LPG for late Classic RR LSE

[VladTepes]

Might as well ask now - it's never too early to start the research.

I would prefer a dual-fuel set up with underfloor gas tanks as interior space is very limited.

I have heard some people have has success with a series of scuba-like tanks ?

Anyone can help ?

[dungarover]

Thetwin tank design in place of the original petrol tank is popular with the Discos and later Rangies and they give you 70 or so liters of fuel and they fit a small fuel tank in the RHS rear panel which holds roughly 35 litres.

You have to really look at what sort of driving you will be doing. For long distance work I would look at scuba tanks and a false floor so you keep your full Petrol capacity, but mostly city driving the former would be ideal.

Talk to Tom in our club, he's done an LPG conversion on his 91 Rangie himself. I'm not a big fan with DIY after hearing of so many accidents in Victoria whn I was living there years ago (I think it's Illegal to DIY in Vic now). Some things are not worth saving a few dollars on IMO :idea:

As an alternative you could fit the 'hardware' yourself 9tank, mixer, etc..) and have an installer do the lines and certify it then you know it's safe and done professionally, plus save a few dollars into the bargain.

Anyway, good luck with it.

Trav

[UncleHo]

G'ay Vlad style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif
It may be worthwhile to have a talk with Mike Bushnell, "Duel-Fuel" at Caboolture, he will be able to give you some idea of prices and also any problems or not with Scuba(porpose) tanks also tune-up and consumption tips on your RR, I have used his services and find him very good,anyone that can recondition a Series Zenith 36IV carb that stays prettywell in tune for 2+years and lasts 6 years before the throttleshaft shows wear knows his bussiness, he also does/usedto do aircraft work and you cant getout and walk home with those babies :oops:

Duel-Fuel at Caboolture---------------(07)5498 3300 bus. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[VladTepes]

Trav I suppose the issue then becomes availability of LPG as 70 litres would get what - about 250 kms ? (consumption is a bit higher than petrol as I recall)

Then the 35 litresof petrol would be lucky to get 150 kms

Would this be replacing the overall capacity of petrol (standard is 91l is it ?) which would get approx same overall range - albeit cheaper with the LPG option ?

Or is my maths fundamentally flawed somewhere ?

Rocket: Thanks, I'll probably go have a chat with him if/when I ever get to pick up the bloody barge.

[dungarover]

The twin tanks would replace your petrol tank and you will get abouty 280-300 per tank of LPG and get about 150 out of you petrol 'joey' tank, so 450 on a run would be your return at best.

It may use more fule per km but you will be paying half or less as much. This is why I won't convert to LPG plus I only do 2-300 kms a week and wouldn't be worth the conversion costs and all the tuning issues that are the drawbacks of LPG.

Trav

[p38arover]

Vlad,

I had a look at a scuba tank install on a RR before I had my '86 converted.

I didn't go that way because of the loss of interior height. The scuba tanks work in Discos because they have more roof height.

I put in a fore and aft mounted 70 litre (56 litres usable) tank on the RHS. See pix at http://members.optusnet.com.au/thebecketts...x/lpgtank_l.jpg (http://members.optusnet.com.au/thebecketts/rover/pix/lpgtank_l.jpg)

This conversion left my original petrol tank in place.

Ron

[VladTepes]

I find it hard to tell from that pic exactly where it is - as far as I can make out from what you are saying its still in the cargo 'area' mounted fore/aft to the RHS of the cargo 'area'. Yes ?

A problem for me, as the cargo 'area' has a 3rd row of (fold up) seats in place.

[one_iota]

I'll break my own rule and not do the research first.

"A cat amongst the pigeons"

I'd heard that the Federal Govt is going to apply an equivalent fuel tax on LPG. This will have a significant effect on the cost benefit of LPG over Petrol. 8O

[VladTepes]

Yes that has been being tossed around for a while but nothing has come of it.

In fact, when that was first mooted it cost FORD a very large order for LPG only Falcons - a shame as they'd really be ideal for a company where the vehicles are used in urban / suburban areas.

[one_iota]

Originally posted by VladTepes
Yes that has been being tossed around for a while but nothing has come of it.

In fact, when that was first mooted it cost FORD a very large order for LPG only Falcons - a shame as they'd really be ideal for a company where the vehicles are used in urban / suburban areas.

It would probably be political suicide to apply that tax given the current cost of liquid fuel and the demonstrable environmental benefits of LPG.

[Hellspawn]

Originally posted by one_iota

I'd heard that the Federal Govt is going to apply an equivalent fuel tax on LPG. This will have a significant effect on the cost benefit of LPG over Petrol. 8O


8O That's not fair.. geezus that irrits me. :x As if everything doesn't cost enough now and the news tonight relayed the price is supposed to go past $1.20/ltr for petrol just after Easter and stay there. I guess that's gonna be in the city since we're close to paying that now around here, I'm buck nineteen for Optimax.

8O You can imagine what cabbies are gonna be like if the Govt. does that to LPG. Cab prices will rise... you watch !

[dungarover]

Originally posted by Hellspawn+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Hellspawn)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-one_iota

I'd heard that the Federal Govt is going to apply an equivalent fuel tax on LPG. This will have a significant effect on the cost benefit of LPG over Petrol. 8O


8O That's not fair.. geezus that irrits me. :x As if everything doesn't cost enough now and the news tonight relayed the price is supposed to go past $1.20/ltr for petrol just after Easter and stay there. I guess that's gonna be in the city since we're close to paying that now around here, I'm buck nineteen for Optimax.

8O You can imagine what cabbies are gonna be like if the Govt. does that to LPG. Cab prices will rise... you watch ![/b][/quote]

Yes, even in QLD petrol is getting pricey, now over the $1 a litre mark isn't uncommon.

Going to Nymboyda over easter and I'll be taking a couple of jerries filled at QLD prices, although I'm going to need to fill up in NSW somewhere.

The joys of V8 ownership. I'm still not selling out to Diesel anytime soon style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

Trav

[VladTepes]

Oh Trav - I do hope you aren't planning on carrying Jerry cans of petrol inside your Rangie. I wouldn't if I was you. Pay the extra few $ for the peace of mind and safety.


On the other hand at least there will be an excuse for those Range Rover petrol fumes pervading the air.

[dungarover]

I've carried fuel in the Rangie before and haven't had any real problems with the smell. I make sure that they are sealed up well and near an open window so I don't get too high on the fumes 8)

Haver to look at a long range tank sometime in the future although many hang down too far and tyhe sort of terrain I do that's not good 8O

Trav

[Ralf_the_RR]

I've got the twin tanks in place of the original petrol tank.
Probably has about 60+ish useable litres. Never ran out, so I don't know.

I also have twin sill tanks.
I think they hold about 35L each.

I get about 300KM for about 52-60L of gas (varies a bit).
On petrol, maybe 350K for 60ish litres.

As for carrying spare fuel, that's what swing-away carriers are for.

Pics are here:
http://www.aulro.com/modules.php'set_album...=view_album.php (http://www.aulro.com/modules.php'set_albumName=album90&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php)

[VladTepes]

No swing away carriers will ever grace the luxo-barge. Mrs Vlad won't even let me put a sticker on :roll:

[p38arover]

Originally posted by one_iota
I'll break my own rule and not do the research first.

"A cat amongst the pigeons"

I'd heard that the Federal Govt is going to apply an equivalent fuel tax on LPG. This will have a significant effect on the cost benefit of LPG over Petrol. 8O

I understand they are phasing it in from 2008. The law was that the govt had to give 5 years advance warning of excise on LPG. The proposal is to apply excise equivalent to that for petrol on an energy equivalence basis and, I think, the same is to happen to diesel.

So if LPG has 80% of the energy value of petrol, the excise will be 80%.
If it occurs, I think taxis will go diesel.

LPG tank manufacturer APA went into receivership for a while, their orders dropped to almost nil.

Ron

[Ralf_the_RR]

Originally posted by Ralf_the_RR
I've got the twin tanks in place of the original petrol tank.
Probably has about 60+ish useable litres. Never ran out, so I don't know.


Just checked the APA website.
My tanks are 56L water capacity with 45L gas capacity.
So that's a total of 90L (my maths is good eh!)

That should get me about 450km.
At 40c/L, I reckon it's great value style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

[Ralph1Malph]

Hi,
As I have been rabbiting on about it, i'll offer my ten cents worth.
I recently got my disco converted. twin 35L scubas in, petrol tank out.
No floor space lost. 35L sill petrol tank on RHS.
Choose your set up carefully, research the hell out of it. The component manufacturer is not important unless you want it to be. Its the actual under bonnet set up. Mine does not have a mixer, using the converter and air flow sensor to adjust injection. I went for a mid range cost setup, which uses largely fixed components, connected to easy, reliable hardware.
The result is my economy is avg (more later) but nearly no moving or expensive parts to replace.
Higher cost systems (excuse the lay terms , white collar worker, don't own a bluey) use mixers and external flow adjusters, and such. Better econ and flow control but potentially more stuff to break.
Currently I get 220-250 km from 65L lpg city and 320-350km hwy.
The more costly, more efficient systems get upward 350-370 city and 380-420 hwy.
As for excise, the deal from lpg fitters asscn is that from 2008, excise will apply at 2% per year until 2012 then applied at 12% or same as petrol.

In $ terms pre conversion I was getting an avg of 400-450 km for my $100 (89L@110c). Post conv I get 660-750 city or 1000-1100 hwy for my $100 (270L @67c) Of course I have to stop to filler up 2-3 times as often.
This was best fit for my budget and circumstance. If you can afford a better, high efficiency/performance installation it will be even better.

I also had some drama with my towbar coz of the tanks but will post some pics of the whole sordid affair maybe this w/e
regards
Ralph

[Outlaw]

Heya Vlad, Camo here on the GC has just taken the gas out of his '90 Rangy so could be looking at selling if interested, it was installed behind the seats in the back... everything was perfect with it, just needed the room to put his new engel fridge and never used it anway as prefered the power of the petrol.

[VladTepes]

I already have a 3rd row of seats in there...

[UncleHo]

Hi Vlad,
Who drove past in the LUXO-BARGE onthe way back from Incisor's Today style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif :x and it was just up the road too, the Barge wouldn't have got into top gear style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif
Who is it :?: everthing OK :?:
cheers

[VladTepes]

Typically Rocket you are making no sense at all.

Who is what ?

Why would everything not be OK ?

Did I drive past you or something ?

If I didn't see you - you should have thrown yourself in front of the Rangie so I had half a chance to..


... or fire a shot across the luxo-barge's bow or something...


I should have dropped in and said Hi while up there. Sorry maye.

[Michael2]

I've got the twin under car tanks that replace the main fuel tank. They hold 70 litres (usable) but my AFL valves are "understanding" and allow me to squeeze in an extra 10 litres for long trips. Around town I get 280-320 km on the LPG [1988 3.5 EFI]. Across the nullabor I got 350-380km on LPG.
I've got the little sub tank and 2 sill tanks for fuel (about 105 litres). Around town I'd get 450km, on the highway 730km. This gives me a safe touring range of 1,000km on the highway.
If I buy LPG with a supermarket discount voucher on the low end of the price cycle I get 16km per $1 style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif , which is better than a Tdi (or a corolla).

The Fed Govt will phase in LPG Tax :x from 2008 (I think) and over four years it will reach a maximum of 12 cents per litre (TAX). Wait to see what happens politically, and since the margins on LPG are so big, pricing may come down to compensate for the Tax (we'll still pay more, but not necessarily as much as the tax).

[VladTepes]

Not much room under teh sills with EAS compressors and such.

[alexcd]

hi Michael2 where did you get your conversion done in Melbourne? Im about to convert my '89 3.5 to gas but am going for tank in the back, cheaper and i need to carry all the fuel i can. Even if tax pushes price up i will have paid off the conversion long before then.

[Michael2]

Hi Alexcd
I Bought a 2nd hand system and rang around to find some one to fit it. No one wanted to do the job because it's very tight and difficult (under car) on a RR. A guy I knew through work ended up doing it for $600, but I had to fix some things after that and it took 2 weeks.
Your conversion seems pretty straight forward though, I'd recommend Smithys in Bayswater. PM me if you need more detail.