Any thoughts on propane conversion kits? Did some searching and dont see much on the forums.

 

All I know is it is simple to do with the old carb. set ups. havn't found out much with the efi.Worked with a guy who was all propane he ran 11.-1 compression to get more out of the fuel. and he could smoke those tires...Been told you need better valves for the increased heat.over the stock systems.Best place for direct answers is the propane distributers they sell all the equip. needed, and can even do the install. Some of the big names here are Amerigas, V-1, and petrolane.

 

Yep, you need good valves, and hardened seats-to reduce valve wear. There is no oil residue/lube or cooling effect/gasoline on the valve seat surface(mostly the exhaust valve of course) with propane. Pre-unleaded engines would burn the valves out alot quicker. Basically you get valve seat recession. My old C9VE heads have the exhaust valves flush with the combustion chamber.
75' up vehicles cylinder heads cope with propane alot better-stock. However, you will want compression with straight propane setups.
You need to know where to fuel up, if its scarce, then propane can be not fun.
However, this ultra clean fuel has a minimum of 100 octane, and can make the bottom end last forever nearly-with proper maintenance of course.
A common propane book I have, has a dentside, with an FE engine which had 750,000 miles on the shortblock!!
Prolonged oil changes are easy with propane-not too long tho, even tho the oil still looks clean, oil does break down over time with heat, and get contaminated-but nothing like the soot and carbon buildup from gas and diesel.
I love it, yet learned about it and run straight propane, with a recurved distributor, blocked off egr passages, compression of course, a good ignition, and cam etc. It runs strong-very strong!
In my old F150, 429 auto, 250litre tank in the box, with a spare, 35" tires with a 3.50:1 gear ratio-and a set of oxy acetalene bottles in the back-it scared the crap out of me one time when I punched it, and got some wicked wheel hop-on dry pavement...

 

Thanks for the replys, there are a couple of places around here I know I wouldnt have a problem getting any propane. It would be going on a 78 351M when I get it ready.

 

I know it's different and probably frowned upon here. But back in the 80's my dad ran his 1980 3/4 ton chevy on propane for years with no problems. He used the truck for typical farm use and had plenty of power with it.