LPG Installation Requirements

According to this wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compressed_natural_gas), "a suitably designed natural gas engine may have a higher output compared with a petrol engine because the octane number of natural gas is higher than that of petrol."

Also, "The state of Utah offers a statewide network of CNG filling stations...".

 

Yeah, that is right and CNG in Utah is very cheap too. A lot of the CNG vehicles in other states that were made in the 90's and early 2000's that don't re-sell well because of the pain to re-fill get sent into Utah and are in very high demand because of the huge savings in fuel costs.

But, because this is secret rocket science that only Utah possess, other states haven't been able to do the same thing.

Let's see;
1. easy cheap to do (convert gas motors and build filling network)
2. very clean burning
3. lower maintenance of engines
4. actually safer than gasoline (yes, despite what some might believe, it is true - look up facts if you don't think so before responding with stories about friends of friends who accidentally blew up whole towns)
5. tech. figured out back in like 1910
6. probably would kill oil/gas profit margins
= better keep the lid on that idea as much as possible.

 

honda is selling a CNG car now or soon...not sure. But there is a company that is selling a home compressor aimed at that market to take the natural gas from your regular home gas line and compress it to ~3600psi for use in a CNG vehicle. Pretty expensive piece but if you are determined to tell the oil gods no, its an option. http://www.myphill.com/

 

Hi ....Very informative info....Questions what mileage can be had using the LPG?....For example if I get 30 mpg on gas will I get the same or better on LPG?...What is the costs per mile for LPG?......With the car I have now I get just over 30 MPG at $3.89 a gallon ( highway ) that's about 13 cents a mile..Thanks ...Miller

 

Yeah, that is a great option for a lot of people actually, even at the somewhat large initial expense. Home CNG is still pretty cheap and even with the road taxes added, would be a big savings over gasoline. Unfortunately, my house doesn't have a gas meter/supply and the extra expense of that may be a deal killer for some like me. Very convenient to just fill up in your garage though with cheap CNG, that is for sure.

I am looking at possibly moving to a new house and I will be sure to make sure the next one already has gas just in case for this very reason.

By the way, all the recent LPG/CNG chatter is relevant to the hamb. Hot rods with old carb. motors are very easy to convert over to either. The only real down side is having to give up on the old highly prized carburetors. But, new LPG crabs. look pretty vintage, just not patinated. So, you can run a kick *** hot rod on LPG or CNG and don't need to compromise too much of anything major. Especially considering that most hot rods are driven on a limited basis anyway and with very limited range (I said most, not all). I have thought about starting a conversion service just for old cars, but too busy with other stuff and not sure there would be enough interest anyway do to tradition and natural resistance to alternative stuff.

 

here in western australia we get subsidised by the government for LPG conversions, i had my wifes holden commodore done, cost was $3160 and we recieved $3000 rebate from the state and federal govern,ment.
LPG at the garage down the road from me is 58.2 cents, unleaded fuel $1.65 per litre, has cut her weekly fuel bill from $85 to about $38
here in australia most garages have lpg

 

I agree completely. If traditional hot rodding isnt about innovation and finding a better way to do something then we should all go home as we are just a bunch of geeks copying each other

 

a good friend of mine has just got his truck on the road...he`s written an article on the lpg install, with pix....if you want any answers, give him an email, he`s a really nice guy, and would be really pleased to help anyone.
http://www.uk-hotrods.co.uk/v2/garage_scene/me/lpg.php/page1.php

 

"...The only real down side is having to give up on the old highly prized carburetors..." Not necessarily...I actually have a mysterious gas attachment for a 97. Wish I could post pictures...maybe somebody modern could stop by.
Basically, it is a casting that fits between throttle casting and main body, with an inlet and some sort of valve. There's a stretched pump rod to keep gasoline option working, and a kind of lever up top that allows float to be jammed in the up position when running gas...I have NO clue as to type of gas or when or why it was made or if there would be more pieces needed...but theres a dual fuel Stromberg!
Might be a problem finding enough for those running eight of 'em...

 

By the way, it is clearly a commercially built piece designed for a Stromberg, not an improvisation. It is so simple I wonder if it might be for something like a pump engine running at a steady speed all the time.

 

Put a blower on top the engine putting out about 12 psi of boost, a propane mixer or two on top of the blower with that good 110 octane lpg, what power loss?