Thread: Propane

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OK, I did a search and probably got every thread where propane was ever mentioned but none titled. I am doing some research on building a 300-6 to run strictly on propane, none of that dual fuel trade off. It will be a vapor system and not injected liquid. Does anyone here have any real experience with building an engine to run it's best on propane? I have ordered Jay Storer's book.

they use the 300 fords on well pumps in tx. i did weld one up that the rod pop thru . but i did not build it .but i would say you want to run a hard ex seats in the head and very good valves other then that should be ok

I converted a 460 to propane many years ago... It ran good, but after all the work and expense sure didn't save much money using propane instead of gas..... Don't think I'd bother doing it again. I do recall that the condition and material used on the valve seats and the exhuast valves had to be A-1......

sbi .martin wells and others make seats and valves for this use

Hey Willowbilly, Why propane?
What are you up to?
I have been thinking about natural gas but havnt done any research, I keep hearing that its plentiful.

Well, I got interested when there was almost a $2 difference between propane and gasoline. That gap has closed up for now. I could put a hose on my 1500 gallon tank but that would be dis-legal to not pay tax.
Right now the biggest attraction is that, as I understand it, all propane comes from here. So it is kinda like giving opec the bird.

And besides all that I have a 92 F250 with a propane set up on it so I have most of the right stuff. I thought I could drive the 92 but I just can't stand to have that much plastic around me when i drive so I plan part it out, put the ZF onto a 300 in my 69. And maybe build a propane 300 out of a spare I have.

That sounds smart. I would like to hear more about the conversion process.

Are the basics the same (compression, camshaft, etc.)?
Is it just a matter of changing the fuel?

I have heard that with natural gas you need high compression and its better to break the motor in on gasoline then switch to natural gas. True?

Whats the difference between propane and natural gas?

Biggest difference between propane and natural gas is the pressures involved. NG is compressed to about 3000 PSI, where propane is only at about 20.
I ran a Dodge pickup on propane for a while, it went about 100K miles and the stock valves worked fine. The guides finally wore out though. I'll never have another propane vehicle, too hard to find a supplier 500 miles from home. Mileage sucked, too. Cold starts were no fun either.

I never had a problem fueling mine that was on propane, heck all you have to do is go to the Cenex station in town and fillerup.... Definitely not a problem in this area....