I thought i read about someone converting their engine to run on propane. I have a 68f100 and was wondering if it would be cheeper than buying gas and if it is a hard conversion proscess to complete. (if possible at all)

any info or opinions would be helpful
thanks

jake

 

Propane is a good way to go if you are looking for cheaper fuel. It is usually about 1/2 the price of gas. I am currently having propane put on my 77
4x4 because of good results from 2 previous conversions. You do have to get some parts to do the conversion. First of all you need a tank to put in the bed of your pikcup. Most of these tanks hold between 90 and 100 gallons. That needs to be bolted down to the bed floor. Then you need to get what is called and evaporator to run the propane through before it gets sent to a special carb you have to buy. As a safety feature, fuel only comes to a valve before the evaporator that is controlled by the key switch so it only opens when you turn the key on. You have to tie the coolant lines into the evaporator because heat helps the evaporator do its job. If you live in cold areas a block heater is a must because you need a semi warm engine for it to start when it is cold outside. It kinda makes a clutter under the hood but it is well worth it. It runs cooler, you can go a great distance on very little fuel when it is hot out and it is cheap. The down side of it is that you always have the tank back there and you cant fill up anywhere. Depending on where you live you have to buy a propane permit from the state to run it legally. Other wise it is a 100 ticket and then you have to go buy the 120 dollar permit. Propane is about 110-115 octane fuel so it is pretty efficent and burns clean. A whole propane setup(if you can find one) will cost between 400 and 600. I got mine for about 200 but it was from my cousin. In cold weather once your vehicle starts it will not quit, you dont have to fight to keep it running. Propane also changes your exhaust tones and makes them sound better (louder). Im only 16 so louder is better. I dont know where you can get a conversion kit put on at because I have two people near me that can do mine and I am only getting charged 150 to have it put on so that is a pretty good deal. There is a website that might be able to help you with getting parts. I belive it is www.impco.com If you have any more questions on the subject please feel free to ask.

Nitro

 

I have a 78 F-150 with a 302 on propane, and it runs good. You have to put in different heads to run propane though. The advantage is that it burns alot cleaner so that means the oil stays cleaner and the engine will last longer. Propane actually burns hotter than gas, so you may find you have to replace head gaskets more often because of this but they still last quite along time.

but overall its a cheaper and better way to go, I my opion

Good luck,

Joe

 

Here is a good page I found telling of the advanteges of propane

<a href="http://planet-hawaii.com/gascompany/propane/index.html">http://planet-hawaii.com/gascompany/propane/index.html</a>


Hope this helps,

Joe

 

You dont have to change heads on your engine. You may want hardened valve seats but other than that you dont need any head modification. We have run 2 different pickups on propane without swapping heads.

Nitro

 

Does anyone know what the power output would be as compared to gas? I'd consider this for a 460 C6 4x4 in Alaska. I'd like to use it in 40 below weather. I seam to remember seeing a kit that alowed you to use gas or propane with a simple turn of a valve under the hood. Was I dreaming or was it for real? Thanks




72 F250 4x4 crew 460 C6, the play truck
71 F250 4x4 custom 360, the work truck
72 F100 2x4 390 C6, parts truck
79 E350 4x4 pathfinder van, newly remodeled by a spruce tree Soon to be worlds first 60" WB van
86 Subaru Brat, the econo truck

 

There are kits that allow you to change between gas and propane but it is a little more complicated than just turning a valve. There is a set of controlls that you mount inside the cab. When you go from propane to gas you have to flip a switch and pull on a cable. This swaps the carbs that sit on top of each other. I dont recommend this setup because they are very hard to time. Propane takes on setting and gas takes another. IF you have it set for one it will run poorly on the other fuel. Good luck in whatever you decide.

Nitro

 

I used to convert vehicles to run on propane, I did probably 65 different conversions, well enough about me,the heads to not have to be changed but hardened valve seats are recommend,also a straight propane engine would benifit from increased compression and blocking off the heat crossover in the intake manifold(propane is already a vapor when it is intoduced to the manifold). It is also very important to have a strong ignition system and curve your dist. for propane, propane will require about 10degs. more initial advance than gas and you will need to block your total advance.Propane is a good clean fuel and when set up properly will give you about the same kind of mileage you get from gas, benifits are: plugs last longer, oil stays clean. Over half of the conversions I did were duel fuel conversions(both gas and propane), with newer ignitions you could add a box that would give you both ignition curves(MSD I think)anyway duel fuel worked fine. As for the price of the fuel, you still have to pay all of the road taxes(just like gas)and they used to add up to more than the cost of propane.Well I guess I have gone on long enough.

Charley

 

Charley,
I have a 97 F-150 4X4 Supercab, with 4.6L engine that I purchased used and had converted to dual fuel, Gas/propane. I have liked it up till now... It is much cheaper to run. It is in the shop now getting hardened valve seats put in. It's too bad Ford could not put in hardened seats to begin with. I've heard that "grinding out humps in exhaust ports will increase power". This would be nice as it is a little sluggish when pulling a big trailer. What has been your experience? I have looked high and low for a chip to optimize the engine when running on propane or gas. Do you know where I might get one? Any other suggestions now that the engine is ripped apart? Thanks for your help.


>I used to convert vehicles to
>run on propane, I did
>probably 65 different conversions,
>well enough about me,the heads
>to not have to
>be changed but hardened valve
>seats are recommend,also a straight
>propane engine would benifit from
>increased compression and blocking off
>the heat crossover in the
>intake manifold(propane is already a
>vapor when it is intoduced
>to the manifold). It is
>also very important to have
>a strong ignition system and
>curve your dist. for propane,
>propane will require about 10degs.
>more initial advance than gas
>and you will need to
>block your total advance.Propane is
>a good clean fuel and
>when set up properly will
>give you about the same
>kind of mileage you get
>from gas, benifits are: plugs
>last longer, oil stays clean.
>Over half of the conversions
>I did were duel fuel
>conversions(both gas and propane), with
>newer ignitions you could add
>a box that would give
>you both ignition curves(MSD I
>think)anyway duel fuel worked fine.
>As for the price of
>the fuel, you still have
>to pay all of the
>road taxes(just like gas)and they
>used to add up to
>more than the cost of
>propane.Well I guess I have
>gone on long enough.
>
>Charley