just got a call. one of my old customers at the body shop just bought an 04 E-350.
got a deal he could not refuse. 43,000 miles on it, and showroom condition. always stored inside. only issue is it is propane fueled, and propane vehicle fueling stations are very few and hard to find here in new jersey. how hard would it be to convert to gas fueled?

 

It's terrible
. Stand by for links.

 

terrible as in not worth doing?

 

Costly. Looking for the last two guys posts on the subject.

 

Marginally related, speaks to possible parts issues:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...placement.html

Closer but it's CNG. Similar issues trying to go back to gasoline:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...oportions.html

Dual fuel issues, again who can fix 'em?
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l-removal.html

 

I went over a bunch of posts. It seems taking a gasoline vehicle to propane isn't too hard, but if it was build OEM for propane or CNG, going back to gasoline is pretty difficult.

If he got a great deal on that van I would suggest he work out were to get propane and run it for a while. If it works out, score. If not, figure out where a propane vehicle would be "hot" and sell it there.

 

yea, he stole it. 4 grand.
he forgot to ask the guy he bought it from where he fueled.

 

ok, what all would be involved with converting from propane to gas if we have complete running 02 5.4 gas van to use as a donor for the swap.

 

After first reading this post it stayed with me pretty much all day, wondered how to go about doing that very thing. I'm not the least bit familiar with any of the compressed gas fueled vehicles but am curious if the PCM is so vastly different from gasoline or diesel? If so that'd be one big hurdle. Do gaseous models utilize any of the factory original gasoline fuel components? Fuel injectors, fuel pressure regulation etc etc etc?

To my mind a both vans would have to be stripped of their existing fuel systems, the gasoline parts being transferred to the propane E-Series. All wiring harnesses for that system would have to be saved and installed on the '04. I can see this being on huge project with a ton of kinks to work out as it proceeds and who knows what when finished to have it running properly.

It might behoove this customer to try selling the propane van for what he's got in it now and use those recouped funds to buy something gasoline powered.

Tough call----it would NOT be an easy task, possibly eclipsing the cost of a decent fair mileage E-Series a few years young?

 

well, he has special needs. here in joisey it is very hard to find an extended 350 van.
he needs extended van to fit 12 foot rolls of carpet and long lengths of hardwood floor.
his current van has 480,000 miles on it and is falling apart.
windows do not work, passenger door only open from outside, driver door does not open at all. bottom 6 inches of body rotted off, exhaust ready to fall off.
the fuel tank and lines are only 6 months old though.

 

I had considered converting to propane due to cleaner burning, but refill stations are a problem, I can tell you when my van was totaled and I was looking, boy are there a lot of CNG and propane vans with low miles, and boy are they cheap, obviously for good reason.

 

if this was CNG, that would be no problem as we have CNG stations all over. you have to look for them, but they are here.
so far we have found only one local propane station. it is 15 miles away. but open 5 am to 9 pm 7 days a week.
next one is 35 miles away.

 

Well even as inconvenient as those locations might be if he only travels where he's close enough to refuel could be adjusting his driving habits taking all that into consideration? I never let my tank fall below 1/4 full but that's more for the life of the fuel pump rather than any concern for a close-by fuel source.

Just curious about re-filling with propane---does it require special equipment at the filling location--I'm thinking its very different from CNG etc? Would any sort of industrial vehicle service outfit closer be able and willing to re-fuel his van? Bus/limo, forklifts etc?

If this van is a good find especially for the money it might be a keeper. From your description it sounds like a solid work van.

Tough call---but maybe not? Hope he works it out to his benefit!

 

He does a lot of work in nu yawk city.
so the rahway filling station will be a minor detour on the way home to fuel.

 

I got a Uhaul place close by, can refill propane there, used to get refills for my boss on his heater, can't recall the cost of it, traveling is an issue, I take a trip once a year, thats why I changed my mind.