LPG to Gasoline

[ssapach]

Well I finally got tired of the propane enough (and enough time off work) to tackle this project.

First off I'd like to mention: "Cheap, reliable and fast.  You can pick any two...."

So I'm about $1300 into this for parts, some of which I didn't need but said heck with it since I'm already tearing things up under the hood.

















Not to try and be too dull, but the pictures are pretty self explanatory.  Remove old stuff and install new. 

Of course with my luck I just happen to be doing this during a long weekend....so I tried to get as many of the things I needed before the weekend.

I'm sure I didn't need a new intake, or I could have gotten a cheaper carb.....perhaps I could have gotten used take-offs of both from a wrecker.  But I figure since the engine itself is still in great shape (only 131, XXX km's on it) why not get some good parts for it.  I also bought a set of headers for it, so I'll see how much of a struggle they will be to install.

And of course I don't like leaky engines too much so I got a few extra gaskets to replace while I had stuff apart, but plans for that may change depending on everything else going on.

One good thing for all this is that I managed to score 2 fuel tanks for free.  One of them was practically brand new with a new sending unit as well.  My friend wanted to get rid of them because he parted out the truck and these were just taking up space.

I will also have more pics to follow as I continue on.  So for the time being, ENJOY!

[JohnnyCanuck]

looks good so far.  Why did you get rid of the propane, just curious. 

[ssapach]

I wanted to get rid of the propane for a few reasons.  It's not as easy to find as gasoline or diesel, especially late at night.  I will likely gain some power after the swap and with any luck a bit of mileage. 

The truck is kind of a pig no matter what fuel it burns, but without an engine properly built for propane I've been told I'd have better power and economy with gas.  No sense in me building up a propane engine when the fuel isn't as readily available either.

It's a shame the truck burns so much fuel, because I really do like driving it.  For a 25 year old 1 ton truck, it rides and handles quite nicely.

[thirsty]

You should try and sell all the propane stuff. I used to work for a propane company and some of the guys there used to run propane on their trucks. They were all furds and I know they paid alot for propane specific parts.

[zieg85]

When I lived in Texas I bought a 82 C20 3+3 from a friend after it was stolen and recovered.  The thieves took the front seat, tires and wheels and the fuel selector under the truck.  It was a both LPG-gas type.  In Texas you had to prove the usage so they could assess a tax and the minimum tag was kinda pricey so I ditched the conversion.  I can remember him telling me it was a wash back then, yes the LP was less expensive but got worse performance and mpg but he kept it for the range he could go without stopping for fuel.  LPG was fairly common around Dallas back then but as an occasional driver it didn't pay to use it.

[ssapach]

After I'm done removing all this stuff I will likely put it up for sale.  Maybe someone would like it for an off-road vehicle, seeing as how it will run upside down and all

I'm just taking a lunch break....but I managed to wrestle off the running boards.  Someone intelligent decided to bolt some brackets to the back of the cab.  Right into the back of the cab corner.  I wonder what goes through someones mind when they think that something like that is a good idea...?

But I removed all my crummy old running boards, they needed to go anyways.  Now my drivers side propane tank main valve seems to have a handle that's broken off.  I sure hope I can close it.

The fun continues....pics to follow later.

[big bear]

nice new parts you aquired man... great project. keep up the good work

[ssapach]

The pile of junk I removed.  I had to torch some exhaust bolts off the manifolds, but mostly it came out nicely so far.  I have a bit more exhaust to rip out, it's all rusted up anyways.  Sadly, the running boards were more work to remove.



Truck looks better without the darn running boards though.  Look nicer when the propane tanks are gone too!



You can kinda see the bracket someone decided to bolt to the cab corner.  I will trim it down, but I'll likely leave them as they are just because I don't have time to open up the can of worms called "body work" just yet.



And I tore off the valve covers to replace the gaskets.  Decided to wash them up and paint them......Chev engine blue, just to give the engine bay a little more excitement.

[ssapach]

Not tightened down yet, but just to give everyone the idea.

It may seem like a waste considering how oily/dirty the engine is below the heads, but it was easy to do and helps with the looks a little.



These are the new mirrors I got, not the greatest fitting brackets I must say, but I managed.  Need to fully attach them, they are just temp. with some screws.  I have actual threaded inserts that expand for installing mirrors.





I know everyone loves seeing pics, so I'm definately going to share them when I take them.

[big bear]

man, i love the truck. its very clean.  looks great as your decluttering it.

[ssapach]

It's clean considering it's an Alberta truck and the age of it.  These older ones are usually quite rusty these days.

I think I only got my hands on it because it was on propane.  I'm sure the previous owner would have sold it long before I came along if it were running on gas.

Well I found out that my headers will fit.  Lots of struggling and a bit of swearing, but follow the instructions and remove everything from the engine that they tell you to and they fit.  The only disappointment is that the bolt holes aren't very perfectly matched.  I had to drill them out a bit so I can get all the bolts in.

Now I will just have to remove the front driveshaft to get the starter back in.  While I had it out, cleaned up the connections and made up a new positive cable from the battery.

I might have a few more pics later on today.

[bake74]

     I believe you are right, no running boards and no propane tanks will give your truck a new look.

[ssapach]

Made a new positive cable to the starter.



I really like the Chev engine blue color.  Just to give the engine bay even more excitement I painted the cover of the air cleaner.



Got a bit of a hold up now.  The fuel pump I got won't fit.  It's got a pretty deep body on it and it hits the cross member before it fits up to the engine block.  So Monday is a holiday, and I doubt the parts store in town will have another fuel pump in stock so I likely won't see one until Wednesday.  On the plus side, someone plugged the hoses off for the fuel lines and I blew a bit of diesel through them and was surprised to see that it was all clean coming out the other end.

I still have things to do though.  Need to clean up and fix a second set of fuel tank brackets, then paint them and the tank.  Perhaps I will have some time to clean up some messy wiring as well.

Everything seems to be going alright so far, just taking a little longer than I originally expected.  But I'm sure I will enjoy the outcome.

[big bear]

i agree man...i love that chevy blue alot.

[audrima]

I had a CNG van (94 Dodge factory CNG) it got vary good mileage. when we converted it back to gas the mileage went down! only reason we converted to gas was there was no CNG pumps in Morgantown anymore so it was kind of useless for shuttle service we had(only could fill up at PITT). and why do people dislike the running boards?

Mariah