$4500 for gas conversion, EEK.

[GR8M8]

Just got quoted $4500 for gas coversion for a 04 crewman V6, this is supposed to be a factory one. Sure has gone up a lot. Any thoughts?

Geoff.

Geelong.

[pagey]

Wow.. big $$...

I can't be stuffed doing the sums.. tho I am sure sm1 will.. but obvously the questions are..

1) how long will you have the car
2) V's savings (maybe $40/week?)
3) how long to pay for itself
4) resale effect.. more or less for it on gas?

[Ghia351]

Maybe this LPG saver calc may help you out:
http://lpgautogas.com.au/index.cfm?action=MyFleet

[Bitza]

I was quoted 3K for gas conversion on my wagon. Didn't think I'd even consider going dual fuel on again, but unless fuel drops a fair wack I'll get it done.

[loudvtss]

I'm in the process of getting my car converted. 98 5.0L VT SS. Quoted $2,650. I figured I'd save $50 a week on fuel. I'll pay it off in 1 year...

[Glenn@Autowerks]

V8 + LPG = power loss, why ?

[seldo]

Just got quoted $4500 for gas coversion for a 04 crewman V6, this is supposed to be a factory one. Sure has gone up a lot. Any thoughts?

Geoff.

Geelong.
That'd probably be because they are doing it properly and fitting hardened valve-seats

[Akazia]

V8 + LPG = power loss, why ?

V8 + LPG = Power Gain!!! (http://www.gas-injection.com/news-lpg-gas-injection-technologies.html#link1)

[Glenn@Autowerks]

V8 + LPG = Power Gain!!! (http://www.gas-injection.com/news-lpg-gas-injection-technologies.html#link1)
Proven on the track yet ?

[pah]

That'd probably be because they are doing it properly and fitting hardened valve-seats



Hi all,

Unless I am mistaken, ULP engines or engines with alloy heads already have valve seats good enough to cope with LPG.

As far as I am aware, it's the cast iron heads designed to burn leaded fuel (eg: 186, 202 Holden etc) that need stainless valve seat inserts. Alloy heads are factory fitted with a valve seat insert to protect the alloy head. ULP heads have a hardened valve insert to cope with the loss of lead lubricant.

Correct me if I am wrong.

What type of LPG conversion do you get for the $4k price? Does it come with an LPG carbie or are they selling you the injection system? The LPG injection systems that I have sussed out are up around this price. As far as I am aware, the LPG injection systems go better because the CAI system is not clogged up with a dirty big gas carbie. Don't they stuff the carby into the Cold Air Box?



PAH

[seldo]

Hi all,

Unless I am mistaken, ULP engines or engines with alloy heads already have valve seats good enough to cope with LPG................

PAH
Sorry...not so. Even the new Alloytec engine has a specific engine variant designed for LPG, which is one reason why they are not available yet as they wait for a production-run of LPG-specific heads.

[WE OWN 2 GEN 3s]

I'm in the process of getting my car converted. 98 5.0L VT SS. Quoted $2,650. I figured I'd save $50 a week on fuel. I'll pay it off in 1 year...


Don't forget lpg tuning cost's
And the cost of having your cylinder heads done to suit lpg in that year
as VT 5.0lt only have induction hardening on the exhaust seat and that dosen't last long


STU

[mmciau]

Have a factory fitted dual fuel VS Acclaim from new.

Nearly 9 years old (Dec 96)

One set of plug leads because of a back fire 4 years ago

Still does 50 and or 60 Km/hr around town and 110Km/Hr on the open road.

Wife driving - 350 Km per tank - I can get close to 400 Km per tank mostly (90%) urban driving

Engine has had a water pump BUT the Valves have not been touched and it hasn't lost any compression!!!!!

Now odo is reading 150,000Km

Mike :)

[REV-IT]

I'm also interested in LPG and my question is, is LPG conversion available for LS1 as yet, or is it still going to be several months/years before we'll see one on the market? I cover around 45k-50k in a year and the current fuel prices are killing me.

[Danv8]

Only way I would put an LS1 on LPG would be LPG injection similar to the alloytec LPG system.

A standard LPG conversion is sacralige to any LS1. ;)

[V8R]

i wonder why so many people are stuck in the early - mid 80's mindset of lpg = lose power?
All of the conversions / OE setups ive driven are post 96 or so, and all are equal to better on gas, according to the SOTP dyno. 80 series landcruiser (my parent's), various models of falcodores and magnas. the commo seemed to be "the worst" on gas, the 'cruiser the best.. incidently, it had its first gas tune in 5 years, only 6 months ago.
With the pricing disparity between pulp and lpg these days (144cpl vs 63 in my area), and for similar power (dont forget lpg has a lower calorific value than pulp = burn more for the same power), roughly halving your weekly fuel bill cant be a bad thing?

Now, if i can just get hold of one of these fabled diesel engines that should be coming in the VE, and shoe horn it into my current car, "fumigate" it with lpg and hang a small huffer off it........ torque city..

[bassplayer]

hey guys.
ive been quoted just under $2500 to get a vt ecotec wagon converted to gas with one of those donut tanks that fit in the spare wheel well. i can justify that because i'd pay it off in about 22-24 months.

but the big question now is:
any idea how much i'd be looking at to have it tuned for gas??

[WE OWN 2 GEN 3s]

Have a factory fitted dual fuel VS Acclaim from new.

Nearly 9 years old (Dec 96)

One set of plug leads because of a back fire 4 years ago

Still does 50 and or 60 Km/hr around town and 110Km/Hr on the open road.

Wife driving - 350 Km per tank - I can get close to 400 Km per tank mostly (90%) urban driving

Engine has had a water pump BUT the Valves have not been touched and it hasn't lost any compression!!!!!

Now odo is reading 150,000Km

Mike :)

Yes that would be right factory gas VS / VT will dual fuel when required to compensate

STU

[WE OWN 2 GEN 3s]

As for GEN 3's on gas
I doubt you will damage the inlet manifold with a backfire
I havs seen a couple LPGAS1 have converted and there is only about a 5 to 10 rwkw loss

STU

[OzJavelin]

$4500 sounds like the new fancy-pants Sequential Vapour Injection (LPG injection) system they are starting to offer. Basically has the computer think the vehicle is running on "normal" petrol ... none of the backfiring, hard-start problems with "conventional" LPG

[amckiwi]

$4500 sounds like the new fancy-pants Sequential Vapour Injection (LPG injection) system they are starting to offer. Basically has the computer think the vehicle is running on "normal" petrol ... none of the backfiring, hard-start problems with "conventional" LPG

IS THIS AVAILABLE ANYWHERE YET???

[Ghia351]

IS THIS AVAILABLE ANYWHERE YET???
Here is one company that I know makes such systems so I guess you would need to call them and find a recommended installer. Unfortunately I don't know anyone that has installed one as yet although the Holden approved system for Rodeos was a Isuzu-GM and Parnell joint venture.

http://www.parnell.com.au/

[GR8M8]

Thanks guys for a stack of great info, I'm going to get another price.

Geoff.

[andrewdisco]

Hey Geoff,

I also dont get this anti-lpg thing people have. I have been quoted $4000 for a sequential vapour injection kit (as opposed to supplying gas at the throttle body and possible backfires). They can also then do a LS1 edit, and since LPG is a premium fuel like PULP you end up walking out with LS1 pulp edit type power on LPG.... problem is there is now a 3 month waiting period on the units.

LPG is 37 cents at the moment... PULP $1.3x ?... thats a pretty quick payback. Shame about the boot space though. Thats a 20,000km payback at my current 20/100 (well higher to tell the truth :p).

The question really comes down to how many km/s you want to do in the car and how long you want to have it.

now get back on dirtbikeworld.net ya punk.

[Thumper]

Iv'e had 2 vehicles in the past on LPG, both 308's, using a mixer/carb setup.
In NZ during the 80's, the Govt ran a alternative fuel promo, and offered a $1500 grant to those wishing to convert.
My experiences were mixed, while the engine wear was not an issue, it also caused a head gasket failure on one of them, due to the thermal drying characteristics of LPG.
Valve seat wear was not an issue, I used Moreys upper cylinder lube, for more than 10 years, without any wear at all on non hardened seats.
But all in all, with the hassles of finding LPG filling stations taken into account, it would take a bigger increase in cost differential/LPG/PULP for me to consider the conversion.
Don't forget, you use more LPG than PULP for a given distance and in NZ the LPG is a blend of propane and butane, and the standards are loose enough to cause tuning issues.
Even without the above concerns, realistically, I can't justify it ATM because a payback of over 2 years is not a smart deal and the vehicle is always harder to sell, and at less value. (NZ LPG is around NZ$0.62/litre vs PULP at NZ$1.60).

[OzJavelin]

Thanks guys for a stack of great info, I'm going to get another price.

Geoff.
The $4500 sounds about right .. I was quoted that for a SVI conversion on my AU V8 ute. I don't think it will get much cheaper in the short term?