LPG- V8 Conversion

lansdownplace · #1 (**permalink**) 11-03-12, 12:43 PM

I was reflecting on the rising cost of petrol and it looks like there is a compelling case for installing LPG to feed the black hole up front

Has anyone had any experience of doing this on a carburettored engine?

P

dammer s · #2 (**permalink**) 11-03-12, 01:47 PM

I had my car (a 411s3) converted to LPG years ago and drove it for 3 years ( 30.000 km/year) without any problems due to this conversion.

GREG · #3 (**permalink**) 11-03-12, 06:49 PM

I know a good place with experience in V8's -- maybe you could see if a doughnut tank will go in the spare wheel bay to keep all the boot for the 412 roof bits.

I couldn't believe it when I went to get a gallon fuel tank filled with Diesel on Saturday £9.72 !!! - all the prices in litres makes us old farts unaware of how much a gallon prices have gone up ! It was 50p / gallon when I worked at the local petrol station as a teenager , and I filled your car for you and washed your screen !!

It made me laugh the last time I was in Florida listening to a couple of American guys moaning about the high cost of fuel. They wouldn't complain after paying UK prices for a while.

Bristol did a fantastic job on the Blenheim 4 with the LPG. When we did the maths after travelling from London to Leeds , it worked out at just short of 40 mpg petrol equivalent cost. So more economical than my Merc diesel and no noticeable difference in performance from petrol.

I guess it depends on how much mileage you intend to do and how long you intend to keep the car - a lot of sums to do :-)

lansdownplace · #4 (**permalink**) 11-03-12, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GREG

I guess it depends on how much mileage you intend to do and how long you intend to keep the car - a lot of sums to do :-)

It seems that you get 20% less MPG from Gas and 10% less BHP (don't know about low end torque) which whittles away the saving a little. On 12,000 miles a year it has to save at least £1,500 quid. What would it cost to install?

The tanks are a bit of an issue for the 412 as taking the roof off is a key benefit. Is there enough space left to slip the roof on top of the tanks?

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GREG · #5 (**permalink**) 11-03-12, 11:20 PM

About £800 to £2500 depending on the kit and who fits it.

You can always find all the bits and bobs on ebay very cheap to do it but most professional installers will send you away with a flea in your ear so you would need to find a competent mechanic to fit it all together and then get it tested. It would be the cheapest route and maybe the new Bristol company could help ?

I believe that the engine compression needs to be ramped up a bit and the cooling needs improving, along with going up to 10mm HT leads

Get some proper advise :-) The installer I talked to is near Tadcaster so a long way from you ! He reckoned around £800 for my 408 a couple of years ago.

alistair · #6 (**permalink**) 11-03-12, 11:59 PM

If you have a carburettor car I would live with the fuel costs. My experience was that the car ran badly on gas and worse on petrol. The surge of power which is such a feature of the V8s disappeared altogether. Talking with Toby last year confirmed that their recent policy was to fit gas only to FI cars.
Alistair