Specs for a DYI propane boost?
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Postmaster
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From: Sweetwater Texas
Specs for a DYI propane boost?
I know its been discussed before, but I'm wanting to put a propane kit on my truck, and to save money I'm gonna be building my own kit. I've just sourced a 15 gallon DOT tank, and am now looking for the plumbing. 1st. What psi rating do I want to get my regulater in? 2. What size of orfice and where to place it in the intake 3. Anyother knowledge or tips?
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From: Manitoba
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From: Ortonville, MN
ypou would be better off running NO2...that is basically like injecting air. I am thinking of doing that, but what is the safe amount for running in these engines stock? 100hp? 75hp? i know factory ford escorts(which i am into) are good for a 50 shot bone stock.
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Keep looking for a used turbo system. Ive bought and sold to of um, both complete, and im still in high school. Neither are on my truck, but one ended up on a van in Ohio and the other is sitting on my porch waiting to go to y cousin in Michigan.
Heck, I know where there are several more ats factory kits for 300-350, but dont have the money to go and pick them up.
Heck, I know where there are several more ats factory kits for 300-350, but dont have the money to go and pick them up.
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From: On a farm.
On top of what Dave S. said about NA diesels (100% true) propane injection is marginal in any IDI diesel, even with turbos, because it doesn't get a good mix in the cylinder at low speeds. This can lead to hot spots. To be safe, you should inject propane into IDIs only at higher rpms and high boost. I got this info from Jim Bensen, the original owner and founder of ATS, who debuted a pretty good system in the '90s.
Frankly, Dean88, I think you are wasting your money on this. Your choice, of course, but it will be much ado about not much in a NA truck and some of those homemade systems are dangerous because they have no safety interlock system. What will happen the first time you use your glow plugs when your intake is full of propane? Kaboom! A few years ago, there was a pretty good story about such an event ... and on a 6.9L too. I'd put a money aside when you can and pretty soon you'll have the bucks for a new turbo kit!!
Frankly, Dean88, I think you are wasting your money on this. Your choice, of course, but it will be much ado about not much in a NA truck and some of those homemade systems are dangerous because they have no safety interlock system. What will happen the first time you use your glow plugs when your intake is full of propane? Kaboom! A few years ago, there was a pretty good story about such an event ... and on a 6.9L too. I'd put a money aside when you can and pretty soon you'll have the bucks for a new turbo kit!!
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Postmaster
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From: Sweetwater Texas
Jim, I know the danger of propane, but I am the only one who operates my truck and I'm religious on things like turning on and off switches that can lead to a boom.
Hmm, that article that ziggster wrote said that propane was the best thing you can do to a an NA short of a turbo.
Hmm, that article that ziggster wrote said that propane was the best thing you can do to a an NA short of a turbo.
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Joined: Dec 2006
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From: On a farm.
Dean88: As I said, your choice, your responsibility. I have that ziggster article in my files. It all sounds pretty slapdash to me and using a BBQ tank... totally dangerous. That alone makes my bovine scatology detector start ringing.
Anyway, if you are gonna do it... just be safe. Let us know how it goes.
Anyway, if you are gonna do it... just be safe. Let us know how it goes.
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Good propane info can be found here The Principles of Propane Injection
It's good info, and the info on IDI diesels and propane may be of particular interest to you. Personally, I'd save my money, and put it aside towards a turbo. As has been said, used systems can be had cheap, from a couple hundred bucks on up. Comparing the power gains of each; maybe 5% with propane on an NA IDI, to 20-50% with a turbo, you really would be better served by a turbo. But, like other said, it's your choice in the end. Good luck! Let us know how it goes.
It's good info, and the info on IDI diesels and propane may be of particular interest to you. Personally, I'd save my money, and put it aside towards a turbo. As has been said, used systems can be had cheap, from a couple hundred bucks on up. Comparing the power gains of each; maybe 5% with propane on an NA IDI, to 20-50% with a turbo, you really would be better served by a turbo. But, like other said, it's your choice in the end. Good luck! Let us know how it goes.
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Postmaster
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From: Sweetwater Texas
I think I'm gonna go for it, because I already have a tank and a set of regulators off of an old cutting torch.
I know a guy (I know 95% of BS stories start this wa), but anyway he has a late 80's K5 mud truck with a 6.2 diesel in it, and his propane injection is just a 5 gallon BBQ tank in the passenger floorboard, a ball valve, and a few feet of 3/8's duct taped to breather. When he gets the truck lined up to the pit, he floors it, opens the valve wide open and you can hear when the propane hits that motor, it sounds similiar to a motor starting on ether, but you can also see that truck just jump out from underneath itself. He's been runnin this truck in bogs for a good decade now, and has yet to have a problem due to the Propane.
Now, his system has no regulator on it, so I don't even have a clue how many PSI of propane he is running to his motor, let alone the propane just comes out of the end of a 3/8's hose.
Sidenote: What about nitrous?? Someone said to run nitrous, has anyone tried it yet?
I know a guy (I know 95% of BS stories start this wa), but anyway he has a late 80's K5 mud truck with a 6.2 diesel in it, and his propane injection is just a 5 gallon BBQ tank in the passenger floorboard, a ball valve, and a few feet of 3/8's duct taped to breather. When he gets the truck lined up to the pit, he floors it, opens the valve wide open and you can hear when the propane hits that motor, it sounds similiar to a motor starting on ether, but you can also see that truck just jump out from underneath itself. He's been runnin this truck in bogs for a good decade now, and has yet to have a problem due to the Propane.
Now, his system has no regulator on it, so I don't even have a clue how many PSI of propane he is running to his motor, let alone the propane just comes out of the end of a 3/8's hose.
Sidenote: What about nitrous?? Someone said to run nitrous, has anyone tried it yet?