LPG Conversion - Workshop Reccomendations - Geelong/Melbourne

[nathanVY]

Hey everyone, in the more immediate future I'm looking at converting my car to LPG or buying a crappy VN on lpg and using that to drive to work. If I get LPG on my VS I want to it to be really good and don't mind spending a few grand to get it the way I want it.

However a cheapo VN might be a better option then I wouldn't be putting kms on my car. But I have my car I've put all this work into it, may as well use it.

Anyway can someone recommend a good workshop that does good LPG conversions - and possibly tuning as well - or recommend tuners (I'd be looking at possible running dual memcals or tune petrol for better performance)

Advice much appreciated!

[bpefi]

I have a vs - I just have an Airod convertor / Blos mixer off Ebay / std dual map Chip from an LPG supplier (cheaper than genuine & you wont need petrol start option with this - also fuel pump switched off automatically - starts perfect) Pulstar spark plugs to stop backfiring problems works great - no power loss from the mixer. Just did 380 k for 58L of LPG all around town with a burst every so often with a 3.7 diff ratio. Cant get better than that

[nathanVY]

That's what I wanna hear! Can you post some more details about where you got your system, who installed it, etc. Do you have any trouble running / starting on petrol? How much did it set you back?

[rowinskii]

there is still the 1750 dollar rebate, so you only looking at around 500 bucks max after the rebate for a good system!

[nathanVY]

there is still the 1750 dollar rebate, so you only looking at around 500 bucks max after the rebate for a good system!

still need to have the money upfront though.

[HamaTime™]

Haha, lucky alot of the questions your asking these days are right up my alley.

there is still the 1750 dollar rebate, so you only looking at around 500 bucks max after the rebate for a good system!

Wrong. $500 after the rebate will get you the standard old carby styled Gas Mixer system. Which is the biggest Piece of Shit in modern automotive terms. Now a pretty standard VS V6 isn't really the cream of the crop in the grand scheme of things, but an Air Mixer system sucks balls. I know. I have one, and I regret the decision of going gas mixer. But at the same time, I don't regret the savings on not forking out for Direct Injection and the savings on day to day driving and the ability to flick to petrol and get some on tap power.

still need to have the money upfront though.

Yes you do. Luckily the place I had mine done in Lilydale is right next door to my mechanic who is a good family friend/mates dad...close connections etc...so I just gave them the $400 extra that the $2000 rebate didn't cover (special price as well) and gave them the rebate check when it cleared 2 weeks later.

My Advice: If you want to spend the money to get a good gas system. Go Direct Injection, and get it tuned properly by the place that does it, not just a fitting. Pull the figures your looking at about $1500 - $2000 out of pocket including the rebate depending on the place you go to for Direct Injection.
Gas Mixer systems are shocking. Have a look at my engine bay, there is a big converter near the intake pipe with a big restrictor attached right up the top near the Throttle body. That impede's air flow (a decent CAI overcomes this obstacle and you don't lose any power on petrol for it). Not to mention the throttle lag on gas as the gas has to go from liquid into gas through the convertor and get mixed with the air through the intake, and go through the manifold before it gets to the cylinders...all that adds up to a laggy and uneconomical system.
Direct Injection injects the gas into the cylinder as a liquid, whilst losing a little bit of economy due to the lower energy rating of gas, you don't lose any power thanks to the 'direct injection' and the higher octane rating.

Another benefit of gas is that you can get away with a higher compression ratio and shave the heads more to bump the CR up. More power there.

As far as good gas installers go, not sure about Geelong as I barely ever go down that way. But in Melbourne the two best ones I'm aware of are:

AG AutoGas (Lilydale - Where I got mine done)

Smithy's LPG (Bayswater)

[nathanVY]

HamaTime, never let me down. Thanks for that very useful info about the gas mixer system, I knew of that style system and of direct injection but wasn't sure if there was a middle ground. Its either have a crappy powerless car or spending heaps and get a good one. I guess i'm planning on having this a long time and the savings from gas are probably well worth the direct injection, even if the engine carks it one day.

Lilydale. Wow. Would almost need LPG just to afford to drive there LOL. Nah I don't really mind it if it comes recommended and I like their style it's no problem. Better than getting ripped by some other loosers hahah.

So really for a "decent" lpg system, by that I mean direct injection i'd be looking at about $4000, $1500 of which i'd get back from the rebate (yes it's gone down). Better start saving lol.

[HamaTime™]

Yeah ball park around $2k out of pocket for the conversion.

Yeah, very important to get a good crew to install the gas for you.

Savings from gas are great. And at the flick of the switch you have a bit more power/responsiveness on tap anyway.

Thanks for the compliment as well Nathan. Always a pleasure to help out.

Hamish.

[commocars]

i have a place in braybrook west if interested

[bpefi]

Haha, lucky alot of the questions your asking these days are right up my alley.



Wrong. $500 after the rebate will get you the standard old carby styled Gas Mixer system. Which is the biggest Piece of Shit in modern automotive terms. Now a pretty standard VS V6 isn't really the cream of the crop in the grand scheme of things, but an Air Mixer system sucks balls. I know. I have one, and I regret the decision of going gas mixer. But at the same time, I don't regret the savings on not forking out for Direct Injection and the savings on day to day driving and the ability to flick to petrol and get some on tap power.



Yes you do. Luckily the place I had mine done in Lilydale is right next door to my mechanic who is a good family friend/mates dad...close connections etc...so I just gave them the $400 extra that the $2000 rebate didn't cover (special price as well) and gave them the rebate check when it cleared 2 weeks later.

My Advice: If you want to spend the money to get a good gas system. Go Direct Injection, and get it tuned properly by the place that does it, not just a fitting. Pull the figures your looking at about $1500 - $2000 out of pocket including the rebate depending on the place you go to for Direct Injection.
Gas Mixer systems are shocking. Have a look at my engine bay, there is a big converter near the intake pipe with a big restrictor attached right up the top near the Throttle body. That impede's air flow (a decent CAI overcomes this obstacle and you don't lose any power on petrol for it). Not to mention the throttle lag on gas as the gas has to go from liquid into gas through the convertor and get mixed with the air through the intake, and go through the manifold before it gets to the cylinders...all that adds up to a laggy and uneconomical system.
Direct Injection injects the gas into the cylinder as a liquid, whilst losing a little bit of economy due to the lower energy rating of gas, you don't lose any power thanks to the 'direct injection' and the higher octane rating.

Another benefit of gas is that you can get away with a higher compression ratio and shave the heads more to bump the CR up. More power there.

As far as good gas installers go, not sure about Geelong as I barely ever go down that way. But in Melbourne the two best ones I'm aware of are:

AG AutoGas (Lilydale - Where I got mine done)

Smithy's LPG (Bayswater)

If you go with a std mixer & no dual map tune yes your right - but if you go with a Blos & a dual map tune no your wrong - no different to driving on petrol - luckily I have an Airod variable mixer & I have a Blos on my other car - both work real well - if you want to save money & have an easy & cheap thing that anyone can fix -go this way - If you want the best possible for power - go with liquid injection - its a bit complicated & more expensive to repair if things go wrong. It really depends on where you are - if your in a big City like Melbourne & you can get plenty of mechanics that fit LPG & you want the power & you have money to burn - definitely go with Liquid injection. Otherwise a Blos. I ended up having to get a std system done & then upgrade it myself as no one even knew about the genuine dual map Memcal setup. When I got it back it was so far down on power I couldn't believe it - lucky he had one only - Airod variable out the back & I got that - now with dual map tune its awesome - starts perfect every time as the ecu fires the injectors so it starts on petrol for a couple of secs & then switches off - its not laggy at all - I have a dual cab Hilux with the VS engine in it & with the 3.7 ratio dif it howls - I had 1/2 ton of soft drinks in the rear & had a run with a VS off the lights & I stayed with him all the way. I don't know where you are but if your in Qld I can help with a fitter - the Blos mixer has to come from Poland & you have to buy it off Ebay.

[bpefi]

You will still have to get a dual map memcal with either setup as even the liquid injection cant alter ignition timing map for LPG