Propane conversion 1996 disco v8

[edh]

Hi Folks
Gas prices are out of control over here in Canada. Their sockin it to us. The only thing we can do is cut back our driving or convert to another fuel. Or get a small fuel efficient vehicle
I have noticed some talk here about conversions but not much talk about performance, or conversion problems. I have an older vehicle that I converted to propane in 1991 and drove it happily untill 2005 when I got the L/R. But that vehicle was a carberator engine, not fuel injection.
Can anyone give me an idea of what to expect if I convert to propane? This vehicle is not overly endowed with power except in the lower gears. Most of my driving will be highway and some city.
Is there anything tricky about the conversion because of fuel injection?
Any comments appreciated.

Ed

[JulesV8]

HI EDH,

I'm just about to get my V8 converted to LPG (propane) and lots of folk over here have done the same.
I take it yours is a 3.5l caburetor one, but all systems are compatible with the V8. They say that for the 3.5 you can get away with a single point system where by the gas is mixed and then sucked through to the engine, as and when it needed. One issue with this system is that if the ignition system is not tip top, you may get back fire which usually results in a blown airbox, ripped up pipe or worse, your headlamp being propelled out of it socket.

For the best advice, visit this website, its full of info:
http://www.lpgforum.co.uk/

Good luck but its well worth doing, lpg is 1/2 the price of unleaded here!

[V8_Disco]

I think (my books are at home) a 1996 would be the 3.9 EFI?, not the 4.6? that came out in discos over there in about 2000?

I would look at a multi point kit for it, EFI will mean for best efficanty you need to take readings of the Lamda sencors etc,

I would also think about where you are going to put the tanks?

I have the Latter Disco 2 4.0 unit, this has the later THOR EFI system, I run a BRC multi point kit Its set up to lose little power for the expence of MPG, I get about 13 mpg on LPG compaired to 16/17 on Petrol. Be carefull of running the bigger rover V8s lean not only do they have no power but some people think it casues hot spots in the linner and you end up with the porus block sindorme p38s are known for, good news for you is the 3.9 is thought to be better in this regard than my 4.0

i hope this makes sence to you

Aidan

[recneps]

If you want to use the landy for offroading then be very careful about where you site the tanks. I looked at buying one but all the ones i looked at had the tanks underslung, which reduces the ground clearance of the car. I didnt want to go offroading on rocky tracks with a couple of tanks of propane bouncing off the rocks!

[edh]

My Disco has a 4l V8. 5spd manual.
It's good to hear that these conversions are being done to vehicles like mine which have fuel injection.
There have been no mods on this engine so a conversion might be a good start.
I will have to have the conversion done at a professional shop.
I don't do any off-road stuff..YET.

[JulesV8]

Just a small note about the gas tank positions. Undersling tanks (in the sills) of a disco do hang lower than the sill itself but I have been assured that these are excellent rock sliders and that for gentle off roading (not massive rock crawling) they are fine AS LONG AS, they are held on properly.

Most tanks are either secured to the chassis or the floor with thin steel straps. these deteriorate and ultimately brake leaving you with a rattle when driving (dragging the tanks). Best invest in some brackets which are then bolted to the chassis, that way, nothing will get them off!

[ROB 110 HICAP]

My Disco has a 4l V8. 5spd manual.
It's good to hear that these conversions are being done to vehicles like mine which have fuel injection.
There have been no mods on this engine so a conversion might be a good start.
I will have to have the conversion done at a professional shop.
I don't do any off-road stuff..YET.

AFAIK Its all basically the same as carb set up, but you need an 'emulator' that fools the V8 trickery into thinking its still running on petrol when its on propane. The emulator is a little box of electrickery, so needs someone with a laptop and software to set it up for your vehicle.
kits & info here http://www.lpg-kits.com/
http://www.tinleytech.co.uk/acatalog/Spares_and_accessories.html

[JulesV8]

Well, I've just picked mine up after having been converted to LPG. Its an Autogas sequential system and so far all I can say is that it rocks!

I have 2 x 36L tanks in the sills and projected mileage is about 240 miles!

The guy replaced the leads and scrubbed up one spark and its ticking over beautifully. Starts on petrol then automatically switches over to gas after about 2 minutes.

Since Friday night when I picked it up the petrol needle has not budged and I've already done about 80 miles - how many V8 owners can say that!

Go for it, you wont look back!

[mjltigger]

Well, I've just picked mine up after having been converted to LPG. Its an Autogas sequential system and so far all I can say is that it rocks!

I have 2 x 36L tanks in the sills and projected mileage is about 240 miles!

The guy replaced the leads and scrubbed up one spark and its ticking over beautifully. Starts on petrol then automatically switches over to gas after about 2 minutes.

Since Friday night when I picked it up the petrol needle has not budged and I've already done about 80 miles - how many V8 owners can say that!

Go for it, you wont look back!

mine is a 3.9 V8I and on a decent run I get about 220 miles but around town 180 but mine is a 4 year old conversion that (although it was on the bus when I bought it) I believe is single point.. the main thing to note is you will never get 23 litres in.. generally I get between 65 and 68 depending on the temperature outside...

I am really happy with mine all the same and wish I had gone for gas a few years ago when I first spotted it.. mind you there still aren't enough places to buy it outside the cities... so after I move next week will have to go Petrol again...

[edh]

Like I mentioned, I have used propane in another veh since 1991. It's a much bigger engine, 401 cu inches. It had a 4 barrel carburetor before the conversion. The carb was very touchy and required frequent adjustment. After the conversion I did not notice any loss of power. I did not watch the mileage because I was paying half what others were paying for gas. When i first converted in 1991 I was paying as low as 6 cents a liter while gas was at 60 cents. Now, last time I looked, propane was still about half the cost of regular gas.
Besides the savings, the other bonuses were that my exhaust system , which i had just replaced, never rotted out and I had no more carb problems.
Do you fellows mind giving me a ballpark figure of what the conversion cost?
Did the engine heads have to be "hardened"?

Thanks
Ed

[edh]

I should also mention that propane is available at most gas stations here. The exception is stations that are self serve only.

Ed

[JulesV8]

I paid about £1000 (GBP) for the conversion but that was from a friend LPG installer who owed me quite a few favours. This was all brand new parts but would have easily cost £2000 had it been done by another business.

No head hardening was required as I think its only the 4l and 4.2 which really suffered from porous heads.

Good luck

J

[V8_Disco]

Multi point is about 2k as said above

3.9/4.0/4.2/4.6 can all be affected by the block going porus, 3.9 is the least heard of, No real problems with the heads its the block its self that has the issues, no hardaning required

Aidan