propane anyone?

[manimal]

Anyone here run exclusively on propane? My '75 GMC 35 is propane only. I fired it up today...1 crank is all it took.....not bad for sitting since 1980!

[Corts60]

I don't think you'll find very many people running propane. It is a very inefficient fuel. That is cool you got yours fired up though. Post some pics of the set up.

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

I have played with the idea of a cng conversion, but to make it work better I would have to build the engine to take advantage of the fuel.

[Remon.]

Over here in the Netherlands almost all V8's are running on LPG/Propane. Primarily because the price difference is around $4,50 a gallon. Yes you heard it right, difference is $4,50 a gallon

Anyway, I think 90 percent of the older LPG cars are running an Impco system. 300a's and 425's in combination with a model E regulator. Most dual fuel, some single fuel.

My experience is that well tuned LPG system with the right parts can do a great job without making concessions in power and just a little in MPG. Impco 425 single fuel is the best way to go. Make sure your timing is set right, use the proper sparkplugs, get cold air flow to your mixer.

Single fuel makes it also possible to take your gas system out. Tank, pump (leaking in you engine), carb, lines.. This way the weight of your vehicle stays the same..

[rs74]

My father n law has it set up on his 79 GMC K25. He told me that it burns alot cleaner and the oil stays cleaner longer but doesn't get near the mileage as gas.

[Remon.]

Around 15% more, than you are in the right ballpark. When it exceeds much then there is definitely some tuning to be done.

[suxtobu65]

I had a 77 c20 double cab that was on LPG. That truck would of ran forever. Rust got the best of it. I pulled the engine and tore it down. Best guess was it had 250k miles or so.. One of the cleanest engines I have ever torn down. Thats saying a lot considering I build 15-20 big blocks a year..

[manimal]

been thinking about keeping this thing on propane...it has the original gas tank,but totally disabled...no fuel pump,nothing. Here is my set-up...

[Remon.]

Looks like an IMPCO 425. Loose the gastank and try to tune is as best as possible, mainly on ignition. Hope all gaskets are ok in the mixer and regulator.

[rs74]

What are you going to do when it comes time to drive it to Illinois? Are there plenty of filling stations for that? Might have to make a road map of filling stations for that truck on your way here.

[dieseldawg142]

Originally Posted by rs74

What are you going to do when it comes time to drive it to Illinois? Are there plenty of filling stations for that? Might have to make a road map of filling stations for that truck on your way here.

any place that fills bbq tanks, can fuel you up.
like REMON, we have quite a number of propane & a few NG vehicles in canada.
my sister, dad, boss & some friends have owned propane vehicles.
generally the impco systems on older vehicles can be hard to run on gas & propane, ie- runs good on propane & crappy on gas & vice-versa. this is more prevalent on carbed vehicles. if you go FI, it can be tuned so there's practically no difference on either fuel, & close to gasoline performance.
and on older carbed vehicles in a colder climate, many times i have had to pour hot water over the lines, & the regulator to get them to fire when the temp goes below freezing.
as stated, if you run on straight propane, your engine will stay cleaner & in a little better shape, & it's octane rating is around 108-110

[J Knight]

Originally Posted by rs74

What are you going to do when it comes time to drive it to Illinois? Are there plenty of filling stations for that? Might have to make a road map of filling stations for that truck on your way here.

A quik tank change at the Circle K?

[meatwagon83]

Originally Posted by rs74

What are you going to do when it comes time to drive it to Illinois? Are there plenty of filling stations for that? Might have to make a road map of filling stations for that truck on your way here.

all flying j truck stops have propane filling stations, i keep toying with the idea of switching my truck to propane since i work at a propane plant

[8lugnutz]

A former industrial transmission rebuilder that I was involved with years ago ran a 454 motor on propane that powered a dyno for testing their transmissions after rebuild. The motor ran for 8-10 hours a day, 6 days a week for nearly 13 years. When they decided to tear it down and rebuild, the engine builder made the comment that he had never seen a cleaner motor and didn't think that it needed rebuilt. That was in 2003, and they rebuilt it anyway. The motor is still in use last I heard (I last visited them in 2010), still uses propane and still used as their dyno motor. If that's not a testament to using propane, I don't know what is.

[79Betty]

If i had the money i would just because. I think it'd be cool. And an 8 mpg is already crappy so not like it could be worse lol

[dieseldawg142]

Originally Posted by 79Betty

If i had the money i would just because. I think it'd be cool. And an 8 mpg is already crappy so not like it could be worse lol

i myself wouldn't convert one, just too expensive to do & you'd have to rack up some serious mileage to make it worthwhile.
i would however buy a propane converted vehicle that someone else paid to convert, like this one down the road from me.
my boss bought a 10.5 Sterling from the guy, got an up close, complete build detail by the owner. it sounds just as badass as it looks
http://abbotsford.en.craigslist.ca/cto/4065437891.html

[79Betty]

I'm diggin it! Sad part is what he's asking i have in my truck... Oh what else i coulda bought. And it would be worth it to me mine will be my dd again

[manimal]

Originally Posted by 79Betty

I'm diggin it! Sad part is what he's asking i have in my truck... Oh what else i coulda bought. And it would be worth it to me mine will be my dd again

Did you see this one!?
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=602205

[Rogier]

I'm running propane LPG as well. As Remon indicates: It's the only option in The Netherlands for running a V8. My difference is currently around -12% MPG compared to normal fuel.

[andrewmp6]

Check every u-haul http://www.uhaul.com/Propane/

[Jabes1]

Leave the propane... its cool!

[manimal]

after seeing how well it runs...I have been seriously considering it!

[Axle]

If you have sufficient refueling stations available to you, keep it. We had a lot of propane only vehicles running around here, I was this -><- close to converting mine to propane only, as the government subsidised propane as an alternate fuel (less than half the cost of gasoline at the time). When they stopped the subsidy program price shot up to nearly the cost of gasoline, and auto refueling stations started to disappear making a propane only conversion a very poor choice. My work van at the time was propane only and I had to start carefully plotting my day to make sure I hit one of the remaining refueling stations not always so convieniently located.

Alex.

[Anchorism]

My truck has been running on LPG for many many years. My grandfather bought the truck new in 79' and its pretty much ran LPG its entire life. It does have the gas system on it which was readily available until about 8 years ago. I might go ahead and pull the gas portion off entirely but am thinking of having it as a backup option. Couldnt tell you fuel mileage or anything like that due to being away from it for a long time. She should be home in come thanksgiving though...
I know its a mess under the hood as i havent started cleaning it up just yet.

[BONUSCAB]

Due to it being a gas, not a liquid, when it is feed in to the engine, you get complete combustion with propane. That is why the exhaust is so clean, and the engines are so clean. No left over unburnt hydrocarbons to make the exhaust stinky and dangerous, no unburnt hydrocarbons to wear the rings out and make the oil dirty.