What about the cost of propane? I last payed $2.50 a gallon for propane in My bulk tank to heat My home, I see 20# propane tanks at retailers going for $25.99. I believe propane weighs 4#'s per gallon = about $5.19 per gallon. I don't know what kind of mileage You'd get running propane, but I've heard a normally set up for regular gasoline engine only makes 60% of its power running on propane. The only real experience I have with propane powered vehicles are fork lift trucks, it's really hard to tell how efficient they are since they're not driven on the road. If any one has more info on this please chime in. Dan

 

i wouldnt doubt it if some top secret genius by now has come up with a way setting up a car to run on water, or the earths natural gravitational pull or something like that. but it would destroy the economy so that is why oil is here to stay. life is all about $ and stupidity.

 

I agree Danger_Dave. I'd almost bet our government paid those little dweebs that invented that kind of stuff good money just to keep their traps shut. What ever happened to the diesel conversion that supposedly ran a diesel engine off burnt cooking oil. That was a big thing about a year ago. Haven't heard anything about that in a while.

 

most alternative fuels suck sorry but true.
hydrogen aside from metal embrittlement it is cost all told it would be 2 times the cost of gas.

corn gas 1.5 price current oil same with sugar gas. and it screws up our food supply.

fry cook oil is cheap and easy to get for one man in a city if we all ran fry gas engines then we would all have 2 cheap tanks of it then have to go to the gas station for reg diesel cuz ever one else would use up the fry oil too. and last i checked cooking oil went for a min 6-8 bucks a gallon.

electric engines cost for charging in home.

that leaves us coal and wood. i don't know about you but mabey a steam 390 might work but then i dunoo....

we are kinda stuck on gas. oh and get this 1949 hudson ran a commercial that claimed 30 mpg on thier cars. yesterday gm ran a commercial saying "with a class leading 33 mpg our new eco friendly blah..." lets see 2009 - 1949 carry the one ... and .... nope still not worth the payments.

 

Maybe the real problem here is that the guys in the junk yards prepared to receive all the CFC cars by clearning out everything they had in the yard for scrap rather than waiting for slow moving stuff to be parted out along with steel prices. The late 60s F100 that I'm working on would have been traded in a heartbeat had it been in the model year requirred for trade, been in running condition and lastly, had we been in the market for new cars. I bought a 07 corolla before CFC and would have loved a $4500 incentive over the doubling in gas milage for my daily commuter which before had been my 03 ranger.

For those of you who are interested in parting out old cars read on. I've been trying to clean up our farm since my father passsed away and we have a lot of old cars laying around that I plan on liquidating. For those interested, the F100 I am ressurecting will be going eventually and is in pretty fair shape. I hope to get $2000 from some rancher once it runs/drives again. We also have a 69 F250 that I may or may not just sell as is for $1000. It's sad because my dad put a rebuilt engine in the truck then parked it when he bought a used 92 F250 with EFI and AC! Under the hood looks real good on the 69 and it has the heavy duty camper special bumper. He also had a 72 Cheyenne with a 454 that was converted to propane and 4 speed manual tranny. The truck is beat up but the engine turned over and started after sitting for many years just with a new battery. it would be a great beater farm truck for occasional use or as a tractor fuel carrier but needs interior work, body work and a brake job. Then there is the falcon my mom bought new and in restorable condition. I've been trying to get $1500 for it on ebay but recently lowed my price to $1400 just to move it. Highest offer I've gotten has been $1200. Then we have a beater 59 edsel my dad bought in the mid 80's with blown piston and after needing space in a garage set it outside to deteriorate. Still would be good for dash, clock and major component parts along with most of the windows and rims. I can't even get $1200 for it and hesitate to go much lower because steel prices will come back again and I can pull the dash, grille, crhome and tail lights then crunch the rest for cash. Then there is the 82 granada sitting in our barn. It's in pretty good condition other than the rat nest on the engine. The interior hasn't been invaded and tires are flat but the little thing looks like another one that will run with some TLC. I'd let it go for $1000 as/is just to move it out and then we have a ford 4000 gas tractor that needs an engine rebuild. Rear tires are perfect, but again, my dad put money into a tractor that was on it's last leg mechanically. Would rebuild into a nice tractor if someone had the time and money to put into it. We also have a 72 F350 converted to a dump truck. That one is on my list of vehicles to resurrect as it would be the most useful one of the bunch to have as a firewood and dirt mover. We also have two early 50's trucks rotting out in a pasture. Engines, 4 speed transmissions and axles should still be good but bodies are rusted pretty well but could be rebuilt by a serious hotrodder who can weld. Don't know if I should expect $500 or $1000 for each of these relics. One belonged to my grandfather and the other my dad bought for the dump bed he put on his 72 F350. He wasn't good at clearing out the old cars when he got newer ones. Lastly we have an 85 nissan sitting in the garage that has bad CV joints but very restorable. Pick in pull offered me $150 and I passed. I told them I want $500 and they said for that I would have to deliver. $150 is a joke given the alloy rims are worth that much. So guys, don't think that all the junked cars have made it to the yard. They are still out there and I've got a bunch to prove it! edge