LPG conversion

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gerardsrik
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LPG conversion

Post by gerardsrik »

We want to build a lpg installation in our gmc. I have some questons about this who someone with already an lpg installation in his gmc can anwser:

-Where did you tap the cooling liquid for the evaporator from?
-Is it neccesary to change the valve seatings to harder ones?

Any advice is welcome.

Thanks,

Rik
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Karoshi
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LPG

Post by Karoshi »

Hello Rik. I too am fitting a LPG gas installation to my 352.

To my surprise the Evaporator does not have (or need) a hot water feed to prevent icing, or so the manufacturer says. Maybe this is because I am using a Lambda sensor, which makes for better regulation of the gas flow. We shall see.

I do not intend to change my valve seats and again the manufacturer thinks it’s unnecessary for the few thousands of kilometers I do a year.

My biggest problem is where to mount the cylinders (plural), where are you mounting yours ?
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Post by John V Cliche »

Karoshi
I think I remember seeing a post on mounting the cyls. ( it may have been here )
Anyway the owner had mounted them in the cargo bed and disguised them by building period looking crates around them.

Just a thought :)

John
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Karoshi
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Post by Karoshi »

John thanks for the thought, I use the cargo bed as a bunkhouse and so am very reluctant to give this space up, I'm already pressed as I have a shorty 352.

My original plan was to undersling them between the chassis rails, but to have a capacity worth carrying this looks impracticable. I'm now thinking about mounting a large domestic house cylinder in my Ben Hur with a quick couple hose.
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Post by mick.wilson »

Is this any good to you guys?

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Post by joel gopan »

Apparantly there is no motor fuel tax in the UK. There are hefty DOT/NFPAregulations governing motor vehicle propane tanks and penalties for avoiding paying highway fuel taxes in the US. A gallon of Propane yields less BTUs than a Gallon of Gasoline. There are advantages to propane, but recovering the cost to convert may take longer than one realizes.
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Post by dr deuce »

For some stoopid reason, there are no expiration dates on permanently mounted RV propane tanks in the US. The portable ones have recertification dates, but the permanently mounted ones are OK if they look OK.... :(

I guess that they figure that the RV will die and be junked before the tank becomes dangerous. Sooo if you convert you CCKW to propane, use a permanently mounted tank
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Post by John V Cliche »

Here in the northeastern US
Gasoline is approx $3.00 a gallon
Propane is approx $3.25 a gallon
So the cost benefit is non-existant

But I suspect the cost difference between the 2 across the pond makes an LPG conversion practical.


My 2 cents
John

Diesel is approx $ 3.75 a gallon :cry:
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Post by Chris_M »

You lucky guys! I wish I could have gas as cheap as you do.
Here in Germany the prize is:

Gasoline (a gallon) 5,12 € = 7,57 $!!! :shock:

Regards,

Chris
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mick.wilson
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Post by mick.wilson »

U.K price

Gasoline (a gallon) £4.73 = $9.42 ..... :shock: :cry: :cry:

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Karoshi
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Post by Karoshi »

Here in the UK a Government spokesman said:

The government has reduced the duty on LPG (or Autogas) as a result of its unique clean burning properties that significantly reduce vehicle emissions. Duty levels on LPG are fixed until 2009.

Currently duty on LPG is about 6p/litre and petrol 56p/litre.

It has not stated its intentions for post 2009 !! With the milage I do I figure I could just about recover costs by 2009, if I convert now, and so not actually be worse off if (when) gas prices escalate in 2009.
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Re: LPG conversion

Post by jakub »

[quote="gerardsrik"]We want to build a lpg installation in our gmc. I have some questons about this who someone with already an lpg installation in his gmc can anwser:

-Where did you tap the cooling liquid for the evaporator from?

the head water relif pipe is ideal for this

-Is it neccesary to change the valve seatings to harder ones?

there are two anwsers or rather theories to this:

1. Yanks didn't use leaded petrol in the 40-ties, so no worry here because if unleaded petrol was used the valve seat are design to whistand lack of leaded lubricant;

2. Yanks were useing leaded petrol, though, but after all how many miles are you going to drive, anyhow use petrol time to time and you should be OK
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Re: LPG conversion

Post by G.I. Gino »

hi all,
here in australia, lpg is half the price of petrol, my gmc and a mates both have been converted to run on gas..both run well, my tank is in the cargo bed, my mates are on the chassis rail,lm able to change from petrol to gas whilst driving and it saves me a heap on fuel costs, considering one event l go to has over a 1000km turnaround, first chance l get will take some pics,
cheers,
gino.
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