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Old Dec 4, 2003 | 02:47 PM
  #1  
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Talking propane

I have a 1986 Ford Bronco 4x4...
I'm going to rebuild a 460 for her but I want to keep my propane system...
Does anyone have any pointers or ideas?
 
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Old Dec 4, 2003 | 03:05 PM
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Propane?! My uncle sells propane and propane accesories!
->sorry, I couldnt resist....

What the heck is this about though. My bronco runs on Gasoline. Propane would be cool I guess. Although most people usually either go with Gas or Diesel.

What do I know though?

Can someone explain whats going on here?

McNabb
 
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Old Dec 4, 2003 | 03:32 PM
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Originally posted by treehugger36
Propane?! My uncle sells propane and propane accesories!
->sorry, I couldnt resist....

What the heck is this about though. My bronco runs on Gasoline. Propane would be cool I guess. Although most people usually either go with Gas or Diesel.

What do I know though?

Can someone explain whats going on here?

McNabb
You call yourself Treehugger and you don't know about propane engines?

They are more or less regular gas engines that either come with "special" carbs or conversion kits. Some work on only propane which are the most effecient, and some that will allow the use of either gas or propane and doesn't do either extemely well. They have been used on larger service rigs a lot and have been popular in many 4X4 type rigs. The fuel doesn't spill when you are almost on your side (off camber) etc. Engines last a lot longer since it burns clean. Its not the easy to get a hold of after market stuff for some reason. Its rather pricey to retrofit as a result. There are natural gas rigs also but thats another story.
 
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Old Dec 4, 2003 | 04:42 PM
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So I take it you dont just pull up to Wal-Mart and exchange a tank. I guess Co-Op farm supply places would work and other than that where would you fill up? What is the cost to fill it? What kind of MPG do you get?

This is crazy talk. I didnt realize anything other than Grills and Forklifts ran on Propane.

Is that symbol on the back of some ford vehicles, with the road and the leaf, does that mean propane? I thought it was a hyrdogen hybrid typed thing...

McNabb

ps-> I know I know. But I am not a self proclaimed treehugger. It is simply a nickname that stuck. I apologize and I hang my head in shame
 
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Old Dec 4, 2003 | 05:16 PM
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I think the ranger ones are natural gas? .. I have seen propane powered vehicles on eBay..Got a big tank in back..( takes up like 1/2 your bed) I guess you goto a one of those special fuel stations..where you can everthing ( diesel..red dye..regular gas.. etc etc )
 
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Old Dec 4, 2003 | 06:29 PM
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I worked on a *****'s that a guy did a frame-off build up on. Built it for trail wheeling, was a beast. It had a twin-turbo 350 built for propane. They run special carbs and compression. It ran great, filled it up at U-Haul once. Everyone was amazed/boggled.
 

Last edited by burntPiston; Dec 4, 2003 at 06:35 PM.
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Old Dec 4, 2003 | 07:15 PM
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Treehugger, that symbol with the leaf and the road is got something to do with meeting Calif. emmissions I believe. I think they are classified as FFV (Ive been told Fuel Friendly Vehicle). Nothing to back this up, but my 2000 Taurus has it and thats what my tire dude told me...
 
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Old Dec 5, 2003 | 01:33 AM
  #8  
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FFV=Flexible Fuel Vehicle

That means you can run Gasohol/Methanol in it without corroding the fuel system.
 
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Old Dec 5, 2003 | 12:54 PM
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Here is an interesting site to check out regarding 4x4 and propane.

http://www.propanecarbs.com/rock_crawlers.html

As far as natural gas goes, the university where I "work" has some nat. gas rigs in their fleet. They have a pump with special fittings with the regular gas pumpls to fill them up. I think a couple of them are Rangers.

The problem with propane would be when your like out of gas on the interstate and needing to fill up. There are systems that allow the use of either but they don't work the best on either. But propane doesn't do the engine in like gas does and engines are reported to last 5x longer.
 
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Old Dec 5, 2003 | 03:06 PM
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Just for info, most of the Schwan's trucks are powered by propane. They have a big fill station at their depot.

I have seen several propane vehicles, and while they burn cleaner, they only offer about 80% of the power of gasoline.
 
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Old Dec 5, 2003 | 03:10 PM
  #11  
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well I thought I had posted again on here but I guess it lost it or I did something wrong.

So what are the economical stats on this set up? What does it cost to fill up a tank? Cost per gallon? MPG? I undersand that water cant get in and it will continue to run at angles that would kill a gas rig. But do you get the same power? Torque? how easy is it to find a station? I live in Knoxville, TN and I dont ever remember seeing propane next to the High Octane!

Anywho... this is pretty cool. I like that idea! Between this and a kill switch I am gonna have my hands full! HA!

McNabb
 
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Old Dec 5, 2003 | 03:55 PM
  #12  
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Originally posted by treehugger36
well I thought I had posted again on here but I guess it lost it or I did something wrong.

So what are the economical stats on this set up? What does it cost to fill up a tank? Cost per gallon? MPG? I undersand that water cant get in and it will continue to run at angles that would kill a gas rig. But do you get the same power? Torque? how easy is it to find a station? I live in Knoxville, TN and I dont ever remember seeing propane next to the High Octane!

Anywho... this is pretty cool. I like that idea! Between this and a kill switch I am gonna have my hands full! HA!

McNabb
You would have to get it at flying-J or somewhere that fills up LP bottles etc for RVs in the Knoxville area. My mother-in-law lives in k-town so I try to stay out of there. As far as stats go I have only ran fleet vehicles. I have been wanting to convert my old Argosy's 454 to propane but its difficult to get all the parts etc to do it. Its probable easier to find a Ford that was already set up that way at the factory than to find the stuff to convert. EFI seem to be even more difficult but you think it would be easier. Plus it may cost $1500 bucks to convert. And where would you put the "bottle" on a Bronco?
 
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Old Dec 5, 2003 | 04:57 PM
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oh, I wasnt serious about switchin mine over. I really should use (sarcasm)(/sarcasm) notes. I dont have the know how or the money... stupid college education!

Sure is cool though.

Anyone runnin one of these that can tell me what kind of prices and MPG you get?
 
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Old Dec 5, 2003 | 08:31 PM
  #14  
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Propane is high octane, so you might as well build a turbo propane motor!
 
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Old Dec 5, 2003 | 10:58 PM
  #15  
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MPG would probably be slightly less than with gasoline. However, propane don't foul the oil quite as bad and is cleaner.
 
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