lately. I think his board name was Protrucks.

68 Suburban · 05-30-2002, 05:12 PM

Edmond on the board also runs propane.

Wasted Income · 05-30-2002, 07:46 PM

A good friend of mine had propane injection on his 2001 F350 Superduty 4x4. (He was demoing the propane injection and a mod chip). Mustangs would usually get the jump on him, but once the turbo spooled up and he hit the propane.........buh bye.

I wanna play................but in a 2500 HD!!!!

Big69C20 Toy · 05-31-2002, 01:10 AM

No diesel, i dont wanna convert to diesel, propane guys stay focused! I checked earlier with flat pistons and 110cc heads i'd be at 8.1 compression and with that low i can run 87 no problem. With the general guide of 1psi per octane rating i could run about 17 psi, more with intercooler(s). This could be a very interesting project, i'm thinking i'd need a nice BIG student loan to finish it though

View Poll Results: Could it be done?
Yes, and I have done things similar, and could offer advice.	0	0%
No, and you are crazy for even thinking of that idea.	1	4.00%
Possibly with lots of time, money and fudging things around.	6	24.00%
Yeah, and might not be that bad, provided you can find some parts	6	24.00%
I have no idea, but you sure have an active imagination!	12	48.00%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 25. You may not vote on this poll

05-30-2002, 06:11 AM	#1
Big69C20 Toy Livin' it up. Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Richland, MI Posts: 2,212	Insane idea? Ok i muddled around with that whole propane idea a bit as some of you may have read in other posts. Well it's 3am here and i cant sleep so i've got more ideas. I was looking at getting a set of heads for my rat. Well from what i can tell it's got low compression as is and that's with closed chamber 98cc heads. I'm looking at buying some nice aluminum heads, open chamber design and all that jazz. Well if i did put those heads on my compression ratio would be so low i'd have some bad problems from what i can tell. Most of those open chamber heads are 110cc for the ovals, and even bigger for the rectangulars. My thought is this: If i dumped a nice new set of heads on, my compression would drop probly down to around 7:1 i think (anyone wanna figure it out fer me?) and that in my mind is making me think prime candidate for turbocharging. This in mind, a propane fed bi-turbocharged 396 with compression that low and having the propane (104 octane) i could probably push some MAD PSI with those turbos. I want some thoughts on this guys, i know it's a wild idea, but hey its 3am. Some of you may laugh at this but i'm really thinking this could be one insane little thing. I've got old friends at Garrett Turbo (biggest manufacturer out there) so getting turbos wouldnt be bad. I've never worked with turbos on a vehicle nor have i worked with propane, so all this would be a great leap for me with lots of hopin and such involved. Ok this post is long i know but i think it could be one heck of an idea. So come on all you motor gurus and crazy sum-biatches out there, think with me on this and throw me some ideas, criticisms, kudos or something. Enuf of my rambling, but i'm still gonna be awake all night! __________________ -Greg; Sold the 69 C20. It's off to a better home with more love! Now onto the 86 CUCV M1009; K5 blazer with 6.2L diesel, corp 10 bolt axles, Detroit locker in the rear, trutrac front, 3.73 gears, 35" tires.

05-30-2002, 09:12 AM	#3
nroden Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 1,098	A guy around here, the owner of WELLINGTON OIL AND GAS, coverted his 89 (I think it was, that body style) converted his truck to propane but has since then converted it back to gasoline. He did that to show that it could be done since WELLINGTON OIL AND GAS sales propane (we dont have gas around here, everyone has a propane tank). __________________ Nick Rodenberg 72 Cheyenne 10 V8 350/TH350 white/ochre/white/ochre, ochre/saddle interior Retired and in the dry... still runs. I now drive Red '01 Ford Focus... better MPG!!!

05-30-2002, 09:54 AM	#4
ckhd Registered User Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: St. Johns, Arizona Posts: 2,660	Propane on a diesel = more power, not sure about economy. Propane on gas = less power, less economy Propane on a diesel is just supplimentary - like nitrous, but not as powerful or damaging. It doesn't replace the diesel. Propane on a gas is replacing the gasoline. Propane doesn't provide as much power, and it takes more to do the same job. __________________ my 2¢ - t.i.o.l.i. Bowen 1968 K20 fleet 1969 K10 swb fleet 1972 K10 Suburban 1972 C10 lwb step 1992 K1500 'burb 1995 K2500 'burb 1997 C1500 'burb 1999 K1500 2000 K1500 'burb Why do I own so many Suburbans?

05-30-2002, 12:05 PM	#5
Big69C20 Toy Livin' it up. Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Richland, MI Posts: 2,212	Right, i know that it'd be instead of gas. But my motivations are as follows : price is comparable, octane is way higher (so more compression or turbo..), clean fuel to environment and engine, engine lasts much longer. I know that propane doenst have as many btu's so it's therefore less efficient but considering i've got a BB i'm not super concerned anyway. Plus how cool would it be to say i've got a bi-turbo rat! It could tune out some way serious hp with turbos. __________________ -Greg; Sold the 69 C20. It's off to a better home with more love! Now onto the 86 CUCV M1009; K5 blazer with 6.2L diesel, corp 10 bolt axles, Detroit locker in the rear, trutrac front, 3.73 gears, 35" tires.

05-30-2002, 08:25 AM	#2
okietruck Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Tulsa, OK, USA Posts: 117	Sounds like fun if you got the funds. Hot Rod TV did a bit a while back on putting propane injection on a Dodge diesel pickup, and it made some impressive dyno numbers. I've never heard of doing it on a gas engine. Go for it!

05-30-2002, 02:33 PM	#6
ckhd Registered User Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: St. Johns, Arizona Posts: 2,660	It would be cool if you could make it work. __________________ my 2¢ - t.i.o.l.i. Bowen 1968 K20 fleet 1969 K10 swb fleet 1972 K10 Suburban 1972 C10 lwb step 1992 K1500 'burb 1995 K2500 'burb 1997 C1500 'burb 1999 K1500 2000 K1500 'burb Why do I own so many Suburbans?

05-30-2002, 02:36 PM	#7
68 Suburban Registered User Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: From Chicago, Live in Phoenix, AZ Posts: 6,802	I have a stock pile of propane parts if you decide to get that way

05-30-2002, 02:50 PM	#8
Big69C20 Toy Livin' it up. Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Richland, MI Posts: 2,212	Stockpile huh? Well i've definately been thinkin about it but i dont know anyone who's ever done a conversion or have any knowledge first hand myself so i'm kinda worried. 68 Suburban you've got parts, you done conversions too perhaps? (propane i'm talking) If you'll let those parts go for not a ton and i can figure it all out i'd definately be interested in some stuff. __________________ -Greg; Sold the 69 C20. It's off to a better home with more love! Now onto the 86 CUCV M1009; K5 blazer with 6.2L diesel, corp 10 bolt axles, Detroit locker in the rear, trutrac front, 3.73 gears, 35" tires.

05-30-2002, 02:54 PM	#9
68 Suburban Registered User Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: From Chicago, Live in Phoenix, AZ Posts: 6,802	I have not done one yet, but I am planning on doing a dual fuel conversion on my burb. It is suppose to be a pretty easy to do. I just picked up a 78 Buick Park Avenue that had dual fuel and it is set up real nice. I have also collected a few dual ignition box set up for the dual fuel set up since you run a more advanced timing for propane than you want to run on gas. There use to be a guy that posted on here from Michigan that was big into these propane vehicles, but I have not seen him post lately. I think his board name was Protrucks.

05-30-2002, 05:12 PM	#10
68 Suburban Registered User Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: From Chicago, Live in Phoenix, AZ Posts: 6,802	Edmond on the board also runs propane.

05-30-2002, 07:46 PM	#11
Wasted Income Boosted Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Mackinaw, IL Posts: 2,200	propane injection (diesels) A good friend of mine had propane injection on his 2001 F350 Superduty 4x4. (He was demoing the propane injection and a mod chip). Mustangs would usually get the jump on him, but once the turbo spooled up and he hit the propane.........buh bye. I wanna play................but in a 2500 HD!!!! __________________ 1972 2wd K/5 Blazer Turbocharged 370 LSx - 941 rwhp / 1093 rwtq 1969 Chevy K-10 L33 5.3 / 4L80E / NP241 / 4" lift 1964 Buick Skylark Twin TURBO 383 LS pro-touring project 2014 VW Passat TDI - Daily Driver Turbo diesel 2015 Sierra Denali HD Duramax Turbo diesel 2023 Ford Explorer ST - Twin Turbskis 2023 Ford F150 RCSB - Whipple Supercharged 2017 Polaris RZR Turbo 2014 Nor-Tech Center Console - Twin Supercharged Outboards *TURBO ALL THE THINGS!!*

05-31-2002, 01:10 AM	#12
Big69C20 Toy Livin' it up. Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Richland, MI Posts: 2,212	No diesel, i dont wanna convert to diesel, propane guys stay focused! I checked earlier with flat pistons and 110cc heads i'd be at 8.1 compression and with that low i can run 87 no problem. With the general guide of 1psi per octane rating i could run about 17 psi, more with intercooler(s). This could be a very interesting project, i'm thinking i'd need a nice BIG student loan to finish it though __________________ -Greg; Sold the 69 C20. It's off to a better home with more love! Now onto the 86 CUCV M1009; K5 blazer with 6.2L diesel, corp 10 bolt axles, Detroit locker in the rear, trutrac front, 3.73 gears, 35" tires.



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