lp gas conversion for 1997 disco

[gladiator]

can anyone outhere give some advice on fitting lp gas to a 1997 disco that has covered 145000 klms are the standard heads suitable as in valves, seats , guides,ect also what might be the best tank layout to get max gas max petrol. best plugs .leads .are there changes to timeing . thanks to anyone who might reply

[Martinoz]

Hi,

My 2c worth. I have fitted gas to a couple of 4wd's with no changes to timing or anything else. You get less mpg and power on gas. I was tempted with my Disco however the RACV tech guys talked me out of it. According to them you won't recoup the cost of the conversion. Need to put petrol through her weekly for lubrication. Less mileage on gas cancels out some of the costs of gas v petrol.

I'd suggest a call wouldn't hurt. They are unbiased.

They persuaded me and now I'm about to go diesel.

Good luck with it if you decide to go ahead.

Regards


Martin

[LandyAndy]

Hi Gladiator
Look into the new generation LPG conversions that have just been released.They actually inject the liquid LPG thru the petrol injector,the vehicle is meant to run as it would on petrol,plus all the electronics are kept standard.The consumption remains the same as petrol.There is no LPG mixer required as the LPG is being injected,on the older systems the engine is breathing in LP gas mixed with the air intake,so infact the engine gets less oxygen than it would on petrol,hence the increase in consumption and decrease in power on LPG.

Your motor will run OK on LPG as its a ULP vehicle.

If you do a lot of K's the time to make the conversion pay for it will be a lot shorter,most LPG websites have a calculator on the site where you put in your anuall Ks and fuel consumption and the time needed to recover the cost of the conversion is calculated.

Andrew

[Ace]

Hi, I dont have an LPG unit myself, but know people who have done them, p38arover has LPG on his rangie and its not as efficient as on petrol and as said above you have to run a tank of petrol through every 4th tank of LPG or so, just to wet the whistle.

Standard heads wont be good enough, i think you need to get stainless steel valves and seats, but im not sure, try a search in the tech forum, there will almost definitely be a thread about it in there. Matt

[Ralph1Malph]

Hi,
I am dropping my 97 Disco off at Parnell Gas in melb for conversion tomorrow (Mon). My research indicated that it was worth it. The chaps whom I purchased the truck off, Ritter Automotive in Melb, suggested I do it and offered to tee it up (for a fee). They are no worse than any other LR joint I have spoken too so must be comfortable recommending it.
What swayed me however was the director of Parnell Gas who drives a 97 Disco LS that his boys converted. He let me go over it, see how it ran and such. He swears by it, citing about 15% less efficient around town and about 20% when laden or towing. Hardly noticeable he says! LPG on the other hand is between 40 and 60% cheaper in Melb on any given day so the overall advantage to the hip pocket should be approx 30%.
Given I do between 20k and 30k per year, I should recoup in less than 2 years. Parnell do approx 15 - 18 Rover conversions a year he says, mainly disco and RR.
I researched the conversion through quite a few LPG joints and no one cited any problems with discos and conversions. Providing the donk is in good nick, particularly manifold and exhaust pressures and compression on all pots being even, there should be no probs.
I will let you all know on Wed when I pick her up and drive her home whether I made the right choice!

On a side note, I have always had LPG sedans, mainly fords running clevelands or alloy sixes so I was already sold on LPG.

Wish me luck
Ralph

[Ace]

How much is the conversion costing Ralph? If you dont mind me asking that is. Matt

[Ralph1Malph]

Ace,
Prices pretty accurate 3 weeks ago when I booked in:
An 80L cylinder sitting in the load space and retaining existing tank (pox option) - approx $1800 +GST

An 80L manifold tank (sits on load space floor but shaped to fit and flat, raises load space floor by about 8") retains existing tank (less pox option) - approx $2400 + GST

Remove existing tank, fit twin 35 L cyl (scuba style), fit 35L compact tank to rear sil space - (preferred option) - approx $3000 + GST.

The last option involves more man hours and plumbing, the prices are list prices and are generalist only. Additional petrol tanks can be added eg, other side sil, under near side seat etc, but don't know those add on prices.

Regards
Ralph

[Ace]

Thanks, just curious. I would have gone down the V8 road had fuel prices been different, or i earned more money. I think when you own something as thirsty as a V8 disco, a gas conversion will pay for itself. Matt

[Ralph1Malph]

Originally posted by Ralph1Malph
Hi,
I am dropping my 97 Disco off at Parnell Gas in melb for conversion tomorrow (Mon). My research indicated that it was worth it. The chaps whom I purchased the truck off, Ritter Automotive in Melb, suggested I do it and offered to tee it up (for a fee). They are no worse than any other LR joint I have spoken too so must be comfortable recommending it.
What swayed me however was the director of Parnell Gas who drives a 97 Disco LS that his boys converted. He let me go over it, see how it ran and such. He swears by it, citing about 15% less efficient around town and about 20% when laden or towing. Hardly noticeable he says! LPG on the other hand is between 40 and 60% cheaper in Melb on any given day so the overall advantage to the hip pocket should be approx 30%.
Given I do between 20k and 30k per year, I should recoup in less than 2 years. Parnell do approx 15 - 18 Rover conversions a year he says, mainly disco and RR.
I researched the conversion through quite a few LPG joints and no one cited any problems with discos and conversions. Providing the donk is in good nick, particularly manifold and exhaust pressures and compression on all pots being even, there should be no probs.
I will let you all know on Wed when I pick her up and drive her home whether I made the right choice!

On a side note, I have always had LPG sedans, mainly fords running clevelands or alloy sixes so I was already sold on LPG.

Wish me luck
Ralph

Two hours into the conversion and first snag hit :roll:
Hayman Reese towbar had to be removed as mounting bolts foul the gas tanks. Bummer. This does not happen with Genuine LR or towbars manufactured to bolt onto the wider chassis mounts.
Will have to source or trade or sell my Hayman Reese and aquire a wider fitting one... :x

Will keep all informed
Sorry to hijack post Gladiator, but you may have this same issue....
Regards
Ralph

[DEFENDERZOOK]

i would rip out the fuel and fit the cyinders in place of it and run moreys upper cylinder lubricant kit(or equivalent).
it is a drip system that slowly provides the lubricant you dont get with lpg systems.
this is one of the available products:
http://207.36.180.28/moreyoil.co.nz/


the timing will need to altered to suit the lpg to give maximum performance and efficiency. with dual fuel systems there is a compromise between the two fuels as they run a different timing advance.



found this while looking for the above:
http://www.discoveryauto.com.au/specials.htm



hope this helps in some way.