Propane install: FSB

[olmer2]

For those that don't know, here Ya go... :xyxthumbs: Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) is a gas that is in liquid form when it's under pressure. The liquid is stored in a tank. From the tank it flows through special tubing/hose to a safety valve that is either actuated by vacuum or a 12volt trigger (I used the power source from the old fuel pump which is no longer needed). From the safety valve it then flows (still as a liquid) to the converter. The converter converts the liquid to a gas by letting it expand. The rapid expansion causes extreme cold, so engine coolant is piped from the heater core and flows through the bottom of the converter thusly warming/defrosting it. Now, as a gas, it heads to the mixer and is mixed with fresh air from the air cleaner (it acts like a carb). The base of the mixer is actually the base plate from a Holly 650 carb. The butterfly valves are actuated with the go fast pedal. That's petty much it in a nutshell. Super easy to install, it takes about three or four hours to complete.

Gas engine 351 (now a 358 with heavy internal mods)


just about all you need, from left to right: safety valve, mixer/carb base plate, converter, intake (low rise, dual plane for torque) garden hose wraped line(to protect gas line), assorted fittings, and tank.


It'll take me FOREVER to post these pics. so here is a link to the photos from the build up. I posted them backwards so just hit the "PREV" button in the upper right corner: http://www.virtualford.org/vfforum/album...tureid=426

Hope this helped, If you have any other Q's just give me a shout.
:biggthumpup:

[broncomania]

propane is great for off roading. i ran it on my rig to.

[olmer2]

It's a great mod for old carb'd trucks, but why bother when you already have EFI?

I get this question quite a bit (and it has merit). When I built my engine, I did a little work on the lower end to REALLY support boost (in the future). I also used D00e heads ported,polished, decked .40, ect. The new mods, along with a cam did not allow me to run the Speed density EFI system, I would have had to change over to mass air. For the amount I drive it and price of high octane gas, it was cheaper this way. Race fuel (105) is around $5.90 a gallon around here (well, the last time I checked anyway). Propane is 108-110 octane @ $2.15 a gallon. :xyxthumbs:

[bronco460]

Where did you get your setup from?

[olmer2]

Where did you get your setup from?

I bought the mixer, converter and safty valve used from a friend. I had the lines fabbed at a local shop for about $60.oo. The intake from ebay and the tank from a friend.

Makes sense - so what's your compression? I hope about 11:1?

Right now, with these heads, it's close to 11.1. When I install a super charger I will get bigger heads to lower the compression ratio. The D00e
(1970) heads flow really well but they were decked .040 under which upped the ratio. The Magnum block was bored out to .040 over in preperation for boost.

[olmer2]

Have you considered nitrous?

I've thought about it but I've never been around nitrous. I'm not educated in its setup and I don't know how it acts, runs ect. My other problem is it's not street legal (at least in TN) but I want to have power whenever I want it. After the sc I may look into nitrous.

[bronco460]

The safety valve, mixer/carb base plate, and converter, what do I need to look for to find these parts. I dont know anything about propane eccept the advantages "of it". cratchhe:

[olmer2]

The safety valve, mixer/carb base plate, and converter, what do I need to look for to find these parts. I dont know anything about propane eccept the advantages "of it". cratchhe:

Sorry for the slow reply, I was out of town for a while...

IMPCO is the company that makes alot of these parts. For a V6 & V8 engine look for (depending on the HP your engine puts out) an IMPCO 435 mixer, a type "E" converter, and either a vacuum or eletric safety valve (impco as well). The base for the mixer is your favorite carbs base plate: Holley, Fomoco, Quadrajunk ect. Good sources are Ebay, craigslist, and fireplace/propane stores. Give me a shout if you need a hand finding these parts. :xyxthumbs:

[bronco460]

Thanks, I will look at the suppliers around town.