V8 Gas conversions

[Dugsley]

I'm researching fitting an LPG system on an '01 S II 3.9 manual. Sorry if this has been done to death in the forum, but i searched a bit and couldn't see much.
Obviously I want to miss Ruddy's probable axing of the rebate, and have been quoted $5 300 for a 'Tartarini' system, whatever that is. I've been quoted a lot of other junk too... how some businesses survive is a wonder.

What should I need to know? Are there better systems than others? At less than 20 000km per yr is it worth it? (I currently get about 15L/100k's highway).

Thanks for any advice.:)

[loanrangie]

I'm researching fitting an LPG system on an '01 S II 3.9 manual. Sorry if this has been done to death in the forum, but i searched a bit and couldn't see much.
Obviously I want to miss Ruddy's probable axing of the rebate, and have been quoted $5 300 for a 'Tartarini' system, whatever that is. I've been quoted a lot of other junk too... how some businesses survive is a wonder.

What should I need to know? Are there better systems than others? At less than 20 000km per yr is it worth it? (I currently get about 15L/100k's highway).

Thanks for any advice.:)

Tartarini is an Italian brand of lpg components, at less than 20k per year i dont think the cost of the conversion is justified. For a DII you really want an lpg injection system not a crude earlier type, 15L/100 is pretty good and lpg will run at at least 20+L /100 but at less than half the price of petrol who cares. One thing i found was once i converted to lpg i tended to drive more and further because i could :).

[p38arover]

Where are you located? It might help with pointing you to a fitter.

[Utemad]

If you are going to keep the car for a while then it could still be worthwhile. You will be kicking yourself for not doing it earlier if you end up holding on to it.

By the time I converted mine it could have paid for itself but mine was only a $1500 setup after the rebate.

Although don't be too concerned if you miss out on the rebate as with any luck the prices will drop when/if it is revoked. They certainly skyrocketed when it was introduced. My quotes went up by $1000 after the rebate came into effect.

[PAT303]

I got mine done at Hunter Gas Technologies.It was $4300,LPG Fumigation with twin under sill tanks.I had to change plugs,leads to get it to run smooth but it is a good thing. Pat

[p38arover]

I got mine done at Hunter Gas Technologies.It was $4300,LPG Fumigation with twin under sill tanks.I had to change plugs,leads to get it to run smooth but it is a good thing. Pat

Umm, sequential gas injection? Fumigation is usually used with diesels. :p

I have the same system as they fit - the KME unit.

[PAT303]

Umm, sequential gas injection? Fumigation is usually used with diesels. :p

I have the same system as they fit - the KME unit.

Ignore me. What he said. Pat

[Dugsley]

Thanks! I'm in Albany on WA's south coast, but would travel to Perth to fit, i imagine. Thanx!

[Dugsley]

Yep, The Tartarini is an injection system. You're exactly right, it's being able to afford to use Dugsley more, and save the 2nd car!

[PAT303]

I'm getting the defender hooked up with this years tax cheque and there was a place that ran a full page add in the west australian or sunday times I can't remember that had it for $4500 with a $3000 rebate and also an interest free repayment plain off $88 a week for the $1500 owing.They were in Perth and it was less than a month ago. Pat

[Dugsley]

Thanks Pat..
Perhaps they're the same ones that ran the half page ad week before last. I emailed, left 2 voice messages, and when i got thru was promised they'd get the boss back to me. Nuthin'! Perhaps they're very busy, but I have contacted most advertisers and spoken to quite a few. I think the $4 500 is not for an injector system, which I believe I need, but I'll keep calling around.

[Roverwill]

G'day Dugsley,

sounds like you are going through the same thing I was. I have booked in my D1 with Gas Power Australia (probably the people you contacted) and was quoted a similar price to you - also using the Tartarini equipment and injection system. I spoke to a guy that sounded like he knew what he was on about and apparentley they use the Tartarini gear as it is a better quality than a brand they were using previously. Apparentley it installs very neatly (I don't want a heap of extra clutter under my bonnet), is well suited to our warmer climate and they seem to have a decent warranty in place.

As far as cost goes, if you are using close to, or more than $100 per week on fuel, the cost of the conversion would be recovered in around 1 year (including the total $3000 rebate package us West Aussies get :cool:)

Good luck - Will

(and get in while the rebate is available - does anyone know when the grant stops?)

[p38arover]

I think the $4 500 is not for an injector system, which I believe I need, but I'll keep calling around.

That price would be for an injector system. A non-computerised venturi system is much cheaper.

[PAT303]

Dugsley and Roverwill could either of you send me a no. for the company that does the gas set-up. Thanks Pat

[Dugsley]

No Probs, Pat. Gas Power have a 1800 # being 1800 633 055, and have 10 stores in the Perth Metro. They have a bright yellow ad in the weekend press and should be easy to find. I spoke to Dianne and she knew way more than a coulple of the fellows who never got back to me!! My brother in law suggested Dean at Gaspower Midvale, the same company; I guess he's real good since he's too busy to answer - leave a message! Good Luck.

[Dugsley]

Thanks Will, that's reassuring to know. Yes, I've booked in with them too. Jeff

[Utemad]

That price would be for an injector system. A non-computerised venturi system is much cheaper.

Not necessarily Ron.

My old style system with manifold tank on the rear floor cost $3500 before rebate and the underfloor system was $4500 before rebate.

Subtract $1000 per install for the price before the rebate was introduced.

[p38arover]

Not necessarily Ron.

My old style system with manifold tank on the rear floor cost $3500 before rebate and the underfloor system was $4500 before rebate.

Subtract $1000 per install for the price before the rebate was introduced.

Interesting. I spoke to a friend who does installs. He said that there is an impression that prices rose substantially when the rebate was introduced but it didn't happen. He did say that sequential vapour injection came to the fore at about the same time and that's where people may have seen the apparent price rises.

JSP on this forum is getting his classic done with venturi system and a computer controlled stepper motor system and it is substantially less than what your are quoting.

In fact, after the rebate, he won't be out of pocket by much at all.

[Utemad]

Ron this is in Brisbane and mine was converted about 7 months ago. Before the rebate I was quoted $2500 with manifold tank and $3500 with under floor tank. Both went up by $1000 after the rebate. This was with heaps of quotes and also not with the stepper motor. Add about $2000 to the quotes for injection systems.

Perhaps they have come back down now or maybe different quality of parts are being used?

The biggest problem here though was finding a place that would touch a Land Rover. One place even accepted but then later said no.

Supply and demand and all that. Maybe the demand has dropped off after initial take up of the rebate?

[SmokyBear]

I had my D2 V8 converted last year. After much research & ringing around, I found that nobody in Perth would do it. All the Landrover places in Perth suggested a call to Dave at Farmport Autogas in Bunbury (08 97924288). He had previously done an installation on a colleague's '99 Rangerover and it worked a treat.

Dave installed an Elko Direct Sequential Injection System, and I decided to go with underbody lpg tanks. A single or manifold tank in the luggage bay would have significantly reduced the price, but I value my luggage area more.

The underbody tank option dictated the removal of my main fuel tank to make way for two 40L gas cylinders that fit longitudinally between the chassis rails. Dave had to custom make the mounting brackets. I fitted a 62L Brown Davis LPG conversion petrol tank (an additional $700) before taking the car to Bunbury.

Apparently the Elko DSI systems are quite new in Australia. Unfortunately being one of the first to install one in WA meant that I also copped all the teething problems, including components that did not like the heat in a Disco engine bay & had to be modified or moved to a cooler spot. Thankfully Elko's agent in Canning Vale was helpful in the extreme, and all the bugs are now sorted out.

My system in now working a treat. The twin tanks give me a 70L lpg capacity, good for about 350km, plus the 62L petrol tank. I have noticed no difference in power, as the lpg injection fuel mapping is custom tuned to suit.

Apart from costing $45 to fill up, the best things about the system are:
* Starts on petrol and changes to lpg automatically once the engine is warmed up.
* Change overs are rarely felt, even under full throttle, as it is done one cylinder at a time, three seconds apart.
* Automatically changes to petrol when lpg runs out or if there is a system fault.

The bad things are:
* It cost a bomb (but is paying for itself quickly)
* The teething problems (but they were all fixed for free)
* Slightly reduced exit angle due to petrol tank & lpg tank brackets (which was a good excuse to fit the lift kit I just put in!)

[SmokyBear]

Oops, forgot to mention the price. The installation cost was $5200, plus $700 for the petrol tank that I fitted myself. Choosing a manifold tank or single tank would reduce the price by about $500 & $1000 respectively.

[Dugsley]

Costing a bomb would mean...? Can i ask? Thanks by the way, SmokeyBear!

[SmokyBear]

Costing a bomb would mean...? Can i ask? Thanks by the way, SmokeyBear!

The installation cost was $5200, plus $700 for the petrol tank that I fitted myself. Choosing a manifold tank or single tank would reduce the price by about $500 & $1000 respectively.

[jsp]

hey Ron, yes I am getting the 94 classic converted to LPG in the next few weeks - paid my deposit already.

I only get $2000 Krud rebate, and I will be less than $500 out of pocket in the worst case scenario, for a o2 sensor fitted and controlled by computer/stepper motor venturi system with a second hand but retested for 10 yrs either manifold tank in the back for a raised floor or a 50 liter tank stuffed up the back between tailgate and back seats above wheel arch.

The fellow doing mine has impressed me to no end - it includes heaps of good stuff like plugs leads and even an ignition amp module if needed, and what has impressed me is his attention to detail and pure knowledge of land rovers in general, and he even had a look at the P38 and advised he has venturi converted several P38's without issues, and he even had a bosch thor series 2 disco he had done. He said they were a pain to work on but if time and patience is used they work well also. No injection setups.

[Captain HSE 4.6 2000]

I'm just trying to confirm what gas and tank system to go with all seem to be about $4400-$4600.

Can anyone recommend the max size tank ( brand and company) that will go in the spare wheel well and still leave room for the jack etc or a spare battery? Installing a 55L one seems pointless ( Ron what size is yours?)

Is there any other configerations I should consider bearing in mind I have just fitted a 155L Brown and Davis long range replacement fuel tank.

Lastly my RR is on the Gold Coast waiting to be trucked to the NT can anyone recommend a installer there ?

Many Thanks in advance

[p38arover]

Can anyone recommend the max size tank ( brand and company) that will go in the spare wheel well and still leave room for the jack etc or a spare battery? Installing a 55L one seems pointless ( Ron what size is yours?)

<snip>

Lastly my RR is on the Gold Coast waiting to be trucked to the NT can anyone recommend a installer there ?

Mine is only 54 litres usable. There are now (not much) bigger toroidal tanks available but they cost $1300. A better solution is, in my opinion, to cut the wheel well out, fit a steel floor, then undersling two cylindrical tanks under the new floor. I may go this route.

See RPi Engineering - Specialized Rover Engines - faqs (http://www.rpiv8.com/faq-lpg-Gems-twin-tanks.htm#prep)

Re an installer, you need one that will work on Range Rovers. Ring Brad at DieselGas Technologies (02) 4721-3675 and ask if he knows someone.