As the title says I�m currently running on propane. I had been thinking about this for quite sometime. I started collecting the parts about a year ago. I had everything I needed but the linkage stuff and the tank. About a month ago I bought 2 forklift tanks for $10.00 each full of propane.

On August 20 2005 I went to the smog station and failed with the Weber. It had been running just a bit rich for 3 years now, but the guy I normally had to do my test moved, and no longer does test. So I had to make mine legal. I got new jets to decrease the rich running carb. I did the normal tune-up stuff. And ran it some but, with an expired tag I�m limited to the power lines only. I ran it for about a week before testing and it failed. Still high in HC and NO.

Well the next day I had it running on propane in just 45 min. everything was just hooked up enough to have it running to see if it would. It is so easy to convert over from gas to propane it�s not even funny. The hardest thing to do is mounting the tank properly.

I have removed the gas tank to mount a hanger for the forklift tank to allow for easier swapping. This part is still left to do.

The motor runs so much smoother, no surging it idle. It accelerates better and the overall response is much better. You push the clutch and hit the key and it starts up. Its like it is fuel injected.

The only thing I had to make or mod was how the gas cable hooked to the propane carb and how the cable was mounted to the carb. I used parts from a stock carb. Bent both of the cable holders and drilled some holes and cut some off of the stock gas cable mount. Added some springs because the stock spring on the mixer, which is an Impco CA125, were not strong enough.

For now I have the tank strapped in the back seat for testing. I also will be checking the mpg. to see if it is worth the swap. Two major reasons for the swap was for smog testing and cost of fuel too which is just stupid crazy at the moment.

I have noticed that the engine seams to be running just a bit cooler than normal so I might have to swap to a hotter thermostat because I still need to clean up the exhaust that has a high build up of black carbon from the running way rich weber.

http://www.gazuki.com/images/propane/Picture_006.jpg

http://www.gazuki.com/images/propane/Picture_024.jpg

http://www.gazuki.com/images/propane/Picture_027.jpg

http://www.gazuki.com/images/propane/Picture_033.jpg

http://www.gazuki.com/images/propane/Picture_034.jpg

http://www.gazuki.com/images/propane/Picture_040.jpg

http://www.gazuki.com/images/propane/carb_front1.jpg

http://www.gazuki.com/images/propane/carb_side.jpg

Is there any way to hook up your gas guage to the propane setup? Might be kind of nice. Also does it run on the tank till the tank is completely empty or does it have less power toward the end of the tank because less propane is in it? Just a few questions I had thanks -David-

here are some questions i have gotten so hopefully i have answered all of them but if not ask away and i will try to answer them as i get answers

I only have had it hooked up and driving it off and on for 2 days so far.

Let me answer some questions here.

First the tank is set up to run liquid not vapor, because of the amount of the flow. And if you had a problem with freezing you had it hooked up wrong. If you LQQK at the picture with the 2 round things on the bumper you need both.

The one on the right is the filter and vacuum lock off. It take the vacuum off the intake to open the flow of liquid propane. The one on the left is the pressure regulator and converter. It converts the pressure from around 32 wc (water column) to about 2 wc. It also converts it from liquid to vapor with the help of the 2 hot water fittings one on each side. I had a Weber with a water choke so I already had the hoses to hook them up. The mixer only uses vapor not liquid. I’m guessing that with the flow of vapor needed that it would not work to good to have the regulator at the tank.

You could hook up a grill or something but you would need the water flowing thru the converter to keep it from freezing up.

As for the Weber I’m keeping it because I have a couple more Zuks to put it on, sorry.

As for the energy density of propane, it depends on whom you ask for the proper answer.
I have read a bunch and most say that they get the same output as gas. But it’s trail only.
And one web site said it’s a 9/10 rule for every 9 gals of gas you would use 10 gals of propane. The btu’s are less than gas but the octane is higher. So it does require a hot spark to run. Nobody has done a DD swap yet to get MPG on a Zuk. So this means I would get only about 60 miles uncorrected on my Speedo.

Grill bottles are set-up for vapor only. The old style on non-OPD you could turn upside down for liquid but the new tanks have a shut-off inside the tank to cut off fuel if it turns over and they are only 4 gals of propane

So far I have used more propane than I thought I would. When tanks are filled they’re not all filled the same and I did a lot of testing and idling and such before I started driving it on the road and I had a small leak after the lock off valve. So I have changed tanks and I will see how many miles I get on this tank. On one of the web site I will list that I have read he said that he installed a closed loop oxygen setup to help with propane usage and it did reduce his usage some.

As for the tank issue. The reason for the swappable tanks is to get away from the road tax. I will have them filled at work because I can buy propane there before it goes up at $9.95 a tank which is 33#’s or 7 ½ gal. At Ace Hardware it cost $20.27 both have 7% sales tax only added. At Ace if the propane is used for motor fuel they can’t fill it because they are not set up to collect road tax. The guy wrote on his web site that everywhere he went nobody asked about the road tax and he had a small mounted tank then upgraded to a larger tank

Did the horsepower go up or down?
I thought I already answered that. I think it is the same top end if not just a bit better. I had the vacuum advance hooked up wrong and now it’s disconnected for testing purposes.

I talked to my local propane provider and they said that they would not set a tank at my house so I could fill tanks. Mostly because of insurance problems and volume. If the volume was a lot then I could get it. The propane tank I already have at home is set up for vapor withdrawal which wont help me much because I need liquid and it would need to be taken from the bottom of the tank not the top.

The gas gauge is the easy part. http://www.helmarparts.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=74485 If you have ever been around forklifts you know how to read a tank already. If you are driving it for a while you will notice that a frost line or water is dripping off the tank. This is because there is very little or no liquid propane left. Then all is left is vapor which means the pressure has dropped. You add a pressure gauge at the inlet of the vacuum lock off and when the pressure drops a light comes on and tells you to change the tank. They have others but cost a lot more and I have never used them.

What are the legal issues?
This is the one I’m still working on. It so funny because nobody knows how to answer you. On www.celanairforce.com if you are a propane vehicle only you don’t need to be tested. Here is the problem. Your title says you are a gas vehicle.

So I called the local tag office and they told me to call the wavier station. They told me I had to call EPA. They told me that I needed to call the DMV. They told me I had to call DOT. And the number they gave me was for Washington DC. I called them and they bounced me around to 3 people and the first thing he said was. It’s not a federal problem I had to call the DMV for my state. I told him my problem anyway. His statement was why did I tell anyone just run the propane thru as gas and pay for the tag.

Here is the problem with that. If I keep it propane I want to get all the benefits associated with alternative fuel. I would have to buy a road tax exemption sticker so I could buy propane anywhere and not worry about the road tax part. Then I could file on my income taxes for the extra credits I could get for running alternative fuel. And I can ride down the HOV lane with only one person in the Zuk. Which I’m never down town but if I was I could legally do it

Here is a site with a lot of good reading in it

http://www.wps.com/LPG/

Good write up. Let us know how the mileage turns out. Do you have some more permanent mounting location in mind for the tank?

Good write up.


Yes, excellent write up...looks like you've done lots of research...hope this goes in the FAQ...keep us posted.

You forgot one of the best benefits, your oil stays clean 3 times longer or better.

Very excellent! I was just thinking about doing this the other day and, what do you know, you already did it. Very nice.
Can you give a parts list, mabe some part numbers.

Keep us informed on your MPG.

you can buy a complete kit minus tank from www.gotpropane.com or find a forklift company close by or just get your parts from e-bay

i used hoses from a forklift with the forklift bottle ends on them

the mixer is an impco ca125
then you need a vacuum lock off / filter
a pressure regulator / heater
gas cable mount from old stock carb (LQQK at close-ups)
gas cable swivel off the carb (LQQK at close-ups)
odds and ends (hoses, nuts and bolts and brass fittings)

just go to e-bay and search "impco" sometimes there is a lot and sometimes not

here are some links

http://www.propanecarbs.com/impco/modeljconverter.html
http://www.propanecarbs.com/impco/vff30filter.html
http://www.propanecarbs.com/impco/125carburetor.html
http://www.propanecarbs.com/rock_crawlers.html