Dual Fuel conversion

[HK1837]

A whole fuel injected 5 litre engine out of a VN/VQ-VSIII Commodore or Statesman, plus associated 4spd auto transmission.

You can see the cars aren't all that expensive to buy:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Holden-St...#ht_223wt_1143
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/VQ-1990-H...#ht_235wt_1143

The engine is the same basic engine as a HJ-early WB auto 308. Just change the sump, pickup, engine mount adapters and dipstick and it'll bolt straight into a HQ-WB, uses the same fan and water pump as a WB so basically works with the right shroud. Using a TH350 gearbox crossmember it just about works at the back too, plus uses a HQ-HZ TH400 speedo cable and T-bar shifter.

There is a reasonably significant amount of stuffing around with fuel and wiring but nothing that bad, and nowadays you can buy a throttle cable ready to go. With a Statesman you get the cruise module and attachments too and this works off the same speed sensor as the engine, so just needs a few switches on the dash and brake pedal to give you cruise as well.

It is not really a conversion for an absolute novice but it is reasonably straightforward, just a few pitfalls to be wary of.

[Doug]

I don't really want to go down that path mate. I want to keep it as original looking as possible. Any other information about a dual fuel set up would be excellent though ahah

[wbute]

Dual fuel? Why? If you want to keep it looking original it won't. Ugly gas converter and you loose your spare wheel. You are better off doing a fuel injection conversion as HK says.

[Calum]

Hi Doug,
I say you should have chats with blokes that have gas on still because people I know and including the Tonner I drive (253 Manual) it actually works out Dollar per kilometer gas is about the same,there-for the gas doesn't get used unless it's a long trip or like me take it off the vehicle all together.
If you are looking at the investment$$ and how long to re-coup the saving's my way of thinking it's not worth the effort

Hope fully some one will have a ute like yours and give you the 'good oil'.

Good luck

[Doug]

The one and only reason why I want to put gas in it as well is for efficiency. If it isn't going to save me any money then it certainly isn't worth doing. Mine will be a 253 4 speed as well. i will have to look into it a bit before making a decision. What are everyone's experiences with gas efficiency? Is it worth the hassle and cost?

[Dr Terry]

It may not be worth it in the end. It may be more cost effective to do a 304 EFI conversion which will probably get similar economy (in kM/$ of fuel terms)

Byron, I run several newer Holdens with both the 304 EFI motor, plus an injected LPG dual fuel system. It has got to best the combo out there. It is both bullet-proof & economical.

Dr Terry

[Frosty]

Hi Doug, I don't use my Sandman as my daily driver so it tends to be used for a cruise. I suspect the cheapest part of owning the car therefore is the petrol. If your a bit the same it would take another 35 years to break even on the cost of fitting. I measure the fuel economy in "Smiles per gallon"

[Doug]

I will be using my ute as a daily driver, so if putting dual fuel in the ute saves me a considerable amount of money, I'm all for it haha

[HK1837]

Byron, I run several newer Holdens with both the 304 EFI motor, plus an injected LPG dual fuel system. It has got to best the combo out there. It is both bullet-proof & economical.

Dr Terry

I wasn't talking about the new injected LPG system on an injected engine, I was referring to an old carby 253 with an old style gas system on it. Can you actually fit LPG injections systems onto an old carby fed motor nowadays?

[wbute]

The only gas system on a 253 that is efficient will be a motor running on straight gas, such as gas research system.