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LPG
Mar 13, 2006 9:25:10 GMT
Post by johnwp5bcoupe on Mar 13, 2006 9:25:10 GMT
Just thinking about it at this stage! has anyone done a sympathetic conversion to LPG How did it go How will the conversion effect showing the car (not being standard). After spending many years restoring I would like to be able to afford to run the car! I would like to tour France next year and LPG is readily available over there
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LPG
Mar 13, 2006 12:53:40 GMT
Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2006 12:53:40 GMT
Richard Spratley has done at least two LPG conversions. I seem to remember conversion costs about £1500. The cars he converts have the petrol tank replaced with an LPG tank, and a rather ugly, albeit functional metal casing placed on one side of the boot. There just arn't the cavities on a P5 to put in a petrol and an LPG tank. Of course, you could always do away with the spare wheel and use Denovo tyres (or I suppose a self-sealing additive in an ordinary tyre).
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LPG
Mar 13, 2006 13:47:00 GMT
Post by stantondavies on Mar 13, 2006 13:47:00 GMT
Admittedly France is expensive for petrol, the bill for my last trans France holiday exceeded £600. My greatest problem was finding petrol stations open which would take British cards. Sundays are worst. But the economics of LPG are not necessarily what they appear at first sight. And then you have to loose all that space to the tank. My personal view is that if cost is an issue, use another more economical car. P5s will never be cheap to run - but oh what fun!
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LPG
Mar 13, 2006 15:31:09 GMT
Post by johnwp5bcoupe on Mar 13, 2006 15:31:09 GMT
Thanks for the replies if I do a conversion it would be a toroidal tank in place of the spare the filler coming out on a bracket under the bumper and for the France trip just put a spare in the boot! still lots of space for me and the "wifes luggage" Propane is 110 octane and I would have a Flash Lube fitted so it should run well. I have had the car since 1975 last on the road 1980 it has had a total rebuild down to bare metal all running gear rebuilt including engine and gearbox and the car still hasn't done 40k but it had to be done! anybody any idea how much I would be penalized showing the car with LPG conversion
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LPG
Mar 13, 2006 17:57:44 GMT
Post by Phil Nottingham on Mar 13, 2006 17:57:44 GMT
No-one would speak to you
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LPG
Mar 13, 2006 19:59:05 GMT
Post by johnwp5bcoupe on Mar 13, 2006 19:59:05 GMT
Thanks Phil surely the cant be that small minded!!
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LPG
Mar 13, 2006 20:07:13 GMT
Post by Phil Nottingham on Mar 13, 2006 20:07:13 GMT
Apart from me and some others on this fourm!
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LPG
Mar 13, 2006 22:12:11 GMT
Post by johnwp5bcoupe on Mar 13, 2006 22:12:11 GMT
Well! Well! it's my bat and ball! If the car runs better,cleaner and is more economical where is the problem? I am a fussy person and meticulous in what I do but I wouldn't spit my dummy out over a LPG conversion! perhaps a Perkins Diesel would be a better prospect! I believe there are some about in the club?
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LPG
Mar 13, 2006 22:28:38 GMT
Post by Phil Nottingham on Mar 13, 2006 22:28:38 GMT
I knew of 2 diesels but not sure whether they are still in the club or are even still around.
There are a number of LPG conversions though but the huge payback cost hardly justifies it for me and I use my P5's every day
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LPG
Mar 14, 2006 7:09:51 GMT
Post by johnwp5bcoupe on Mar 14, 2006 7:09:51 GMT
Payback is not too bad DIY £650 at least you can make sure it's fitted neatly then you take it to be tested and certificated £40 so £690 is not too bad if you consider the cost of a rebuild! also if you are touring gives you another 65lts of fuel! it's only a thought at this stage as I still have a way to go yet :Pon after 33 years of having the car and a six year or so rebuild I still try and keep up standards. I bought an old Trimmers sewing machine and the next task after the brakes is the door cards and carpets! This year maybe on the road I hope
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LPG
Mar 14, 2006 7:20:46 GMT
Post by glennr on Mar 14, 2006 7:20:46 GMT
LPG prices are rising and the gap is closing albeit slowly. Any good idea is quickly pounced on and BINGO! the Government start taxing us again. Good luck with your descision. I will still speak to you.
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LPG
Mar 14, 2006 11:03:28 GMT
Post by johnwp5bcoupe on Mar 14, 2006 11:03:28 GMT
Hi Glen I should have met you at Daves but my Aunt passed away unexpectedly so we had to go to Northumberland. As far as the LPG goes I am a bit swayed because of the fact the engine runs cleaner and I buy bulk gas!!
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LPG
Mar 14, 2006 13:32:57 GMT
Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2006 13:32:57 GMT
I would think that the LPG is Gods Gift to the V8 as the oil gets contaminated very quickly due to the sad cylinder design.
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LPG
Mar 14, 2006 21:18:56 GMT
Post by johnwp5bcoupe on Mar 14, 2006 21:18:56 GMT
Thanks for the input humphrey a wise comment I know as I have had 2 P5b's (my first in 1969) they need the oil changing very often! I know when Plod used the V8 I was told by the workshop forman they changed the oil every 1500 miles because of sludge! I am still looking at LPG as a possibility as long as the install is neat!
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LPG
Mar 14, 2006 22:19:19 GMT
Post by Phil Nottingham on Mar 14, 2006 22:19:19 GMT
Former? member Nick Webb showed his very set up at many shows in past - his car was recently advertised for sale in various mags. He used an underfloor tank with a space saver spare wheel in the boot.
Not sure whether he still has it now
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LPG
Mar 15, 2006 12:39:18 GMT
Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2006 12:39:18 GMT
You can change the oil lots of times for the cost of the LPG conversion!! Cheers
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LPG
Mar 15, 2006 16:40:29 GMT
Post by johnwp5bcoupe on Mar 15, 2006 16:40:29 GMT
Good one Freddy I agree but the V8 still produces sludge even if you change the oil at 1500 miles I think the other big factors is the 110 octain rating and the fact if you are touring the extra 65ltrs of fuel!
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LPG
Mar 15, 2006 16:47:21 GMT
Post by dorsetflyer on Mar 15, 2006 16:47:21 GMT
A lot depends on how many miles per year you will be doing after the conversion. At an average mileage of 6k it could be ten or more years before the costs will be recovered. That's assuming our friend at No. 11 doesn't have any other ideas. If you are doing high mileage per year then it is worth considering.
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LPG
Mar 15, 2006 19:48:00 GMT
Post by johnwp5bcoupe on Mar 15, 2006 19:48:00 GMT
I agree it will depend on what the twit at No.11 will do but the cost recovery will be a bit sooner depending on your gas price!! As an outlay on rebuild cost £650 is not a great deal considering the price of a total rebuild and the benefit of a cleaner car is also a bonus.
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LPG
Mar 15, 2006 19:56:34 GMT
Post by Phil Nottingham on Mar 15, 2006 19:56:34 GMT
If LPG becomes popular it will be taxed more! The current Chancellor has already said the tax is too low and it is being uplifted in stages
Looking at the numerous websites for conversion if LPG is higher octane why is the power output and economy reduced?
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LPG
Mar 15, 2006 20:33:20 GMT
Post by dorsetflyer on Mar 15, 2006 20:33:20 GMT
You can change the oil lots of times for the cost of the LPG conversion!! Cheers Especially if you use Morrisons Formula 1, 20W/50 oil at £2.75 per gallon. ;D
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LPG
Jun 10, 2006 3:59:18 GMT
Post by carelsantman on Jun 10, 2006 3:59:18 GMT
Hi all,
I had my P5b coupe 1972 converted to LPG last year in Holland. I found the cheapest converter overhere and I paid 995 euro, about 650 pounds for it. The car runs beautifull on LPG and I run just a few miles every week on petrol to keep it running on petrol. The LPG is much cheaper in Holland than petrol, 50 cents LPG, petrol 1,50 euro. At my recent trip to Brittain I found it not allways easy to find LPG overthere. Very practical the car still runs on petrol too. I have not very much space left in the boot (80 litre LPG tank), but have a bootrack. I will place some fotographs soon to show you how it looks. By the way the filling nipple on the underside of leftback wing is verry smal and not ugly (you can hardly see it)
Carel Santman
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LPG
Jun 10, 2006 5:41:43 GMT
Post by johnwp5bcoupe on Jun 10, 2006 5:41:43 GMT
Hi Carl you went for the in the boot tank what put you off the tank in place of the spare wheel? I am glad the car runs well on LPG I would like to see the pictures of the filler and tank also the Vaporiser under the bonnet (who did the conversion?). LPG prices are rising in the UK but I don't think they will reach petrol prices for a long while I also buy bulk gas which is a lot cheaper! the extra benefit is the car runs a lot cleaner there are those who say you can buy a lot of petrol for £650 and it will take a lot of miles to get your money back but sometimes that does not come into it! It's your personal choice!
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LPG
Jun 10, 2006 15:05:15 GMT
Post by RichardF on Jun 10, 2006 15:05:15 GMT
Phil,
The reason for lower power output and economy is that LPG has a lower calorific value than petrol (less bang for bucks) and hence you need to use more of it to gain a similar (actually, slightly lower) power output.
Richard Southampton
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LPG
Jun 11, 2006 12:15:54 GMT
Post by carelsantman on Jun 11, 2006 12:15:54 GMT
Hi John, I did my conversion at: www.gebrvanorsouw.nl/ , they are based in the south of Holland, Endhoven. I just did want to put in a big LPG tank and did not realy bother about a smaller in the place of the spare. The car uses 1 litre LPG to 7 km in the city and 1 litre LPG to 8 km on the motorway. That is just a bit more than on petrol. Carel Santman
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