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LPG question

Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2003 10:51 am
by r_santos
Howdy all,

I recently bought a SWB GQ with a TB42 engine in it and has had an LPG convertion done to it.
My concern is that the filler cap hangs woefully low as it hangs off the tow bar cross member and the tank itself is also way to low where its located.
Can anybody suggest of a firm that can modify this, cause obviosly I would like to keep the LPG option.
Im in Sydney.

Thanks in advance.

Rod

tank

Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2003 8:33 pm
by jessie928
G'day,

The tank itself, is more than likely a 115litre origional tank replacement unit. so, the answer to your question in regards to lifting the tank is a no-no. Unless you pull it out altogether and swap it out for a 80litre one you can put in the cargo area.

OR, if you put a body lift and then cut lift and gusset the chassis members...

As for the filler, it should have a flexable hose attached to it, just relocate it in your bumper or in the middle of your bumperetts, Some drilling may be required!

The GASMAN is alexandria will help you out.

Jes

Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2003 6:56 pm
by hazard
You can buy an adaptor plate that locates both the fuel and LPG fillers into the std fuel flap. I have just removed one...

Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2003 7:27 pm
by r_santos
Thanks for the reply Jes and Hazard.

I think its an 80ltr LPG tank. Not real sure just judging from the amount I was able to load in yesterday.
Im seriously cosidering doing a 2" body lift and perhaps getting the tank lifted higher into the chasy, if it is a feasable option; then fit some larger rubbers, probably 33".

As Im still learning about the vehicle, has anybody got any information on doing a bodylift on an automatic swb patrol?

Thanks for your advice.

Rod

Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2003 6:24 am
by jessie928
Rod,

A 115 litre gastank will only take about 85-94 litres when empty ( depending on the state of the AFL valve).

You can cut and weld the tank brackets, but
you need to be careful and have balls of steel, ehehehehe sweat still pours!!
just make sure you dont heat up stuff to much and dont nick the tank!!

Bodylift depends on how high...shifter needs readjusting from the adjuster, steering knuckle needs extending via spacers and longer bolts, need to cut some metal out from around the transfer leaver, unless you modify the throw...

front and rear bar brackets, heater lines, fuel lines,

Jes

Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2003 5:08 pm
by bogged
TB42s hate gas too, Have 2 mates that have bought them, one is up for a new engine the other was head, and welsh plugs...

Both had them for less than 4 mths, so were probably dodgey when sold.

Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2003 6:45 pm
by jessie928
bogged?

wake up a little.....
.
THE PATROL MOTOR IS FRIGGIN BUILT FOR lpg,
its like a farkin tank engine!

i have one tb42 sitting on my floor with 750,000km's
550,000 of that is LPG
another at 500,000 LPG for about half that

Never had a drama, no headgaskets, no valves no nothing!

Welshplugs? what the helicoil has that got to do with LPG?
If you overheat the motor because of a airpocket in the block, do you blame Pumpgas?

I have been running LPG in my cars for the last 12 years and never had a LPG related problem EVER.

and i dont exactly treat them nice either.

Its idiots who install LPG and dont worry about keeping the mixtures right that kill LPG engines, not LPG itself, Run a LPG engine to lean to long and you will eat valves and seats in ANY vehicle!

JEs

Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2003 7:01 pm
by bogged
`
jessie928 wrote:bogged?

wake up a little.....
.
I have been running LPG in my cars for the last 12 years and never had a LPG related problem EVER.



Your lucky, I know a ~dozen that have died on LPG...

Heads shitting themselves...
Why do you think there are many mods for TB42s at any gas place for a TB42 to run on gas?

Again YMMV

Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2003 7:07 pm
by CRUSHU
if you run a small water hose from the rear of the head to the filler neck of the radiator to remove air pockets, have it tuned properly, with a good ignition system, change the plugs every 20,000kms, there should be minimal difference between std unleaded and gas.

Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2003 7:29 pm
by V8Patrol
the LPG tank capacity will be written on a plate popriveted to the gaurd that covers the "outlet,fill line,lockout valve" etc. It should say what the water capacity is IE ... "WC-115lits", the AFL valve (automatic fill limiter) is designed to shut off at a predertermined level, some operate at 80% while others are around the 90% mark.
The angle that the tank sits will have an effect on this too ( rotational wise) APA tanks can be confusing with their angle requirements as to which face is to be set at 90degrees/45 degrees, set it up at the wrong angle and it will restrict the volume of gas that the tank should hold.
I've been using LPG since the mid 80's on all of my vehicles ( cept the diesel) and have never had a failer that was directly or inderectly caused by LPG, in fact I'll go one better... my holden 1 tonner (running a 350 chev) has been sole gas for 11 years and the heads are NOT gas heads !!!! The speedo stopped working about 6 years ago and it reads 293,661k's, it currently does about 500k's a week. So if I can get that sort of reliability from heads that are not designed to run LPG your laughing

Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2003 6:02 am
by jessie928
so many mods??

What mod?

LUCKY?

its not about luck, Its about "state of tune"!

Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2003 10:38 am
by r_santos
Thanks heaps for the advice and your patience everyone.
I usually prefer doing the work myself on the car, but I think with this LPG thing it would be wiser to seek the help of a compitent professional.
So many things I want to do!

Cheers.

Rod

Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2003 10:53 am
by V8Patrol
gas tanks are just as easy to work on as petrol tanks, take care, time and caution and you'll be fine.
If you want to remove/replace a tank, then drive it on LPG till its empty then do the mods you want. I have 2 tanks under my V8 Patrol, one is beside the transfer and runs lengthways while the other is located crossways between the chassisrails directly behind the back diff, I also made up a 38lit fuel tank that sits at the end of the chassisrails (just behind the LPG tank) I fitted the tanks myself and ran the lines where I wanted them to go, I then took it to a "Authorised Gas Installer" and he simply didup the conections !!!! saves heaps and its done the way I wanted it.....the right way!!!

Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2003 12:29 pm
by jessie928
finding someone competent?

thats a task in itself....eheheheheh

Jes

Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2003 7:47 pm
by bogged
jessie928 wrote:so many mods??

What mod?

LUCKY?

its not about luck, Its about "state of tune"!


Auto Gas Connection
Carrum Downs 9775 1331
Give them a ring and talk to Michael


Call Total4wd ask Rod, call any LPG place, ask them...

Top torque heads in vermont, ditto..

Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2003 6:58 am
by jessie928
hmm so it took you that long to find incompetent LPG mechanics
As i said, its all about state of tune! :)
not about mates that have had problems with their cars, whats the history with their cars and their engines pre LPG....?
Like there are so many variables, your taking two of your mates cars and saying Nissan petrols hate gas?
Get over it...
...

Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2003 11:02 am
by V8Patrol
there are few LPG specialists that are really capable of setting the gas up 100%, The main problem is the petrol side of things, we try and get the best from both but as a result 100% isnt really achivable on either when its a duel fuel situation, a motor set up to run sole gas is economicle and with normal power, same applies to sole petrol motors.
I have to agree with jessie in that it is critical to get it tuned correctly otherwise its a problem. Most ppl tend to lean off the LPG as much as possiable and then get into trouble with overheating, as to why I dont know...weird thing is they are allready saving at the pump and then try to screw more savings out by leaning off the mix....stupid really!
A correctly tuned duel fuel setup "should" be capable of a slightly lower performance figures than when on petrol, (about 10% lower on LPG) That means you'll use more LPG to do the same miles than on petrol and the power the engine makes will be slightly less, most ppl wont notice the diff except when towing heavy loads IE caravan, tandem trailer etc.