building a motor designed for propane?

[theshadow]

So I had decided that I was going to build a 331 for my 77, but a few economic factors got me thinking about the fuel system. Propane seems to always be cheaper than gas, and with the Natural Gas pipeline going through up here in the next 5-10 years I started thinking it would be nice to be ready to utilize a cheap new fuel. As far as I understand there's really no difference between a propane conversion and a NG conversion but I havent done too much research on that. But beside that point, propane is still cheaper than gas and while im building a motor im thinking I might set it up for a duel fuel setup (gas/propane). Ive heard that there is some performance loss when going to propane but that you can also build a motor specifically for propane to optomize efficiency. Anyone know the theories on building a motor specifically for propane? Thanks!

Erik

 

[Wyflyer]

There was a recent thread about propane.

http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=126264&highlight=propane

 

[pblackb592]

I ran propane on my bronco in 2001. It was way underpowered on the highway but I was running 39s and 5.13 gears on a built 302. Propane burns at 110 octane? So high compression would be ideal to harness the potential. Also you would need to change the timing curve of the dizzy. Propane was alot of fun, But you might have problems in the cold up there keeping the regulator from freezing. You will need a heater for all that until the coolant will warm the regulator. I really enjoyed propane for the trail. No fumes, well no bad fumes. It worked really well for wheeling.

 

[Wyflyer]

The quick answer: If you will be running it on either gasoline or propane, go with 9:5 to 1 pistons. If you plan to run it on propane ONLY you can go on up to 10:5 to 1. Either way you will need to have hard seats and valves installed on the exhaust valves.
Impco makes everything you need. They have a heated fuel regulator, just hook up heater hoses to it just like to your heater core.

 

[nrramse]

Too me, the challenge is not so much how to set up the motor as where to put the propane bottle. The answer is pretty simple if one has a half cab (or no top at all), but what about a full wagon? Is it safe to have a bottle inside the cab? I can't think of any other place to put it and still have a decent off-road vehicle.

Newell

 

[theshadow]

Too me, the challenge is not so much how to set up the motor as where to put the propane bottle. The answer is pretty simple if one has a half cab (or no top at all), but what about a full wagon? Is it safe to have a bottle inside the cab? I can't think of any other place to put it and still have a decent off-road vehicle.

Newell

you have to have the bottle in open air, you cant have it in the cab. As for the cold issue, I never take it in the snow really anyways, its purely a spring/summer/fall thing. So it sounds like the most important things to check are a higher compression piston, at least 9.5-1 and hardened exahust valves/seats....right on

 

[Wyflyer]

I'm gonna hijack a little bit here. I know a guy named Ron Routh that used to run an automotive shop in Fairbanks called National Auto 3210 Industrial Road. He also sold some airboats up on the north slope, and built some tundra buggies too. I don't know what happened to him or if he's still there. Does either of those names ring a bell?
I sold an airboat to a doctor there in Fairbanks and delivered it by hauling it up the AlCan highway in December 2003.

 

[BUCKETOBOLTS]

A fell in our club, Carolina Broncos, used a mildly built Mustang engine in his Bronco on propane. If I remember correctly, he said itwas 10-10.5:1, TrickFlow aluminum heads, and cam. It makes really good power.

Check out this little vid of Cuz...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SDUFp7kqK4

 

[theshadow]

A fell in our club, Carolina Broncos, used a mildly built Mustang engine in his Bronco on propane. If I remember correctly, he said itwas 10-10.5:1, TrickFlow aluminum heads, and cam. It makes really good power.

Check out this little vid of Cuz...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SDUFp7kqK4

nice, no lack of power there;D

 

[theshadow]

I'm gonna hijack a little bit here. I know a guy named Ron Routh that used to run an automotive shop in Fairbanks called National Auto 3210 Industrial Road. He also sold some airboats up on the north slope, and built some tundra buggies too. I don't know what happened to him or if he's still there. Does either of those names ring a bell?
I sold an airboat to a doctor there in Fairbanks and delivered it by hauling it up the AlCan highway in December 2003.

nope, never heard of Ron. Havent heard of the shop either. I know the road though, off of van horn rd.

 

[theshadow]

oh, and thanks for the links Wyflyer, good stuff!