Switching an engine back to gas
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 125
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From: Tavistock, Ontario
Switching an engine back to gas
I'm considering buying a 79 F-150 4x4 with a propane powered 400m. The propane system looks really old and since i dont know much about them i thought if i buy it i'd switch it back to gas.(the sticker under the hood says it was originally gas).
I already have an Edelbrock performer intake and a 750vs holley thats been down-jetted to run on a 400m. I'm thinking its a pretty easy conversion just wondering if anyone has done one similar and any problems they may have run into.
The only one i'v heard being done was on a chebbie cube van and the engine died shortly after. Could these be related?
I'd appriecate any help on this i can get. I'm nervous about a propane system that is ???? yrs old (possibly 25) but dont want to blow the motor.
I already have an Edelbrock performer intake and a 750vs holley thats been down-jetted to run on a 400m. I'm thinking its a pretty easy conversion just wondering if anyone has done one similar and any problems they may have run into.
The only one i'v heard being done was on a chebbie cube van and the engine died shortly after. Could these be related?
I'd appriecate any help on this i can get. I'm nervous about a propane system that is ???? yrs old (possibly 25) but dont want to blow the motor.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2002
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Propane engines usually last longer, so the engine could be in good shape. Maybe the guys who did the cube van were idiots.
I was fooling with propane fittings at the wreckers and a lot of them snapped in two. Old age seems to make them brittle.
For the conversion you need a gas tank, lines, fuel pump. Some of these things may still be on the truck.
I was fooling with propane fittings at the wreckers and a lot of them snapped in two. Old age seems to make them brittle.
For the conversion you need a gas tank, lines, fuel pump. Some of these things may still be on the truck.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 125
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From: Tavistock, Ontario
Thanks! The tanks were pulled to make room for the propane tanks, all three of them(two where the rear tank was and one BIG one where the front tank was) . The propane fill is behind the original gas doors. There's no fuel pump and lines are cheap. With a junkyard tank some fuel line a new pump and what i already have i think i can do it for around $100. I was just a little worried there would be some suprises. Thanks again.
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Calgary, Canada
One thing I would do for sure is change the spark plugs and make sure the timing is set properly for gas. plugs in a propane engine won't necessarily look bad even when they may be and propane is a very high octane fuel (100+) which means you can run a seriously advanced ignition with no problems. Just a couple things to look into.
