SquirrelCrusher wrote:Cool rig idea, thinking outside the box a bit. I don't know a lot about propane, but hopefully you do.
Thinking outside the box? There's a box? (some would ask "He thinks?")
I'm learning a lot about propane setups as I go. Since I have to create my own timing curves I had to learn from the engineer types what happens in an engine in comparison to gasoline, and then find out what gasoline timing curves the engine likes and then tweak them "propane" style.
Since everyone said "you'll get bad mileage and lose power" on propane, I just had to do exactly that, and raise both performance and economy over it's gasoline economy, which sucked when I bought it. First trip home from buying it was 10 mpg (portland to Hermiston). I then tuned it up, drove it to montana and back and got a still terrible 15 to 16 on the trip, so I did a compression test, revealed leaky valves and other issues, including a worn out carb. So, since I was determined to go either EFI or propane, I started researching, and eventually decided on propane, since it is likely to stay very much below the cost of gas or diesel.
I know the EFI drill, having done it before, so this is a bit of adventure for me, to try something new. I have a 68 gallon (propane capacity, 86 gallon water cap) tank, and am expecting a 1200 mile range, roughly, for highway economy.
I have a small wireless internet business, and frequently have to go offroad, or in snow or mud or steep hillsides, etc, for sites and whatnot, so this is my "get there" rig. So far, I have about 1800 dollars into it, including the purchase and listed mods, except for the tires.
when I get around to the interior and bodywork, I expect to have about 3500 total into it. And no, i'm not into "carnage". I don't like breaking stuff. I expect this thing to run 200,000 more miles and then I'll dig into the motor again. ( I think it has 188,000 now).
