Sbc on propane ?

Eddyj · Apr 13, 2015

I'm finishing a very budget build. As much as 400 hp sounds fun. For a weekend toy I'm not putting the effort or money into an ls. I want to keep the simplicity so I might be able to enjoy it. Instead of more building and chasing tuning and electrical issues. I have limited engine building experience. So if you were doing a old school Sbc on pane what would you do?
Vortec heads?
383?

Eddyj · Apr 13, 2015

Yeah I actually have two. One in the buggy and a "spare" both been rebuilt. But have ten years on them with minimum run time.

BUG-E J · Apr 13, 2015

Wasting money doing anything too it. Fuel injection will wake it up more than a stroker kit.

09zkrankin · Apr 13, 2015

Re:

I've got a 388 stroker in my jeep that I'm picking up a propane kt for, going to be doing some work on the engine next winter, looking forward to people's answers here also

zukimaster · Apr 13, 2015

Sell all the stuff you have, put. 5.3 in it, and be done.

wimpykid · Apr 13, 2015

Had a sbc in my old rig with propane, aluminum vortec heads, rpm air gap intake, and cam. Guessing it was close to 375-400 hp. That said, if you plan on being on the upper end of your rpm range much, you may need a dual pane set up.

The Fast EFI kits should be cheaper than a dual propane kit.

TBItoy · Apr 13, 2015

http://www.hardlinecrawlers.com/forums/index.php?topic=20789.0

Here's a good thread with some pertinent info

Basically the thought is to build a small displacement torque monster if you want to maximize the potential of a single mixer setup. High cylinder pressure, high compression, minimal over lap

BUG-E J · Apr 13, 2015

wimpykid said:
Had a sbc in my old rig with propane, aluminum vortec heads, rpm air gap intake, and cam. Guessing it was close to 375-400 hp. That said, if you plan on being on the upper end of your rpm range much, you may need a dual pane set up.

The Fast EFI kits should be cheaper than a dual propane kit.

Yeah if a single mixer will support 400 horses its on flat ground 2wd! :****:

Eddyj · Apr 13, 2015

Good info on the link thanks. I'm not down with an LS. Maybe one day. But not having any wire except starter and rotor makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Like I'm going to pack up my crap, drive 5 hours and wheel all weekend and not worry about a wire coming lose or coil pack. I'm in the mind set I would rather rock out with 300 reliable horse power as opposed to 450 you have to baby sit.

BUG-E J · Apr 13, 2015

Eddyj said:
Good info on the link thanks. I'm not down with an LS. Maybe one day. But not having any wire except starter and rotor makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Like I'm going to pack up my crap, drive 5 hours and wheel all weekend and not worry about a wire coming lose or coil pack. I'm in the mind set use rather rock out with 300 reliable horse power as opposed to 450 you have to baby sit.

So how many miles or years does your factory truck, harness, pcm and wiring have you don't think twice about?

Nuts · Apr 13, 2015

Propane won't leak out and do this when you roll.
TRAGEDY STRIKES HILLBILLY DELUXE

Eddyj · Apr 14, 2015

BUG-E J said:
So how many miles or years does your factory truck, harness, pcm and wiring have you don't think twice about?

Factory truck isn't exposed to elements, and is all zip tied up and mounted optimally in a daily driver.
Not trying to say propane is better, what I'm saying is at this point in my life simplicity out ways overall performance. If done properly you can't touch a ls based engine for reliability and performance. I understand that. I'm just not to that point to want to do it properly, I would half ass it due to time and/or funding. If I was having a shop build mine a would definitely check the turbocharged 6.0 box.

Plus I have two running Sbc. One in the buggy running on propane and one in the garage.

So if you wouldn't mind take your fancy ass and :gtfo:

BUG-E J · Apr 14, 2015

Eddyj said:
Factory truck isn't exposed to elements, and is all zip tied up and mounted optimally in a daily driver.
Not trying to say propane is better, what I'm saying is at this point in my life simplicity out ways overall performance. If done properly you can't touch a ls based engine for reliability and performance. I understand that. I'm just not to that point to want to do it properly, I would half ass it due to time and/or funding. If I was having a shop build mine a would definitely check the turbocharged 6.0 box.

Plus I have two running Sbc. One in the buggy running on propane and one in the garage.

So if you wouldn't mind take your fancy ass and

Mine is all factory vortec stuff. Went to Oreileys and bought the sensors I needed. U have to flash the pcm to remove everything not needed but thats less than 200$.

Fire Freak · Apr 14, 2015

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SBC-SCAT-383-CRANKSHAFT-KING-ENGINETECH-BEARINGS-1PC-RMS-9103750-L-LATE-KIT-/141476637906?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item20f0aa2cd2&vxp=mtr
this and a head shaving to boost compression
http://www.ebay.com/itm/COMP-Cams-High-Energy-Camshaft-Hydraulic-Chevy-SBC-327-350-400-454-454-/251913195309?hash=item3aa7324f2d&vxp=mtr
Good can from what I have found

altfuel1991 · Apr 14, 2015

If you choose all your parts carefully so they work together well you can have a strong torquey engine in the 350 hp range and run a single mixer setup. Keep the rpm below around 5000 and it will work. If you have any questions about propane give me a call.

onepieceatatime · Apr 14, 2015

altfuel1991 said:
If you choose all your parts carefully so they work together well you can have a strong torquey engine in the 350 hp range and run a single mixer setup. Keep the rpm below around 5000 and it will work. If you have any questions about propane give me a call.

I've always wondered just what it would take parts wise and money wise to make a 350hp propane motor. Sure it won't have the power I could get out of a LS but I bet I'd be pretty happy with it compared to my stock 350.

Jhouser · Apr 14, 2015

I have run this Cam http://www.lunatipower.com/Product.aspx?id=1982&gid=287 with double hump heads and flat top piston in a SBC and a single propane mixer. strong little motor. :eat:

muddinmetal · Apr 14, 2015

onepieceatatime said:
I've always wondered just what it would take parts wise and money wise to make a 350hp propane motor. Sure it won't have the power I could get out of a LS but I bet I'd be pretty happy with it compared to my stock 350.

I think $400 would do it... SHAVED vortec heads, springs, & a custom ground cam

patooyee · Apr 14, 2015

AdamF said:
Propane won't leak out and do this when you roll.
TRAGEDY STRIKES HILLBILLY DELUXE

Or this:

Buggy burns at rbd(1)

Buggy burns at rbd(3)

Fire Freak · Apr 14, 2015

rednecklights said:
So, that crank .... Balancing the rotating assembly , cam , machine work etc will cost how much ?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have $2000 in my motor with everything from buying the block to duel propane set up. I shopped around for deals and bought used propane stuff but all my motor parts except rods are new. I used .030 over 350 pistons with 400 rods. Didn't have to buy expensive stroker pistons