VY LPG Wagon Conversion Advice Please

[TheJack]

Just wondering if anyone can give advice to where to get an SVI LPG conversion and if anyone else has had it done recently in thier wagon?
I have a VY Excec Wagon 2002

I'm in Ferntree Gully Victoria.
Ive noticed a few places up Dorset Rd in Bayswater, does anyone know who's the best? I dont wanna end up with a whole lot of problems, my car has been running well on petrol for the past year I've owned it so i don't wanna stuff anything up.

Also do they still use the bulgy big donut tanks that make the floor in the back not flat? I used to own a vs wagon on lpg with an impco system I think and the tank made the floor un even, I was glad to get a vy wagon with a flat floor. Will the lpg tank ruin my flat floor or have they made the tank sit flatter now?
Any advice would be great thanks.

[quinny]

hey mate!

i too have a 2002 vy commodore wagon with lpg tank.

mine came factory fitted though, but it does have the big donut tank thing u are talking about. as for the floor, it still sits flat. all they do, is when it is fitted, the put two pieces of foam on either side of the tank. sort of running from front of vehicle to back, along the section underneath the big flap that lifts up. this foam protects the tank, and also means that the lift up flap sits flush.

it probably sits 3 cms higher than normal.

do you have the carpet overlay in th back? because when thats down you can't even notice the lift.

i hope that makes sense, bit hard to explain!!
i'd take a photo but my car is in the shop atm.

[greenbeam]

Beware the 'factory' system if you are fitting it to a used car. To get the full 'factory' warranty you need to get it fitted through a Holden dealer, otherwise Holden will give you the Holden Accessories warranty on the kit, but no warranty on anything else related to the conversion. My 'factory' conversion (VY Berlina sedan), done by one of Holden's approved fitters (Adelaide Autogas) blew the gas input on my ECM. Impco tried to help get the ECM replaced under warranty, but Holden and the gas fitter wouldn't have a bar of it. $1200 for a new ECM - ouch. Holden's line was that I should have gone through a Holden Dealer to get the system fitted (BTW - the dealer just drives the car straight down to the fitter that did my car!).

Not saying don't do it, just warning you to check out the fine print.
Regards,
Paul.

[blownba]

Mate I am Tartarini injection preferred fitter in Wantirna.
I specialise in Tartarini injection systems but I also fit Eurogas.
The Tartarini system on the VY is remarkable to say the least I have done a few now and the owners are completely wrapped. I have the added advantage that my mentor when I started 15 years ago is now the head R&D guy at the Tartarini importers so I tend to get the best maps that you could possibly get.
We have never had anything that even gets close to any issues with any of my Tartarini conversions as the stuff is just so well sorted and the Matrix injectors are so friggin reliable its not funny.
I have also done 6.0L VE and they run awesome.
I have done heaps of late model Fords like XR8 and Territory, turbo's ect.
All my systems come with a independant engine warranty that the LPG supplier has tee'd up with a insurance company, so if God forbid you do have engine issues and Holden won't come to the party and it is the fault of the LPG system than you have piece of mind that you are completely covered.
Greenbeam what you have experienced is becomming more and more common nowadays as the industry is being flooded with inexperienced fitters that have just got their licence and think the can do conversions in a day. I feel that what has happened is purely down to poor wiring of the system. With VSI you need to 'pinch' the injector signal from the OEM computer and if this is done incorrectly you will overload the injector driver in the ECU and thats ALL BAD!!!!! I would be contacting the AAFRB and voicing your concerns to Tony O'mara and seeing if they can do something or at least investigate the matter or the fitter.
Its amazing the stuff I have been seeing and fixing lately, its enough to make your hair curl!!! Even the so called industry leaders are consistantly doin illegal things to customers vehicles just to make a few more bucks.
I have been in the LPG industry for 15 years now and have been around injection for LPG since its inception and to date I can proudly say that I have not had one single complaint with my VSI systems. This is mainly because I have sorted through the **** gear and found the one system that works flawlessly every time I fit it. And the other system I find extreamly reliable is EUROGAS, but it is not as compact or as neat as the Tartarini nor does it run a Matrix injector.
If you want a quote you can give me a ring on 0425 719193 and ask for Anhtony.

Oh and here's a pic of a Territory with Tartarini injection. If you want it neater than this in the wiring it all can be hidden for a little extra cost. But this is just my run of the mill conversion.
(Sorry I only have pics of Fords and a Mitsubishi on my home PC)

I also do straight gas Injection systems that run their own dedicated engine management so you can run it on your old school carby model car. And I am a Impco authorised installer.

Sorry to crap on so long but this is a subject that I am VERY passionate about. And I love to do super neat super reliable conversions.

[steve40]

Hi do you know of anyone around bacchus marsh that can do the Tartarini system that you would recomend its sound like the best system so far and I have been looking for a while for my 03 yv sedan.Or if the price is reasonable I could possibly bring to you as I don,t mind traveling for a quality job.

Steve

[mordor23]

hi mate in warragul vic vys for $2850 for legit holden set up

i get $5 per 100km with myn

[blownba]

Yeah I can give ya a loan car if ya want me to do it thats not a problem.
I think there are guys that are in Moe cause I saw them at a training day at our suppliers one day. If ya want me to find out if there is anyone closer let me know as I can find out off my mate who is the R&D guy for Tartarini.

[steve40]

yea sounds ok,can you give me a rough quote or would you perfer me to give you a ring,Moe is further away than you ,I am out west past melton.....

[commsirac]

I know nothing about the success of blownba's business, however, my advice to anyone considering a conversion is dont live too far away from where you are having it done. Drive in and never have to come back again.......that would be rare.

[rokkz]

Blownba

Thanks for the informative post, I am too looking to have installed LPG on my VY Series II Berlina V6 sedan. Still deciding between the impco or Tartarini for a direct inj system

If possible could you please quote a LPG installation, in the Werribee area and have a few cowboys this side of town. my email rokkz@hotmail.com

A mate with a BA recently had the Tartarini system installed with only one complaint, stalls when reversing he beleives while switching from Petrol to gas other than that he is very happy.

If possible could you post a VY conversion pic?


Cheers

[steve40]

yea commsirac I do want to get one close to me so I don,t have to travel but at the same time I would travel a bit for quality maybe not to the other side of town.

[blownba]

Now if ya want, the best thing you could do is ring me on 9887-1315. All you guys with Jan 04 onwards VY's will have to go with Eurogas injection as there is currently no emission approved kit in Tartarini for the VY. But the Eurogas is emission approved for VY. Or you can fit the factory IMPCO emission approved kit.
I do fit the GENUINE IMPCO ( I am a Impco certified installer) factory kit for VY WHICH IS emission certified and runs very well but will not hold a candle to a good injection system but is about 2 grand cheaper.
And commisirac, I have many a customer come from miles away to get a half decent job, I had a Ford forum member come to me recently from country vic, a 1200km round trip, to get his BA XR8 manual done and he has never been happier as he has no need to come back as there is NOTHING WRONG.
Now I'm not saying I'm God's gift or anything CAUSE I'M NOT!!! but I have enough experience to take the time to do things right the first time, I am not a high volume conversion business I do only what I can handle as I am the only guy doin the conversions so you can be sure that you are getting the best workman in the shop doin your gas every time, not that you go to so called reputable workshops that have 3 really experienced guys fitting and then they also have 3 guys that have only been doing gas for a couple of months, all they have done is the training course and they think they can fit gas!!!! Its like Russian Roulette.
Ill get some pics over the next few days as I'm going to have to find em at work and scan em.

[commsirac]

Now I'm not saying I'm God's gift or anything CAUSE I'M NOT!!! but I have enough experience to take the time to do things right the first time, I am not a high volume conversion business I do only what I can handle as I am the only guy doin the conversions so you can be sure that you are getting the best workman in the shop doin your gas every time, not that you go to so called reputable workshops that have 3 really experienced guys fitting and .

That's good to hear, but doesnt seem to be the way most operators work, they rely on the customers to find the stuff they didnt do properly. So all your conversions are drive in, never have to be seen again.....with the exception of a 10000km tune up etc?

[blownba]

No thats far from it. Most conversions I have done I have picked up the vehicle or owner as a regular customer for servicing and or repairs.
I am not so big to think that my conversions will not have issues at some stage there are far too many variables to consider, but having said that so far lately I had a pretty good run with the stuff I've done.
What I seem to be doin more of is fixen other fitters $%#@ ups and its startin to get to me.
1000k services are always free.

[rokkz]

blownba

Can you confirm the impco Holden LPG System is not a Direct injection?
If this is the case I will stick to Tartarini as you mention and as previously arrived

My Ride is VY Series II built in 2003 registered in Feb 2004 and assume you have fitted the Tartarini to VY II 2003 Vehicle?

Cheers

[blownba]

The Impco system is not the injection type of conversion, Impco do not have their own system the closest they have is the BRC sequent VSI (they bought out BRC)

Have not done Tartarini to a VY 03 as yet, but it really isnt any different to a VX. I have fitted the Eurogas to a VY and I have also done Prins (shudders) on a VY.
The Eurogas and Tartarini systems poo all over the Prins even though they run the same injector (Eurogas) simply because the Eurogas and Tartarini gear come preloaded with a vehicle specific base map whereas the nasty Prins gear has a autotune function that gets the tune nowhere near right (the one I fitted did anyway) To get it right you'd need at least a day on the dyno to sort it, whereas the Eurogas and Tartarini stuff always comes with preloaded base tunes that have had MANY, many hours spent on them to sort them out, by tuners that are far smarter than I am when it comes to building base maps.

[TheJack]

Thanks for all your posts blownba.
I'll have to give you a call sometime soon and arrange it to be done.
I was hoping to find someone who seemed to know what they're on about.
Does anyone know how long the government are going to keep paying the rebate for conversions? Will it change if the gov does? Could affect my vote desision
I think I need to pay the full amount upfront anyway which is close to $3k isn't it and then $2k back from the rebate?

I drove a VS on lpg for a few months.
The savings in the wallet each week were incredible so I think its worth it anyway even tho I do far less k's per week now with my new work/home location.

[rokkz]

TheJack

I think the offer ends 2010, and your required to pay the full amount and receive a chq through medicare within 12 days.

Here's all the info~

LPG Vehicle Scheme



Cheers

[milka]

Had a impco system fitted to my 2004 exec II, the installers have had several goes but can,t stop the ' check engine ' alarm coming on after a short time traveled. Reluctant to take it back as the last time the engine started stalling. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Cheers

[twb1979]

blownba,

I have some pics of the 'conventional' mixer factory set-up on a VY II sedan pics if you would like me to post them.

Me personally we had our 03/2005 SV6 converted to injected LPG using a SprintGas OMVL kit and it ran a dream, only complaint I have is when they put the wiring/hoses thru the firewall it slightly increased the road-noise. Have since sold this car to a good mate and he swears by it. If members are interested I posted some pics of it in the VZ section last year shouldn't take too much effort to serach for the pics. Did 570-580kms around down using the full 75L useable tank of LPG, further than ULP!!

We now have a MY06 SX6 Adventra that we are going to get done in the new year, but sadly the donut tanks only hold between 60-65L useable which should return just over 400kms.

Anyone in WA, I use Steens in Balcatta never had a drama with them and they have fantastic customer skills and always put the customer first, would recommend them to anyone in WA.

rgds

Tom/WA

[trevmanox]

instead of starting new thread - i'll add on here.
i just bought a 2004 VYII Crewman that has a gas tank installed in the tub - which is annoying as i have a dirtbike etc that i need that space for.

I was wondering if anyone knows a cheap place where i can replace the tub tank with an underneath one? I rang Ezygas and they reckon i'll be lucky to get change from $1000!!!

[blownba]

That's about right mate.
The donut tank alone is over $780. Then you need new brackets, lines and labour to remove the old tank and mount the new one.
The more I think about it that quote sounds too cheap.
They must be using real cheap tanks OR they are willing to give you some cash for your old tank.

The biggest issue with fitting a donut tank to a crewman is it hangs down pretty low AND you cant fit a donut tank if you have a towbar fitted. you need a custom towbar to clear the tank as it sits too close to the rear of the car. You can't fit it more forward as it hits the differential.

I have seen cylinders under a crewman and it is horrible to say the least!!! A cylinder will practically hit the ground and you have to modify the rear exhaust to get it far enough away. The cylinder i saw would not have been legal anyway as it encroached on the departure angle which is the line from the bottom of the back wheels to the rear most lowest part of the body or towbar.

A donut tank is a far better option. it will give you 68L usable (86L tank) or if you want one that is the exact same size as the spare tyre and will allow you to get a H/D towbar fitted also you can go with the 50L usable (68L) donut tank.
This size will be virtually invisible from behind the car and will allow you to go anywhere without the worry of bottoming out the tank.

I think Easy gas may have quoted you on the smaller tank (still a cheap brand I reckon) and like I said will give you some money back for your tank as they will sell it to someone else straight away (and probably not even tell them... They are notorious for fitting stuff they didn't quote for... Like a customer I know asked for liquid injection on his Commodore and they fitted their cheap Sprintgas vapour injection and still charged the liquid price, he came to me as he got sick of the way it ran and how many times he took it back and its still not right, I popped the bonnet and went sorry mate I don't fit sprintgas injection..... He said "what do you mean???? I have JTG liquid injection!!!!!" FAIL!!!!!!!
To say he was pissed is an understatement... And they just lied and lied saying they told him it was a vapour injection system..... The moral is be careful of ANYTHING Easygas says. They are desperate for work, they will say anything to just get you in the door)

END RANT!!!

[strgas]

question for blownba What makes your equipment any better than whats already on the market when all systems suffer the problem of running on dirty gas ??? Most of these vapour injection systems are imported from Europe where they have 100% propane and not the crap we run here .
You bag ezygas rather hard and openly yet they are one of the biggest in the industry right now fitting gas they are hard to compete with price wise . At the end of the day its the owners choice and there money and most will go with the cheapest price any day ... 16 years as a licensed LPG fitter seen alot worse conversion by others ...

[trevmanox]

well.....i just had an HD towbar fitted last week (apparently you can only get an HD 2500kg one on the crewman!) - so that seems to rule out a donut anyway - and i'm hardly about to spend a grand or more on the move for the convenience. I think i'll just tough it out with the tank in the tub and tow a trailer if i need to move lotsa stuff!

On another note tho - the gas seems to run a bit rough - when i cut to petrol no issue, but when im on gas it just seems far less smooth! is this normal?