Propane Power
Moderator: MalcolmV8
Propane Power
Got a buddy who does antique tractor pulling. He runs propane but has just dinked around with it a little. He now wants to get serious and has come to me with questions I cannot answer. I was just wondering if anyone knew where a man could get info on this or if anyone knows anything about this. He is wanting to build some decent power and I know nothing of propane engines. I know it's gonna be basically the same just mainly need to know how to adjust the propane for compression ratio and so on. Any info greatly appreciated.
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85 Ranger 5.0, GTP Engine, Carbed, AOD, 7.5 3:45 rear gear(for now)
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85 Ranger 5.0, GTP Engine, Carbed, AOD, 7.5 3:45 rear gear(for now)
77 Mustang II 302, C4, 8" rearend 3:00 gears, 4 point roll bar
73 Mustang Convertible, Bone Stock, 48,000 original miles
91 F-250 5.8W(really needs a 460) 4X4
2000 Mustang 3.8 V6, Bone Stock
2011 Ford Fusion (Momma's hot rod)
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cgrey8
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My stepfather had a GM propane conversion for an SBC. He ran it for a few years and then got rid of the truck. But the basic setup was quite simple. It included a throttle body that looks similar to a carb or TBI throttle body. The difference was that instead of floats and jets, it had a valve and pressure regulator in it. It based flow on both the pressure in the intake and the throttle position...that's about it. I have no clue if there was any tuning that was required but I have to believe there was. He did that conversion back before I really cared much for engines and it was 100% mechanical. No computer.
I do remember him saying that an optimal propane engine is about a 12-13:1 compression vs a gasoline engine that's 8-10:1 naturally aspirated. He never modified the engine. It stayed basically a gasoline engine with only the conversion kit. But others that build a "true" propane engine would build build it with well more compression than a gasoline engine.
That's about all I know...
I do remember him saying that an optimal propane engine is about a 12-13:1 compression vs a gasoline engine that's 8-10:1 naturally aspirated. He never modified the engine. It stayed basically a gasoline engine with only the conversion kit. But others that build a "true" propane engine would build build it with well more compression than a gasoline engine.
That's about all I know...
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89 Ranger Supercab, 331, ported GT40p heads w/1.6RRs, Crane Powermax 2020 cam, ported Explorer lower, FMS Explorer (GT40p) headers, aftermarket T5 'Z-Spec', 8.8" rear w/3.27s, Powertrax Locker, A9L w/Moates QuarterHorse, Innovate LC-1, James Duff traction bars, iDelta DC Fan controller
Admin of EECtuning.org