vn on gas... cheaply?

[PaRaDoX]

hey, guys its come down to it where fuel is costing me more than i earn per weeks =(, now ive searched the forums but found nothing to help me on what i wanna do =P

my mates dad is a mechanic, and has installed alot of LPG systems, how much would i reco'd lpg system cost and what is actually involved??

i know i need
the tank
some kind of dual fuel box

do lpg tanks use diffrent fuel lines? and do i need to remap my memcal for gas?
my car has done 260,000k's ive heard that slapping a lpg system on a car with higher k's can cause problems, as for the engine its going fine, it pings occasionally on certian 92 octane fuels but runs fine on unleaded 95 and unleaded 92 most of the time, aslong as i dont take her over 2500 rev's constantly she dosnt ping...(on 92 fuel)

how much could i expect to pay for a full reco'd lpg setup (a price range, ie cheapest to most expensive)

ive also heard it can blow up your air box if it back fires, but sice i have a pod filter (which has more surface area than a panel filter) should i be worring about this?

cheers

[Doctor Sodways]

You will need all new lines from the tank and so fourth, the switch to switch between gas and petty, which generally has an LED line to tell you how much gas you have, and, i cant remember what else.

As for back firing, my old man has a 98 jackaroo that was the first of its type on gas, it has a full custom system including tanks funded partly by holden to get it right. The way that it has been combated is there is a sock, almost like a stubby holder, echo holder, what ever, the sits over the tube on the intake pipe which has ahad a hole drilled in it, about 30mm in diameter. This allows excess air out when backfiring without blowing the airbox apart. The jackaroo has had about 3 bonnet linings and 4 or 5 airboxes before this was done because it blew them apart. But since this has gone on, it no longer blows the things apart, and if it does, backfire, which creates a big bang or pop sound, simply turn the key and start again. No problems

If anyone wants a photo, im sure it can be arranged

[PaRaDoX]

i remember my brother had his vn on gas, he blew up 3 air box's untill 1 day

he modified his air box.. lol a blow off valve (more of a flap), the flap would be sucked closed normally but with back pressure would fly open... that was ages ago tho

would this do the trick or do i still need new lines???
F.S Gas conversion parts, suit vn-vp, posibly vr v6

how much are new fuel lines to suit LPG????

what kinda costs can i be looking at for a tank??
cheers

[Doctor Sodways]

As much as i hate to say it, it may be illegal to sell second hand gas gear, i know in SA it is, i dunno about vic, but i think new lines are a must have.

And as for what your bro did, its a similar thing to what my old man has on the roo, similar in principle anyway

[PaRaDoX]

i looked on the vic roads website, no regulations on "used" systems, but ill be using new fuel lines
does anyone know where i can get a lpg system installed cheaply??, my mates dad has shitloads of work atm and cant do it
a phone number would be cool,

[BrianH]

It is not easy to convert one of these engines cheaply but I suppose it depends on what you call cheap. I recently bought a complete straight gas kit direct from Impco for a VP and it cost about $1300. I would imagine a VN would be the same.

The kit consisted of a tank, flexible rubber lines, a filler valve, four self crimping line connecters, a mixer, a converter complete with a filter lock, a microvac to disconnect the gas if the engine stops with the ignition still on, a fuel control valve, a micro processor to operate the control valve and a few line mounting clips, vacuum lines and a converter to mixer gas pipe. You will need a few more parts for dual fuel plus a vent tube go from the tank through the floor. They told me to use the stock memcal but I am not sure if that applies to dual fuel. The original Impco factory kit for the VP had two fuel control valves and a dual program memcal.

You are going to have fun trying to find all of that second hand and in good condition.

Don't worry about lines, they are the least of your problems. It is illegal in NSW to use second hand copper lines anyway and it most likely is in Vic as well.

You have to be careful buying a second hand tank. If it is date expired it has to be tested and restamped. If the valves in it are not in good condition, or their design does not meet the current regulations, they will have to be replaced and the cost will be about the same as a new tank.

The tank mounting brackets required today must be made and stamped by an authorised manufacturer.

You will have to make sure any second hand converter and mixer suit your engine and they may need an overhaul.

If a licensed person does not install it and fit a compliance plate to the car then you will have to take it to someone who can and if everything is not done properly they won't pass it.

Don't even think about bypassing this step. If you are caught or in an accident because of the gas then you will be in no end of trouble.

If your dad's mate is going to install it then I would go and see him first and discuss all of this. If he is not licenced then be very careful.

Brian

[PaRaDoX]

yeah, im going over there tommorrow, hes gonna give me a list of everything i need, he's picked up full gas systems for commodores for under $300 that comply with currnet standards (ie everything needed to pass a compliance)

gonna get it fitted by a shop, fitting at most should cost me $500, so im hoping to get away with a dual fuel system for round $800,

i might wait untill tax return when i have lots of surplus dosh lol..!

[bezz]

i blew out a few airboxes in my vn.
Ended up replacing the airbox with a pod filter... no more blowouts!
Make sure you check the pod filter every once and a while tho, the backfiring is still taxing on them, and they tend to disintegrate from the inside.

[hazza]

My Vn is on gas as well and it has no problems with back firing. The only problem would be if it did back fire would be that it just needs a tune to adjust to the gas. Installing gas is a little bit of a problem at the start becuase the mechanic has to adjust the car until it is right.
I know from Experience.
Catch ya

As for back firing,

[HoZy]

Errrr theonly way to get your gas system tuned perfectly is to get it tuned on a DYNO!I've hadmine done twice gastuned on a dyno, better than just shitty 02 tune.

Cheers
MaT

[white vt]

i've known a few VNs on gas never had a problem of backfire, thought it was more VS commies with the hot wire air flow meter

[hazza]

DYNO!

Thats what i meant i just didnt put it down.
soz

[Doctor Sodways]

Beleive me, the jackaroo was on the dyno more than once, it went to sydney or melbourne twice, and was on the dyno here more than dad had it in the first month or two, its fixed, but yes, dyno is the way to do it.

It still does it occassionally, generally when people dont know what they are doing and start it with the accelorator, not me, dads friends and so fourth