Question for people running propane on v8 buggys

bigdog165511 · Dec 21, 2010

Question for people running propane on v8 buggys
How is your economy how far do you get on a 10 gal forklift tank on a v8 in your buggy

Maverick26 · Dec 22, 2010

10 gallon or 10lb?

I alwasy though that propan talks were measured in LBS.

Bunk???

bigdog165511 · Dec 22, 2010

Forklift tanks are in gallons

dirtygoat · Dec 22, 2010

I can get a day out of one 8 gal tank... Still need to do some tuning though...

That's with a mild build 350, rig weighs 5300 lbs...

mark · Dec 22, 2010

In my last chat with Rockcrawler, running a blown small-block, he has two tank typicaly in the back of his buggy. Typicaly makes a day of one tank, the other is mostly for back-up but he gets into it if he's haveing a good day.

These are 8-gal tanks.

I plan on running two, with a place to add a 3rd for long trips or days. I've *heard* that on snow runs... well you use more gas

Binder · Dec 23, 2010

mark said:
In my last chat with Rockcrawler, running a blown small-block, he has two tank typicaly in the back of his buggy. Typicaly makes a day of one tank, the other is mostly for back-up but he gets into it if he's haveing a good day.

These are 8-gal tanks.

I plan on running two, with a place to add a 3rd for long trips or days. I've *heard* that on snow runs... well you use more gas

Ask Troy how long it takes for someone to go from the middle of SOL to the paring area to get him a new tank?:;

tomsbrokeagain · Dec 23, 2010

For the most part I see a good propane system run about equal amounts of pane vs gas.

Chads Yota has a bad system and he goes about 8-10 gallons pane vs my jeeps sbc that does 10-12 gallons gas.

crash2 · Dec 23, 2010

tomsbrokeagain said:
For the most part I see a good propane system run about equal amounts of pane vs gas.

Chads Yota has a bad system and he goes about 8-10 gallons pane vs my jeeps sbc that does 10-12 gallons gas.

But--with a pane leak--what happens. Ya a tow toy :haha:

tomsbrokeagain · Dec 23, 2010

crash said:
But--with a pane leak--what happens. Ya a tow toy :haha:

I just make sure to tow him back to the trailer real slow. The last time it was like 10 degrees out and he froze his ass off!

And mostly he doesn't have much for leaks but it is not running correctly. I have not looked into it but I believe the setup is sized for a V8 on a 4cyl.

Roccrawler · Dec 23, 2010

Binder said:
Ask Troy how long it takes for someone to go from the middle of SOL to the paring area to get him a new tank?:;

you are correct a tank on fumes will get you from the parking lot to the middle of SOL. then when you transfer to the other empty tank, you dont get far :;

It was my passangers fault he didnt strap the full tanks on (Scape goat) :;

But really like said below, I go through about a tank a full day (8 gal size). I bring 2 and usually just get into the second tank on the way back to the truck. But like with anything else, take it to the dunes and i can smoke through a tank in a couple hours. I usually carry extras in the trailer just in case but have never ran out of 2.

Its about the same as when i ran gas, if you us 10 gallons a day now you will use 10 gallons of propane. I wont get into the benefits.

My bro's toyota 4 cylinder will go a weekend on a tank. But i burn more fuel at an idle then he does wide open :haha:

Roccrawler · Dec 23, 2010

crash said:
But--with a pane leak--what happens. Ya a tow toy :haha:

As well as gas, etc.
You would smell it just like a gas leak, your point is Moot :flipoff:

crash2 · Dec 23, 2010

Roccrawler said:
As well as gas, etc.
You would smell it just like a gas leak, your point is Moot :flipoff:

I can guarantee I have fixed any fuel leak on the trail and continued. I have yet to tow a dead rig due to a gas leak. Just sayin...

Also you can catch fuel and hold it and reclaim it back into the tank..... What about propane

Just sayin...

Roccrawler · Dec 23, 2010

crash said:
I can guarantee I have fixed any fuel leak on the trail and continued. I have yet to tow a dead rig due to a gas leak. Just sayin...

Also you can catch fuel and hold it and reclaim it back into the tank..... What about propane Just sayin...

Nor have i with a propane rig, you can argue either way as there has been many of threads doing so. But lets just say a properly set up rig works great. I would have to argue a faulty fuel injection wiring or system over a leaking fitting or faulty propane system. Now i have seen many of those. Propane is just butte simple with no wiring or electronics to fail. Now i wouldnt go pulling a good fuel injection system off to put propane on, but if your running a carb its a no brainer if you want to save some dough and dont want to go through the electrical and fuel pumps, Mass flow, O2, and crap.

I have set up 5 rigs with propane and they have been flawless. (no leaks :

I would have to say there are a lot of other things on a rig to go bad than a leaky fitting, that will cause a tow :;

Ty. · Dec 23, 2010

I'm surprised you guys are getting so much out of 8 gallons of propane with 350's. I only get about 10 hrs max with my v-6. and a 10 gallon tank My kid has a really heavy foot, and has burned thru 10 gallons in 7 hrs.

Roccrawler · Dec 23, 2010

Ty. said:
I'm surprised you guys are getting so much out of 8 gallons of propane with 350's. I only get about 10 hrs max with my v-6. and a 10 gallon tank My kid has a really heavy foot, and has burned thru 10 gallons in 7 hrs.

Theres alot to be said about tuning and setting them up properly, Its easy to run them to rich and you would never know with out a sensor. I tune all mine with a rich and lean indicator to get proper mixture through out the throttle. there are several springs and diaphrams you can use to do this. A V6 shouldnt go through that much unless your just racing up and down dirt roads. I can also see a V6 being at WOT throttle more than a V8 to get the same results.

Ty. · Dec 23, 2010

Roccrawler said:
Theres alot to be said about tuning and setting them up properly, Its easy to run them to rich and you would never know with out a sensor. I tune all mine with a rich and lean indicator to get proper mixture through out the throttle. there are several springs and diaphrams you can use to do this. A V6 shouldnt go through that much unless your just racing up and down dirt roads. I can also see a V6 being at WOT throttle more than a V8 to get the same results.

Yea, I am running rich I think. This is just 222 - Busy style wheelin' mostly, with some tire spin here, and there. The vortec V-6, and propane set-up is a 2001, and out of a Hyster forklift.

dirtygoat · Dec 26, 2010

Roccrawler said:
Theres alot to be said about tuning and setting them up properly, Its easy to run them to rich and you would never know with out a sensor. I tune all mine with a rich and lean indicator to get proper mixture through out the throttle. there are several springs and diaphrams you can use to do this. A V6 shouldnt go through that much unless your just racing up and down dirt roads. I can also see a V6 being at WOT throttle more than a V8 to get the same results.

More info on the sensor for tuning please...:awesomework:

I need to tune mine, it's running rich... I've got buddies that have messed with theirs and over time found a sweet spot... I would like to know exactly what's happening with mine...

Also, more info about the springs and diaphrams... Is there certain kits I should be looking at for a Impco 425 on a sb350???

Thanks...

Bunk1 · Dec 26, 2010

Troy, Have you thought of any tricks to prevent your system frm Icing over? Not :stirpot: i just have sme idea's im thinking of doing.

junkyard jim · Dec 26, 2010

Don't you have hot water going through the regulator? If not, adding a mini heater core (even a power steering cooler) and blowing air across it onto the regulator will keep it from icing. I did that with taxis up in the great white north, eh?