Propane burning Jeep

jackedHB

jackedHB

Member
Joined
Apr 3, 2005
Location
Boiling Springs
I am thinkin about runnin LP in my jeep. Anybody here convert there junk to LP? How does it run compared to gas, and what are the pro's and con's?
If anyone has done this before and could give me some tips on what needs to be done, by all means send me some info please.
 
I'm wondering What the price of LPG is doing myself. The CJ is parked cause I can't afford to drive it now. I was contemplating the same thing if I could get the CJ over to LPG. But I'd like to do a cost comparison of price per mile. IF it's worth it, I'd sell the ZJ, convert the CJ to LPG and be Much happier driving the CJ anyway!

I'll be following this thread...
 
Mine is still burning throug the first tankful, but my observations..

runs like EFI.
great, progressive throttle response.

Tanks take up alot of room.
the hose is $$$
the components can be had for a decent price on ebay. (You'd probably do well with a Impco 225 mixer, a Model L (or E) converter, and a VFF30 lockoff.)

There's a ton that you *can* do to optimize it like re-curve the advance on the dizzy, raise the compression, etc..., but you do need to have a healthy ignition system.

You will probably lose a little MPG's, around 10-15%.

I dunno what LPG prices have done lately, i filled my tanks a couple of weeks ago, it was ~$2.00-2.25 a gallon when I filled, when gas was $2.55 or so.
 
not trying to be mean but im sure you haven't searched???

tyler
 
Rich said:
You will probably lose a little MPG's, around 10-15%.

I dunno what LPG prices have done lately, i filled my tanks a couple of weeks ago, it was ~$2.00-2.25 a gallon when I filled, when gas was $2.55 or so.
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I've been trying to Google and find anything about LPG prices going up or staying the same, or even what it is right now. Can't find a thing. Probably not using the right search terms.

as for MPG, can you compare LPG's MPG to Gasoline MPG? i.e. when you buy LPG do you buy it by the pound or the gallon?
 
well, gas is through the roof, diesel is still under $2.80/gallon here, so wheres propane? Prob. around the $2.30-2.40 range...


Rob
 
I searched everywhere and came up with nothing. I guess the saying is true, Last place you look. Should have known to look here to begin with... http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=284715&highlight=propane+conversions

Everything you need to change over, and if done properly is street legal in most places. I think I'm gonna go look for some old forklifts in the old textile mills in town. Cheap tanks anyways.
 
Pro's
Longer oil life( no impurities to soil the oil)
runs at any angle
Will pass any sniffer since it exaust only carbon dioxide
Much Much Cheaper than Fuel Injection
basically maintenance free

Cons:
Availibility to run leagally
As Rich said, tanks takes up space


Propaneguy on Ebay( not the same as propaneguy.com) is good at finding different items. I got 17' of hose from him for $55 shipped to me. Not new, but in good condition. I used it to hook another friend up and it worked fine, and had ends already on it. I found Tanks at a good price from a Forklift rebuilder in Gastonia.

I advanced my timing and am in love with it. Did all I could ask for. My 360 isn't too good on economy, I used to carry 5 gal of gas over and above what I could fill my tank with. I used it many times on a decent day of wheeling. I went to CN and barely used a tank, and this was about 9 hours of wheeling. I guess my carb was THAT bad and wasted that much, now, no waste! so in my case, much better economy. I can't say what the MPG is since it is a trailor queen and only see's pavement every now and then.
 
So, for those of you that have done it. What does the exhaust sound like? Does it still have that wonderfull AMC V-8 sound?
 
lomodyj said:
So, for those of you that have done it. What does the exhaust sound like? Does it still have that wonderfull AMC V-8 sound?
Click to expand...

Makes no difference in the sound, unless you have issues with asperation. but,
It smells like a forklift!
 
lomodyj said:
So, for those of you that have done it. What does the exhaust sound like? Does it still have that wonderfull AMC V-8 sound?
Click to expand...

Nope, but mine's a Chevy.. There's some videos in the Cruggy build thread.. "Firstrun" i think it's called.

The sound didn't change though, but the smell sure as hell did...
 
Does running propane have any effect on engine wear? Gasoline has cleaning additives as well as some lubrication. Do you simply change your oil more often?
 
You need hardened valve seats because pane dosen't lubricate well. No Problems if you have them.

The recomended oil change intervals for pane is 13,000 miles and your oil will be the same color as it went in. KC
 
kc4x4 said:
You need hardened valve seats because pane dosen't lubricate well. No Problems if you have them.
Click to expand...

I believe all heads from 80s up have hardened seats. I read you need SS valves, but Rich and I had a discussion thread about this. I tried to do research on it, everyone claims you need SS valves w/ propane but I coundt find an answer to the question is to why you need them. I put SS valves in mine when I rebuilt it, I had the heads off not to long ago and they looked like the day I put them in. Pane burns cleaner than gassers, so oil changes are longer, I still change mine after every other ride or so and its clean as can be. I just put alot of money into my engine and im a bit anal.


monk, i think your just running a bit rich, hence the smell. Probably needs leaned out a bit thats all.
 
Rule of thumb: If the car came from the factory with at cat converter, it has hardened seats in the exhaust side. The reason for this is the heat that is built up because of the cat converter. Intakes have no need for them as there isn't a lot of heat passing over them. The Cat is there to re-burn part of the exaust, that's why it gets so hot. Hope this helps.
 
I thought hardened valve seats were introduced when unleaded gas first came out.
 
true, it is about the time that unleaded gas was introduced. but unleaded gas has nothing to do with the heat that is produced in the exhaust. The heat is due to the catalytic converter.
 
Well as I said, according to every auto tsm I've read about needing hardened valve seats, the reason was because of the fact that leaded fuel lubricated and "cushioned" the valve/seat. Without lead in the fuel and without hardened seats--cat or not--lash has to be readjusted every 20k miles or so to make up for wear/valve recession. You work at the machine shop though so you've definately got more experience than myself.
 
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