I am wondering how complicated it is to convert a OBDI 351 to run on propane or natural gas.
What does it take?
How does it affect mileage and performance?
Are there propane tanks available that replace the existing liquid fuel tanks? (to be put in same position)
Does propane or natural gas go bad over time like gasoline?

Any advice or thoughts will be appreciated-

 

Father-in law worked for the local utility. They had several Ford pickups, and converted a couple to natural gas. He said they were very low on power and if he took it off the road, it was barely able to pull up a small hill. No one wanted to drive the two converted trucks , and it was impossible to pull any equipment with them.
Frank

 

This is what I got from cngoutfitters.com. I considered it too. The only thing I was concerned about was availablity to find CNG. I've driven propane conversion vehicles back in the 90's. YES, they were low on power but that's because LPG and CNG has less btu's than gasonline.

BUT that being said I know a guy who made an 1991 Iroc Camaro go 197 mph... There are a few Mustangs running 11's on propane. ALL in how it's tuned and the conversion system used.

The cost to convert your 1995 ford f150 will cost approximately $6600 - at 200 miles per week, 14 MPG.

The CNG tank's retail price (new) is @ $2500.
The installation varies around $1500.
Both of these prices can fluctuate, depending on the dealer.

You will save $152 per month.
It will take around 43 months to break even.
If gas was at $4.70/gallon, it would take 30 months to break even.
We are using $.86 for the price of CNG (Utah average).
We are using $3.52 for the price of Gasoline (national average).
You will save about $4 / month on oil changes since a CNG vehicle only needs to be changed around 10,000 miles.

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The following grid will show the timeline:

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 align=center border=1><TBODY><TR bgColor=#e1d7ab><TD>Month</TD><TD>Gasoline Cost</TD><TD>CNG Cost</TD><TD>Amount Saved</TD><TD>Left to Pay Off Install</TD></TR><TR><TD>1</TD><TD>$201</TD><TD>$49</TD><TD>$156</TD><TD>$6444</TD></TR><TR><TD>2</TD><TD>$402</TD><TD>$98</TD><TD>$308</TD><TD>$6292</TD></TR><TR><TD>3</TD><TD>$603</TD><TD>$147</TD><TD>$460</TD><TD>$6140</TD></TR><TR><TD>4</TD><TD>$804</TD><TD>$196</TD><TD>$612</TD><TD>$5988</TD></TR><TR><TD>5</TD><TD>$1005</TD><TD>$245</TD><TD>$764</TD><TD>$5836</TD></TR><TR><TD>6</TD><TD>$1206</TD><TD>$294</TD><TD>$916</TD><TD>$5684</TD></TR><TR><TD>7</TD><TD>$1407</TD><TD>$343</TD><TD>$1068</TD><TD>$5532</TD></TR><TR><TD>8</TD><TD>$1608</TD><TD>$392</TD><TD>$1220</TD><TD>$5380</TD></TR><TR><TD>9</TD><TD>$1809</TD><TD>$441</TD><TD>$1372</TD><TD>$5228</TD></TR><TR><TD>10</TD><TD>$2010</TD><TD>$490</TD><TD>$1524</TD><TD>$5076</TD></TR><TR><TD>11</TD><TD>$2211</TD><TD>$539</TD><TD>$1676</TD><TD>$4924</TD></TR><TR><TD>12</TD><TD>$2412</TD><TD>$588</TD><TD>$1828</TD><TD>$4772</TD></TR><TR><TD>13</TD><TD>$2613</TD><TD>$637</TD><TD>$1980</TD><TD>$4620</TD></TR><TR><TD>14</TD><TD>$2814</TD><TD>$686</TD><TD>$2132</TD><TD>$4468</TD></TR><TR><TD>15</TD><TD>$3015</TD><TD>$735</TD><TD>$2284</TD><TD>$4316</TD></TR><TR><TD>16</TD><TD>$3216</TD><TD>$784</TD><TD>$2436</TD><TD>$4164</TD></TR><TR><TD>17</TD><TD>$3417</TD><TD>$833</TD><TD>$2588</TD><TD>$4012</TD></TR><TR><TD>18</TD><TD>$3618</TD><TD>$882</TD><TD>$2740</TD><TD>$3860</TD></TR><TR><TD>19</TD><TD>$3819</TD><TD>$931</TD><TD>$2892</TD><TD>$3708</TD></TR><TR><TD>20</TD><TD>$4020</TD><TD>$980</TD><TD>$3044</TD><TD>$3556</TD></TR><TR><TD>21</TD><TD>$4221</TD><TD>$1029</TD><TD>$3196</TD><TD>$3404</TD></TR><TR><TD>22</TD><TD>$4422</TD><TD>$1078</TD><TD>$3348</TD><TD>$3252</TD></TR><TR><TD>23</TD><TD>$4623</TD><TD>$1127</TD><TD>$3500</TD><TD>$3100</TD></TR><TR><TD>24</TD><TD>$4824</TD><TD>$1176</TD><TD>$3652</TD><TD>$2948</TD></TR><TR><TD>25</TD><TD>$5025</TD><TD>$1225</TD><TD>$3804</TD><TD>$2796</TD></TR><TR><TD>26</TD><TD>$5226</TD><TD>$1274</TD><TD>$3956</TD><TD>$2644</TD></TR><TR><TD>27</TD><TD>$5427</TD><TD>$1323</TD><TD>$4108</TD><TD>$2492</TD></TR><TR><TD>28</TD><TD>$5628</TD><TD>$1372</TD><TD>$4260</TD><TD>$2340</TD></TR><TR><TD>29</TD><TD>$5829</TD><TD>$1421</TD><TD>$4412</TD><TD>$2188</TD></TR><TR><TD>30</TD><TD>$6030</TD><TD>$1470</TD><TD>$4564</TD><TD>$2036</TD></TR><TR><TD>31</TD><TD>$6231</TD><TD>$1519</TD><TD>$4716</TD><TD>$1884</TD></TR><TR><TD>32</TD><TD>$6432</TD><TD>$1568</TD><TD>$4868</TD><TD>$1732</TD></TR><TR><TD>33</TD><TD>$6633</TD><TD>$1617</TD><TD>$5020</TD><TD>$1580</TD></TR><TR><TD>34</TD><TD>$6834</TD><TD>$1666</TD><TD>$5172</TD><TD>$1428</TD></TR><TR><TD>35</TD><TD>$7035</TD><TD>$1715</TD><TD>$5324</TD><TD>$1276</TD></TR><TR><TD>36</TD><TD>$7236</TD><TD>$1764</TD><TD>$5476</TD><TD>$1124</TD></TR><TR><TD>37</TD><TD>$7437</TD><TD>$1813</TD><TD>$5628</TD><TD>$972</TD></TR><TR><TD>38</TD><TD>$7638</TD><TD>$1862</TD><TD>$5780</TD><TD>$820</TD></TR><TR><TD>39</TD><TD>$7839</TD><TD>$1911</TD><TD>$5932</TD><TD>$668</TD></TR><TR><TD>40</TD><TD>$8040</TD><TD>$1960</TD><TD>$6084</TD><TD>$516</TD></TR><TR><TD>41</TD><TD>$8241</TD><TD>$2009</TD><TD>$6236</TD><TD>$364</TD></TR><TR><TD>42</TD><TD>$8442</TD><TD>$2058</TD><TD>$6388</TD><TD>$212</TD></TR><TR><TD>43</TD><TD>$8643</TD><TD>$2107</TD><TD>$6540</TD><TD>$60</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

I remember in Calgary, it was common to see taxis converted to propane. But not a lot of personal vehicles. Unless you have a whole fleet of vehicles and a garage and your own mechanics to do the conversion, it's hardly worth it to convert just one truck that will take four years to pay off.

Why not take that $6000 and get yourself a nice 4-cylinder Ranger. I bought a new Mazda b2300 last year. That little thing gets really good fuel economy and 90% of the time it's all I need. And the gas I save is almost enough to cover the car payment. And I still have my f-150 for when I need a big truck.

Unless you drive a LOT of miles and the fuel costs are really eating in your budget, the savings are pretty modest, and not really worth the hassle.