Propane on a big block?
Thread Starter
|
More Turbo
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 585
Likes: 11
Propane on a big block?
Just wondering if anyone is running propane and propane accessories on a big block? I've tossed around the idea for years due to the fact that propane is at least half the cost of gasoline. Granted the mileage isn't quite as good and fillups are a little more complex, but I've worked with propane fueled engines for years and it is actually a very clean burning fuel. The engines have very little sludge buildup and the oil stays very clean because propane enters as a gas rather than a liquid.
I have a 20 gallon tank I salvaged from a vehicle years ago and I know where I can get the vaporizer, mixer, ect. But...I would prefer to have a dual fuel setup with the mixer mounted above the carb so I can still run gasoline. The only ones I've ever seen flow something like 350 CFM and I don't think a 460 would be very happy with that. There are four barrel mixers available but they are a dedicated propane setup that replaces the carb completely and I don't want to go that route. Has anyone tried a dual fuel combo on a big block with success?
I have a 20 gallon tank I salvaged from a vehicle years ago and I know where I can get the vaporizer, mixer, ect. But...I would prefer to have a dual fuel setup with the mixer mounted above the carb so I can still run gasoline. The only ones I've ever seen flow something like 350 CFM and I don't think a 460 would be very happy with that. There are four barrel mixers available but they are a dedicated propane setup that replaces the carb completely and I don't want to go that route. Has anyone tried a dual fuel combo on a big block with success?
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
From: Australia
You could go with two mixers (with two converters), like the Impco 425, sitting on a tunnel ram style dual carby manifold with a large primary line. The 425 flows at 460cfm, so with two you'd have plenty of propane feeding that big block. You'll be wanting aorund 10:1 compression though.
My '83 has a 351C rebuilt for more horsepower, and on the engine I'm running a twin-throttle bodied Gas Research Australia kit, which puts out 990 CFM. This is LPG (propane+butane in Australia) only, but the benefits of that is the engine is tuned solely for that fuel. Dual fuel engines are a compromise between two optimal tunes so you don't get quite the benefits like good mileage, etc. My '76 F100 runs a dual fuel setup with an Impco 300 mixer for a holley carb'd 351C and it's crappy on gasoline and not as good on LPG.
All of the 460 big block engines running LPG/propane setups that I've seen here are dedicated-LPG only.
My '83 has a 351C rebuilt for more horsepower, and on the engine I'm running a twin-throttle bodied Gas Research Australia kit, which puts out 990 CFM. This is LPG (propane+butane in Australia) only, but the benefits of that is the engine is tuned solely for that fuel. Dual fuel engines are a compromise between two optimal tunes so you don't get quite the benefits like good mileage, etc. My '76 F100 runs a dual fuel setup with an Impco 300 mixer for a holley carb'd 351C and it's crappy on gasoline and not as good on LPG.
All of the 460 big block engines running LPG/propane setups that I've seen here are dedicated-LPG only.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
PaulsEdge
Alternative Fuels, Hybrids & Mileage
7
Jan 9, 2017 07:09 AM
TGoodwin
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
4
Nov 16, 2013 09:40 AM
pud
Alternative Fuels, Hybrids & Mileage
1
Jul 10, 2006 03:17 PM
socalfurnow
Alternative Fuels, Hybrids & Mileage
7
Sep 12, 2005 10:25 AM
