390 propane conversion?
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 108
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Originally Posted by Ford F300
I started thinking last night about what4020loaderman said and i must agree with part of what he stated I had the chance to talk with a gentleman a few years back. He worked for a propane distributer and he owned a 80's F250 4x4 with a simular set up on it where you switched from gas to propane and he told me the same thing 4020loaderman said he had had nothing but trouble wit the switch and the valves that opened the gas or propane if I was to do such a swap I would definatly stay away from that kind of setup the ones I was talking about were straight propane fired setups no gas involved also a about 8 years ago a friend bought a 1984 F350 dually delivery truck it had a propane fired 300 straight six in it with over 200,000 miles on the original motor no work do internally my friend decided to put a flatbed on the truck and when he did he changed it back to gas. this truck ran beautifully prior to the gas swap. he only got another 5-6000 miles and blew a rod. it seems that the problem comes more from introducing gas back into the motor than the the propane. maybe someone out there can explain way that is,but I have heard of this on several occations that someone took a truck that ran propane and switched back to gas and the motors don't last long. also a few other things to look at before you make a decision is what do you plan on doing with this truck. remember you'll lose about 2-2.5 feet of the front of your bed for the tank also you have to plan alot further for any trips you wan't to take the truck on I've heard that there are places that you have difficulty finding propane.
Wolf D
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,237
Likes: 3
From: Belleville, Ontario
Originally Posted by roger dowty
thanks dealford- great links with other great links. Looks really doable and I, for one, will.
I've heard that 12-1 compression is very streetable for propane.
AL.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
ok guys i just bought a holley propane carb with mixer and governor what else would i need what kind of tank could i use a standard 20 lb tank and do i just run a line from the tank to the carb with a electric shutoff in the middle somewhere
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,068
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From: western montana
gashog- I'd go to those links above and search out their links as well- go to some good places. And post what you learn for those, like me to follow.
Al- Think I'll probably settle around 10.5-1 compression for a dual fuel. WIth the right head set up and cam I think I can pull off a decent 'tween' motor. I'm not sure what block I want to use yet and it will be a process as i want to build most of it myself. Will probably experiment a lot along the way to include hooking it up to my current semi tired 351m that may be a 400. I'm really wondering if i can pull it off with a 400m with the right cam - full of questions at this point and learning soooo much from you guys here.
I am humbled greatly.
Al- Think I'll probably settle around 10.5-1 compression for a dual fuel. WIth the right head set up and cam I think I can pull off a decent 'tween' motor. I'm not sure what block I want to use yet and it will be a process as i want to build most of it myself. Will probably experiment a lot along the way to include hooking it up to my current semi tired 351m that may be a 400. I'm really wondering if i can pull it off with a 400m with the right cam - full of questions at this point and learning soooo much from you guys here.
I am humbled greatly.
Last edited by roger dowty; Mar 23, 2005 at 03:27 AM.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,237
Likes: 3
From: Belleville, Ontario
Gashog...Do you have a link to some pics of the Holley parts?
Propane is stored in the tank or cylinder in liquid form. In propane only systems, it goes first to a converter (or whatever the proper name is) to be warmed up to convert it to a gaseous state. The heat used comes from the engine coolant that circulates through the converter. Propane vehicles often quit running when the coolant level gets too low & the converter freezes up.
A 20 lb tank is small & would be a PITA to keep refilling. I ran a propane only 1 ton (360 powered) once that had a 260 liter tank & never had to worry about fuel. There's a wide variety of tank configurations available so you can choose any one that suits your vehicle & needs.
AL.
Propane is stored in the tank or cylinder in liquid form. In propane only systems, it goes first to a converter (or whatever the proper name is) to be warmed up to convert it to a gaseous state. The heat used comes from the engine coolant that circulates through the converter. Propane vehicles often quit running when the coolant level gets too low & the converter freezes up.
A 20 lb tank is small & would be a PITA to keep refilling. I ran a propane only 1 ton (360 powered) once that had a 260 liter tank & never had to worry about fuel. There's a wide variety of tank configurations available so you can choose any one that suits your vehicle & needs.
AL.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 700
Likes: 0
From: Fairbanks
I was stationed at China Lake Ca and we were running propand and CNG on some of our trucks there. The Navy in Sothern CA was required to have a certian number of trucks converted to other means. Most of them were dual fuel. We were alternating tanks fill them both up and run both dry then go fill them up. I believe Schawans runs alternitive fules in most of their trucks. I know the ones in China Lake were propane
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 87
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propane is great if you do it right
I have a '76 F-150 4x4 witha '69 428 running on propane since 1988.
If you don't do the conversion right you will have a nightmares and could blow up. I recommend getting a propane conversion book.
I don't recommend it today with the price of propane unless you need it for a specific reason like meeting high emission standards.
if you go for it i recommend
single fuel
pick the right engine (high compression, long stroke 300 six, 390 etc)
cooling system in extremly good condition
hot spark
one thing i love about propane is high climbing, all my gasoline buddy's always have problems with cabs and fuel pumps.
Andrew
If you don't do the conversion right you will have a nightmares and could blow up. I recommend getting a propane conversion book.
I don't recommend it today with the price of propane unless you need it for a specific reason like meeting high emission standards.
if you go for it i recommend
single fuel
pick the right engine (high compression, long stroke 300 six, 390 etc)
cooling system in extremly good condition
hot spark
one thing i love about propane is high climbing, all my gasoline buddy's always have problems with cabs and fuel pumps.
Andrew
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New User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 12
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These might be fightin words, but....
Over this winter I have set up my cheby 81 el camino with a 250 inline six and a turbo blowing through a impco 100 carb with a impco model E regulator/converter......
In case you were wondering why I posted this in a Ford fourm.... I have a 71 360 that is scheduled for the same procedure
If anyone needs anymore info or wants to doel out some flamin' let me know
In case you were wondering why I posted this in a Ford fourm.... I have a 71 360 that is scheduled for the same procedure
If anyone needs anymore info or wants to doel out some flamin' let me know
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,068
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From: western montana
no flame hear- I have my 02 silverado for sale- 2nd best truck i ever owned- maybe third someday i hope. I will be building a 400 for propane soon and then a 360/390 so fill me in with your wisdom especially on how your gonna set up the wind.
So what is it specifically that you are doing- details man details.
So what is it specifically that you are doing- details man details.
New User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 12
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Info? sorry I know nothing....;)
Originally Posted by roger dowty
So what is it specifically that you are doing- details man details.
What details do you need?.....My neighbor started getting on me about My El Camino sitting in my yard.....said it was an eyesore....sooooo I decided to fixit up then do a doughnut on his front lawn.....
I started by ripping out the 305 that was in it that I had cooked ,combination of failed temp gauge (stupid cheap Autozone crap) and a ventalated radiator. I replaced the engine with a 165 hp OMC boat motor, same thing as a 250 chevy just with more ponies. I had the head totally redone... With propane you MUST have hardened seats, preferabley inserts. If not the valves will sink out of sight, trust me I know my 71 ford when I took the motor apart the valves had sunk so far that they never truly seated. Anyway, then I found all the automotive manifolds; Including, an Edlebrock intake. I made a pipe to redirect the exhaust back up towards the hood. cosequently the pipe is "surgical stainless steel" that I "liberated" from a milk tank at a dariy.....
The blower is a IHI turbo that I had "spec'ed" out specifically for this application. I chose that one because it had an adjustable integral wastegate I am gonna set the wastegate for 7 psi to start then crank it up to 9 psi.
With that setup I am hoping for 350 to 400 ft-lbs of tourqe. But time will tell on that....
should there be any other questions I'll be here
Phule
New User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 12
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Originally Posted by roger dowty
1. how did the donut end up looking- or have you gotten that far.
I'll get back to you on the rest!
I'll get back to you on the rest!
on another note... if it were me I would do a single fuel..... on a dual fuel it just seems that the engine will tolerate either fuel but won't run efficently on either of them.... there would just be too many compromises i.e; you can run alot more compression I would stop before 12:1 but certainly up to that. Also you can run more advance, something like 10 degrees more due to propane burning a little slower. I am not sure on exactally how much more, you might have to play with that a little
that is what I have read and had explained to me, your mileage my vary...
New User
Joined: Mar 2005
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my contacts....
Should anybody want to speak to the experts as far as propane or forced induction alternative fuel. These are THE guys....
http://www.lngplants.com/carbturbo.htm
http://www.carbturbo.com/
Ask for Eric about conversions.
Ask for David about turbos.
Don't even bother with AK Miller that won't get you anywhere anymore.
And know you all know more about it than I do...other than I will have the only 1981 'Camino w/250 six w/hairdrier on propane.....and it will be the fastest of those too....
http://www.lngplants.com/carbturbo.htm
http://www.carbturbo.com/
Ask for Eric about conversions.
Ask for David about turbos.
Don't even bother with AK Miller that won't get you anywhere anymore.
And know you all know more about it than I do...other than I will have the only 1981 'Camino w/250 six w/hairdrier on propane.....and it will be the fastest of those too....