LPG conversion

Joe Harding · Oct 19th, 2010, 20:57

Worth considering. Took me about a week, but with the benefit of experience I could probably get it done in three days.
There have been problems, but nothing that a bit of head-scratching couldn't fix.

result is a car that runs better (Oil hardly gets black!) and for longer on a cheaper tankful.

Leave a message if you want more information.

Wilbo8711 · Dec 6th, 2010, 21:12

Hi there!
definitely interested! how do you go about installing it and where do you start???
i've considered installing a diesel from a renault clio as the 3 series shares the same engines from the earlier renault 5 which were also used in the early clio! i think you can get 1.5 and 1.9 diesel units.

Wilbo

Joe Harding · Dec 9th, 2010, 20:06

Tinley Tech sold me the system. Basically you get a fuel tank, straps to restrain it, high pressure fuel lines, vapouriser and manifold that straps over the mouth of the carburretor.
You can also fit a feedback loop that reads the exhaust oxygen and adjusts the inlet mixture. It's supposed to increase mpg - in our case it didn't, but it does keep you informed as to the health or otherwise of the LPG system.

My first advice is, don't think about installing until your insurance have given you okay IN WRITING. (Thereby hangs a tale.)

Secondly, make sure the car runs at optimum on petrol. Clean your carb (good few squirts of carb cleaner if nothing else.) Make sure valve settings are right. New spark plugs, check distributor, HT leads etc. Don't add anything to the car until that is done, otherwise you'll be adding a new set of unknowns.

Email me on joe9003@hotmail.co.uk and I'll send you the diary of operations with pictures. (It will be in a number of slabs becausethe pix are big.)

Cheers

PS Cost about £650. Pays itself off in about 10 months. Week's work, less if you have access to an inspection pit.

Clan · Dec 9th, 2010, 20:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wilbo8711

Hi there!
definitely interested! how do you go about installing it and where do you start???
i've considered installing a diesel from a renault clio as the 3 series shares the same engines from the earlier renault 5 which were also used in the early clio! i think you can get 1.5 and 1.9 diesel units.

Wilbo

There was a diesel 340 for foreign markets , they were in ireland too , a 1600 version of the petrol 1700 , no turbo ...

Wilbo8711 · Dec 10th, 2010, 22:28

yeh i read about them. any idea why they only did diesels outside the uk? i've heard the 440's engines would fit relatively trouble free or maybe a renault diesel.
cool, i'll give you an email :-)

Clan · Dec 10th, 2010, 22:34

Remember the propshaft is the weakest link in the transmission , a diesel of more torque than the 55bhp D16 would rip the propshaft out .. thats why the 360 ( 240 engine ) was completely revised with a torque tube .
Diesels were pretty horrible things in those days 25 years ago :-) so no demand . Perhaps diesel fuel in ireland was particularly cheap then?

Chris_C · Dec 13th, 2010, 12:58

My prop lasted a total of 228,000miles, 210,000 on the orig 1.7 engine and 18,000 on the 2l twin cam I have at the moment. That was a fair chunk longer than I expected

It's torque that would kill it though, so I imagine a lower power diesal unit would be just as efficient at breaking things as my engine. Nothing that can't be re engineered though.

Clan · Dec 13th, 2010, 18:49

my 343 has done 240,000 on it's original propshaft . Difficult to re engineer though . bearing in mind it has to be low inertia for gear changes .

Chris_C · Dec 14th, 2010, 16:20

I agree, the problem is the extra power in mine. Book value is 150Hp with 185nm and mine has some tweaks on top of that.

I've got an idea which is hopefully going on the Bridgeport soon, but will have to see. I want to get under an Alfa 75 or Porsche 944? (I think) to see how they've done it.

Wilbo8711 · Dec 20th, 2010, 23:24

i've now been drawn to the 1.9DTI engine from a megane. they have 96hp which is the same as my 1.7 renault 5 gtx but 200nm of torque! might be a problem with the prop then!
how do the F7 guys manage it? is it just the prop that goes? could a more heavy duty coupling survive or is it the tube that twists? scaffolding? haha
Do you think it would survive without accelerating too harsh?
I'm seriously considering it.
£300 engine with 100hp and 200nm and in the megane 56mpg (possibly more with the volvo considering the weight difference or less considering the gear ratios)

Will

Oct 19th, 2010, 20:57	#1
Joe Harding Premier Member Last Online: Yesterday 21:25 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Bristol	LPG conversion Worth considering. Took me about a week, but with the benefit of experience I could probably get it done in three days. There have been problems, but nothing that a bit of head-scratching couldn't fix. result is a car that runs better (Oil hardly gets black!) and for longer on a cheaper tankful. Leave a message if you want more information.

Dec 6th, 2010, 21:12	#2
Wilbo8711 New Member Last Online: Mar 29th, 2011 01:36 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Taunton	Lpg Hi there! definitely interested! how do you go about installing it and where do you start??? i've considered installing a diesel from a renault clio as the 3 series shares the same engines from the earlier renault 5 which were also used in the early clio! i think you can get 1.5 and 1.9 diesel units. Wilbo

Dec 10th, 2010, 22:34	#6
Clan Experienced Member Last Online: Yesterday 23:35 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: L/H side	Remember the propshaft is the weakest link in the transmission , a diesel of more torque than the 55bhp D16 would rip the propshaft out .. thats why the 360 ( 240 engine ) was completely revised with a torque tube . Diesels were pretty horrible things in those days 25 years ago :-) so no demand . Perhaps diesel fuel in ireland was particularly cheap then? __________________ My comments are only based on my opinions and vast experience .

Dec 13th, 2010, 12:58	#7
Chris_C Gopher Last Online: Oct 12th, 2023 15:31 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Southampton or Isle of Wight View Photos By: Chris_C	My prop lasted a total of 228,000miles, 210,000 on the orig 1.7 engine and 18,000 on the 2l twin cam I have at the moment. That was a fair chunk longer than I expected It's torque that would kill it though, so I imagine a lower power diesal unit would be just as efficient at breaking things as my engine. Nothing that can't be re engineered though. __________________ 2003 S60 D5 SE 1989 340GL - Fake - Gallery Project Thread - Spare parts car turned motorsport plaything. 8 more valves, 277 more cc's Previously, a lot of various 300s

Dec 13th, 2010, 18:49	#8
Clan Experienced Member Last Online: Yesterday 23:35 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: L/H side	my 343 has done 240,000 on it's original propshaft . Difficult to re engineer though . bearing in mind it has to be low inertia for gear changes . __________________ My comments are only based on my opinions and vast experience .

Dec 9th, 2010, 20:06	#3
Joe Harding Premier Member Last Online: Yesterday 21:25 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Bristol	Tinley Tech sold me the system. Basically you get a fuel tank, straps to restrain it, high pressure fuel lines, vapouriser and manifold that straps over the mouth of the carburretor. You can also fit a feedback loop that reads the exhaust oxygen and adjusts the inlet mixture. It's supposed to increase mpg - in our case it didn't, but it does keep you informed as to the health or otherwise of the LPG system. My first advice is, don't think about installing until your insurance have given you okay IN WRITING. (Thereby hangs a tale.) Secondly, make sure the car runs at optimum on petrol. Clean your carb (good few squirts of carb cleaner if nothing else.) Make sure valve settings are right. New spark plugs, check distributor, HT leads etc. Don't add anything to the car until that is done, otherwise you'll be adding a new set of unknowns. Email me on joe9003@hotmail.co.uk and I'll send you the diary of operations with pictures. (It will be in a number of slabs becausethe pix are big.) Cheers PS Cost about £650. Pays itself off in about 10 months. Week's work, less if you have access to an inspection pit.

Dec 10th, 2010, 22:28	#5
Wilbo8711 New Member Last Online: Mar 29th, 2011 01:36 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Taunton	yeh i read about them. any idea why they only did diesels outside the uk? i've heard the 440's engines would fit relatively trouble free or maybe a renault diesel. cool, i'll give you an email :-)

Dec 14th, 2010, 16:20	#9
Chris_C Gopher Last Online: Oct 12th, 2023 15:31 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Southampton or Isle of Wight View Photos By: Chris_C	I agree, the problem is the extra power in mine. Book value is 150Hp with 185nm and mine has some tweaks on top of that. I've got an idea which is hopefully going on the Bridgeport soon, but will have to see. I want to get under an Alfa 75 or Porsche 944? (I think) to see how they've done it. __________________ 2003 S60 D5 SE 1989 340GL - Fake - Gallery Project Thread - Spare parts car turned motorsport plaything. 8 more valves, 277 more cc's Previously, a lot of various 300s

Dec 20th, 2010, 23:24	#10
Wilbo8711 New Member Last Online: Mar 29th, 2011 01:36 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Taunton	i've now been drawn to the 1.9DTI engine from a megane. they have 96hp which is the same as my 1.7 renault 5 gtx but 200nm of torque! might be a problem with the prop then! how do the F7 guys manage it? is it just the prop that goes? could a more heavy duty coupling survive or is it the tube that twists? scaffolding? haha Do you think it would survive without accelerating too harsh? I'm seriously considering it. £300 engine with 100hp and 200nm and in the megane 56mpg (possibly more with the volvo considering the weight difference or less considering the gear ratios) Will

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