Propane?
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Helena, MT
Propane?
Does anyone in here run propane on their trucks? I have a 77 F150 with a new 400 in it. Well it has about 30k on it now. Ive been thinking about running propane in it. Right now I can get the kit for under $1500 and propane is only about $1.55 per gallon. Ive heard that it will get about the same mpg and usually gain power, unless you are towing. I know that I will have to replace my exhaust valves so they dont burn out but any advice positive or negative would be appreciated. I spent alot of money restoring my truck and I think this would be a great benefit but if someone thinks I'm retarded let me know.
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Whitehorse Yukon
Running propane here. Call me crazy but ive had it on my trucks since about 1986 and i love it. It was really cheap back then ,usually about 9 cents a litre. im paying 85 cents now.
The benefits
Fewer oil changes
fewer tuneups ( got over 60k miles to set up plugs)changed them on principle
Engine lasts longer , provided you have hard seats. (customer with 500k on a shortblock did the heads a couple times)
Sad but true, some performance will be lost as will fuel mileage but the price still makes up for it imho.
Tanks are quite large and have limited capacity and are heavy (just added a second tank and it added 150lbs) with gas you carry say 20 gallons which weighs around 120lbs but the weight goes down as you burn gas wher with propane the fuel is lighter but the tanks weight stays with you.
If you dont carry a camper an in box tank can be used for large capacity but they weigh 300lbs plus.
i wont tell anyone else whether or not they should run propane but it works for me
The benefits
Fewer oil changes
fewer tuneups ( got over 60k miles to set up plugs)changed them on principle
Engine lasts longer , provided you have hard seats. (customer with 500k on a shortblock did the heads a couple times)
Sad but true, some performance will be lost as will fuel mileage but the price still makes up for it imho.
Tanks are quite large and have limited capacity and are heavy (just added a second tank and it added 150lbs) with gas you carry say 20 gallons which weighs around 120lbs but the weight goes down as you burn gas wher with propane the fuel is lighter but the tanks weight stays with you.
If you dont carry a camper an in box tank can be used for large capacity but they weigh 300lbs plus.
i wont tell anyone else whether or not they should run propane but it works for me
Last edited by Socketman; Sep 6, 2006 at 02:34 PM.
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From: Quesnel, BC, Canada
propane cool factor: 104 octane, half the cost of gasoline.
Here in Canada its easy to find propane during the day. In the middle of the night its a little harder, as its not a self serve product. There are plenty of stations that carry the stuff, even in little one-horse, one-hoe hick-towns there is usually a station with a huge propane filling station. From what I hear thats different in the states.
Im shooting you a PM with a link to a propane specific forum, its pretty slow there and fairly new....but there are a couple guys who really know their stuff. One of the guys posts here as "fraso" I believe.
Here in Canada its easy to find propane during the day. In the middle of the night its a little harder, as its not a self serve product. There are plenty of stations that carry the stuff, even in little one-horse, one-hoe hick-towns there is usually a station with a huge propane filling station. From what I hear thats different in the states.
Im shooting you a PM with a link to a propane specific forum, its pretty slow there and fairly new....but there are a couple guys who really know their stuff. One of the guys posts here as "fraso" I believe.
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Joined: Mar 2006
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From: fargo, nd
my truck will be run on propane- its going to be a 545 ci 12-1 compression hydraulic roller retrofit 460 stroker in a 1978 f250 4x4. i think not only is it cool that my truck's engine will last for the rest of my life, but also that itll put out plenty of power
anyways, the only way to run propane really efficiently is to raise the compression ratio- otherwise your mileage will suffer and your power will be down slightly... if you had built the engine for propane to begin with like i am with my 545 youd be getting alot more power and about the same mileage
anyways, the only way to run propane really efficiently is to raise the compression ratio- otherwise your mileage will suffer and your power will be down slightly... if you had built the engine for propane to begin with like i am with my 545 youd be getting alot more power and about the same mileage
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From: fargo, nd
im hoping for 8mpg but ill probably be looking at more like 6... 5 in town... i just want it to be able to keep up with my 302 powered maverick
Last edited by darrin1999; Oct 17, 2006 at 02:40 AM.
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From: fargo, nd
i would be disappointed if i only got 4 mpg like monsterbaby's race truck, but then i definitely wouldnt be pushing my truck nearly as hard as he does his, but mine will also have a few more cubes and be in a heavier truck
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I am currently working on a 429 built for propane. I am not looking for huge horsepower, but rather good low end torque and economy. I am planning on around 11:1 static compression with an RV type cam. From what I have read you want to keep the dynamic compression around 10:1. There is a lot of information on the web and there are a lot of pros and cons associated with dedicated propane fuels, you just need to decide if it is worth it to you.
Jonny
Jonny
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From: fargo, nd
actually from what ive read the dynamic compression is more like 9.5-9.6 to 1 for propane... mine will be about 9.6 to 1 dynamic and about 12 to 1 static compression, also unlike gas- propane runs cooler when its run lean 
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Junior User
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From: Helena, MT
What are you going to/already using for mixer-carb. I like the techno carb but I think its kinda spendy. I was thinking about just using the OhG-450 and if thats not enough then run duals.
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Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Running Springs CA
All engines run cooler when PROPERLY leaned. Why whould any hydrocarbon fuel be different in a spark-ignition four-cycle engine?
Many aircraft engines have EGT and CHT probes for each individual cylinder and a manual mixture control. That way you can plainly see that lean actually runs cool, WAY rich runs coolest, but slightly rich is actually the hottest.
Jim
Many aircraft engines have EGT and CHT probes for each individual cylinder and a manual mixture control. That way you can plainly see that lean actually runs cool, WAY rich runs coolest, but slightly rich is actually the hottest.
Jim