propane or not

semperfi1919 · Mar 6, 2015

Did some searching and just wanted to hear some opinions on the gotpropane set up. My rig now has a 302 ford fuel injected engine in it now, even though Im not a Ford fan Im liking the fuel injection. My problem is that I dont know how much longer this engine will make it. Not holding much oil pressure. I need to replace the oil pan from some rock damage and was thinking of throwing in a new oil pump while in there. I have a chevy 350 engine in the shop for rebuild and was thinking of building it and getting the gotpropane set up to go on it. What is the pro's and con's of switching to propane other than the obvious of not having a fill up at every gas station. Unless someone has a hook up on a good chevy fuel injected engine that I dont have to sale a kidney to get..lol. :dunno:

throttlejunkie · Mar 6, 2015

Man you may already know this but a new oil pump probably isn't gonna do you any good.

semperfi1919 · Mar 6, 2015

Yea I know but maybe give ita little longer life till I decide on what I wanna run. Only got a few more weekends left I can run this year then Ill have a year to get it built..

Scarecrow · Mar 6, 2015

I've run the Gotpropane kit on my yota for 4 years now and you already named the only complaint I have. The hours I work it's hard to get to the Blossman I usually use and they're not open on Sat. If there was a plug and fill propane station similar to a gas station there would be no Con at all. I once stopped at the gas station near my house to fill my tanks and it was such a terrible experience I've been afraid to stop at another. Maybe have additional tanks and shop around at different distributers, I've used 4 different places and I don't plan to use three of them unless it's an emergency. One would charge me for a full tank even if it was half full, another gave me such a hard time about filling the tanks you'd have thought I was a tea party conservative trying to get a tax exempt status and the other was the gas station.

Overall I think it's worth it. I cut out all the sensors and relays that I didn't need and if there is a problem it is a lot easier to diagnose vs. the EFI I had on the yota.

semperfi1919 · Mar 6, 2015

Thanks for the reply. I got a place next to my work in town I can get the tanks filled. If I decide to go that route my plans are to get atleast three or four bottles and keep them filled.

wgamble · Mar 6, 2015

I am running propane on my 351w. Throttle response is good, its hooked up to a 4 barrel quadrajet carb.

I have accumulated 5 bottles so when I get down to 2 or 3 then I try to get them filled. Do you know anyone who uses propane welding machines or operates a forklift? This is where I get my bottles and also get them to fill them up for me.

semperfi1919 · Mar 6, 2015

Im leaning towards building the 350 when this 302 craps out. What setup as far as carb is everyone running, and is gotpropane the best one's to buy from? And any notice in power loss. My plans will be to run a hotter cam.

stuftmunky2k · Mar 6, 2015

Call gotpropane and talk to them. Carey is an awesome dude to talk to on the phone not afraid to answer any questions you may have. I have a propane kit on my yota buggy. Have around 4 tanks and just fill them up at tsc they charge by the gallon so even if the tank isn't fully empty your only paying for what they put in. I was kinda sketchy about running propane but its not that bad. I always have a second tank on the rig just incase one runs out and your far away from camp. Im running a little red light so when the tank gets almost empty light comes on, but half the problem is i never know when it comes on either i don't see it or too many beers in to realize it.

Boulderdash · Mar 6, 2015

Propane isn't bad except the obvious. A new oil pump probably won't do you a bit of good in the ford. I'd say build the 350 with a lot of compression with a matched cam and go have some fun. This is what I've got and I'm pretty dang happy with it

Boulderdash · Mar 7, 2015

But.. If you are happy with what the ford was doing and the 350 is going to require a rebuild and is going to require time to fab it in there and buy a propane kit. Might make more sense to just rebuild the ford

Horton1 · Mar 7, 2015

The size of tanks in your rig can be a problem?

wgamble · Mar 7, 2015

Tanks wont be a problem. Once you plumb everything in, you can run a tank horizontal or vertical. Just strap it in and ride.

Horton1 · Mar 7, 2015

If his rig is buggy fitting two tank can be a problem. :dunno:

kushKrawlin · Mar 7, 2015

Go throw the Ford Motor and piper's front yard. And run propane! The best place to get it is Ace Hardware around here, it's $20 to fill up a tank. You could also go to a welding shop.. I do that also. But your best bet is to get about five or six tanks and just keep them full. Actually blow the motor up take a dump on it and then throw it in Pipers yard.. That's what I would do. Propane is awesome,,. And clean. And feel so good when your undoing the bottle and some spews on your finger. Good as in, "Holy **** I think I need to amputate my finger" good. :woot:

Eddyj · Mar 7, 2015

I had a carb went to propane, it made a world of difference. I love the simplicity. Do it.

pholmann · Mar 7, 2015

kushKrawlin said:
Go throw the Ford Motor and piper's front yard. And run propane! The best place to get it is Ace Hardware around here, it's $20 to fill up a tank. You could also go to a welding shop.. I do that also. But your best bet is to get about five or six tanks and just keep them full. Actually blow the motor up take a dump on it and then throw it in Pipers yard.. That's what I would do. Propane is awesome,,. And clean. And feel so good when your undoing the bottle and some spews on your finger. Good as in, "Holy **** I think I need to amputate my finger" good.

Ford power by gawd!!!!! :flipoff1:

huff75 · Mar 7, 2015

I've been running propane on my 460 and it has been great. If you are building the engine anyway bump the compression to take advantage of it. I had my heads milled down and had hardened seats put in on the exhaust side. It was a good time to also put in some bigger valves. Also look into having a cam ground for it. By letting them know your compression and the fuel you are running they can get you one that will work better for you than an off the shelf grind. Just wait to order the came till the other parameters are set. Stick with the Ford.

semperfi1919 · Mar 7, 2015

Ill just stick with the Ford untill I deploy and then have my 350 built while Im gone and swap it all out when Im back home and be ready to ride. Thanks for all the input. I shouldnt have a problem with room for two bottles in it the way it sits now.

altfuel1991 · Mar 9, 2015

I can help you out with a complete propane fuel system as well. I have twenty three years making things run propane. If you have any questions call or pm me.
Anything from a generator to 650 hp.

Buddy Gamel
Precision Sales & Service, Inc.
451 64th Place South
Birmingham, Ala. 35212

877-403-7827, office
205-837-8871, mobile
205-591-2267, fax

[email protected]
[email protected]
www.alternatefuel.com