Advice from LPG users

**SNDMN** · 13-01-2012, 11:57 AM

G'day all,

I'm looking at fitting LPG to my HZ van and am wanting a bit of feedback from those who use LPG as to what they have or had used.
The main decision I need to make is whether to go duel fuel or gas only. I've been told you have to compromise with the engine tuning to find a happy medium to run duel but the gas can be tuned for better performance and economy on it's own.
I do a fair bit of travelling in the van and am looking for more range and less $$$ of course. I do like the idea of having petty in the tank as a barry back up just in case but am concerned about the tuning thing. I know there's heaps of duel fuel cars out there but I've never owned anything that runs on LPG (other than me barbie) so I'm asking for your thoughts.

cheers Tony :confused:

**HK1837** · 13-01-2012, 01:59 PM

Tony, I'd avoid it. Use the funds to put towards an inected 304 and 4L60 (or 4L60E) conversion. You'll still get good $ fuel saving benefit. These things will run 30MPH highway, and you won't have to butcher any of the car to fit anything. And it is nearlly all bolt in and do yourself.

**Sandman_77** · 13-01-2012, 02:25 PM

Wow great advice,

I have a current 5ltr on dual fuel I run Gas every day, I also have petrol as back up and run a tank through system every now and then,
I get 350 k's to 65litres of gas, thats highway and around town, cost me just under $40 most fills,

As for tuning get a goo old school fella like I have and they will set a happy meduim, not much realy, on gas engine can bit a bit rattly on full bore getting up to speed, but fine when there and cruising,

Would I do it again for sure, this is my second conversion dual fuel and love it, only way i can or could drive a 5ltr daily

Modern whyyyyyyyyyy, ruin a lovely classic, old school V8's are what is meant to be under bonnet, in NSW you can even have LPG on club rego cars too now

**thatotherguy** · 13-01-2012, 02:24 PM

my son has a HQ prem with gas and it runs really well but we have only had it running on gas not duel fuel,but...under the bonnet is a real mess and when i took it off to change the air cleaner they had used a heap of silicon to seal it to the carby so we will be taking it off soon . i dont know how old it is but im sure a new gas system would be much neater so it might pay to shop around and not buy the cheapest system or a second hand one

**Alien DNA** · 13-01-2012, 02:29 PM

Completely agree with hk1837......another downside to LPG is when you run out of gas, you will need a tow.....no Jerry can top up. Go the injected route and you can also change the chip to get better performance too

**HK1837** · 13-01-2012, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by Alien DNA

Completely agree with hk1837......another downside to LPG is when you run out of gas, you will need a tow.....no Jerry can top up. Go the injected route and you can also change the chip to get better performance too

Not only that, you can build yourself up an 11:1 308 out of an EFI engine, run all the injection of a VN-VR and double stack the ROM on the Memcal to have 2 x programs in it, which you cn flick between with a dash mounted switch. One would be set with optimal spark for 98 octane fuel. The other setup optimal for LPG or E85 or whatever else you want to run.

**jennie285** · 13-01-2012, 04:41 PM

We had duel fuel on the yellow van when we bought her, but we got rid of it and fixed the gas fill hole while under resto, and put the cross member back in where it had been butchered to put in the gas tank, and put the spare back under. When we built the new motor we made sure it could take unleaded, or ethanol fuel. The Red van is still on petrol so will remain so, but the ute is on gas, which we will leave as it runs well, we can put the spare in the back of the ute, and has had the motor set up with gas which actually looks good without that ugly air cleaner. 10 years ago we had an F150 which we converted to run on Gas and fuel, it ran very well and saved us a lot of money in fuel. It really depends if you want to be economical, or original. In the new van we have just picked up, as it doesn't come with a motor we may put in an injected motor, its all optional.

cheers J and R

**Alien DNA** · 14-01-2012, 07:16 PM

Originally Posted by HK1837

Not only that, you can build yourself up an 11:1 308 out of an EFI engine, run all the injection of a VN-VR and double stack the ROM on the Memcal to have 2 x programs in it, which you cn flick between with a dash mounted switch. One would be set with optimal spark for 98 octane fuel. The other setup optimal for LPG or E85 or whatever else you want to run.

That sounds like a fantastic setup!!!

I'll keep that in mind for a future project

**wbute** · 13-01-2012, 03:45 PM

Bring back leaded fuel so you can get a nice grey pipe when your car is running right I say!

**hainzy** · 13-01-2012, 06:33 PM

I have both the above.

I have a VH with a VN injected 304. Goes awesome as i had a bloke program a new chip where he calibrated it to the car. Ie. gears, exhaust system etc.. Havent had it on the highway much but it will be my daily driver for the most part so i hope its reasonably economical. He said he's set it so its nice and economical on the freeway in 5th so I guess ill see!

What Byron says about it bolting straight in is true, cept you might need to get a gearbox crossmember made up. Its straight forward but theres lots of extra little things that add up and blow the budget waaaaay out so plan to spend a few more than you hoped. But it is a very reliable and gutsy conversion. I would certainly consider that for your van cos it still sounds tough as!

My sandman is a 308 5 speed manual on straight gas. Goes really well and when i finish getting stuff done to it and blow the cobwebs out Ill get it dyno tuned at Micks pro gas here in ballarat. He does a great job and is the guy that re programmed the VN chip.

I have an impco 425 which is a fantastic flowing gas carby and you can sit a normal old school air cleaner on it so it looks the goods. Mick also ran the gas plug out the petrol outlet and remade the cap so the old school chrome one screws into the gas outlet. Very neat. Youre right that you can tune it much better to straight gas and get much nicer performance. Otherwise on duel fuel you set the timing halfway in between i think. The only downsides are the gas pipes in the engine bay (if you want the oldschool look) and where to put the spare tyre...? Oh and what Alien said. Dont run out of gas, or join the RACV..

Better and cheaper than using petrol if you dont have to. You might be able to get a goverment subsidy for it too if it hasnt already been claimed. Its a gas coinversion! ha.