LPG and carbs

[Twincam16]

I was thinking how a classic GT could be made cheaper to run using LPG, which is still 60ppl despite fuel price rises (that's your tax, that is).

However, seeing as though most of the cars I'd want to run like that have carburettors rather than fuel injection, I was wondering - can LPG be used in that way or does the gas need a completely secure, sealed induction path with no chance of the gas escaping out of the throats of the carbs under a full choke and into the engine bay?

Anyone know?

[marshalla]

According to Dr. Google (everyone's best friend) who directed me to this site : http://www.2kwebs.co.uk/lpg/pages/components.htm the answer seems to be that carbs and LPG are almost natural bedfellows, with a bit of carb tweaking.

It must be possible to run carb. engines on gas - they did it during the war (think of Cpl. Jones' van with the big gas bag on the roof).

[Greg_D]

i had LPG on my single seater when i brought it, the gas did stink a bit! but mine was a simple system, why don't you just cadence clutch your way over to a local installer and ask?

Greg

[Howitzer]

110 Land Rover county with a low compression V8, worked fine but he could never get it to run properly while off roading on LPG, fine on regular drives to work though.

Second one in a Land Rover 90, normal V8, blew the inlet up a few times and then removed the system.

I have no idea how well they used to run but my Grandad was an LPG installer and my Dads old Chevette could get to Scotland without refueling and apparently ran like a dream.

So in conclusion.

Get a V8

Dave!

[Pigeon]

LPG conversions predate the widespread adoption of fuel injection you can even get them for lawnmower engines. One of my mates has an LPG-powered Dnepr outfit.

What you basically have is a vaporiser which uses exhaust heat to vaporise the LPG, a kind of flap effort in the intake air stream which is deflected by the airflow and is connected to a needle valve to meter the LPG, and some nozzles to squirt the metered LPG into the intake tract. It's kind of like a very very basic version of K-Jet.

[Twincam16]

Pigeon said:

LPG conversions predate the widespread adoption of fuel injection you can even get them for lawnmower engines. One of my mates has an LPG-powered Dnepr outfit.

What you basically have is a vaporiser which uses exhaust heat to vaporise the LPG, a kind of flap effort in the intake air stream which is deflected by the airflow and is connected to a needle valve to meter the LPG, and some nozzles to squirt the metered LPG into the intake tract. It's kind of like a very very basic version of K-Jet.

Interesting.

I'm thinking of getting a Lotus Eclat to put one on, but Howitzer's comment about the problems with his high compression engine make me wonder. Obviously it wouldn't be the 180+ bhp 'high compression' version of the 910 engine I'm talking about, but the 160bhp engine is fairly high-compression compared to most other engines. Any other potential problems now?

[Trommel]

Twincam16 said:

I'm thinking of getting a Lotus Eclat to put one on

[Twincam16]

Trommel said:

Twincam16 said:

I'm thinking of getting a Lotus Eclat to put one on

Yeah, OK, I've heard them all.

But the S2.2 version with the galvanised chassis, the Getrag gearbox and the headlight motors instead of the vacuum-suction system is a well-kept secret that keeps prices down.