LPG conversion on a TVR
Discussion
Anyone had this done to their TVR? Ian and I have just bought a Dodge Ram 1500 pick-up, and are getting the kit to convert it. Got a quote to have the conversion done to the Griff (£2500) but would rather get the kit and do it ourselves. Problem is - where do we put the fuel tank?!!
Help!
Mrs. Gilesy
P.S. Sad news is, the S2 will be up for sale soon to help pay for the pick-up.
Help!
Mrs. Gilesy
P.S. Sad news is, the S2 will be up for sale soon to help pay for the pick-up.
shnozz said:
eeek - before you sell the S we best sort out that photo shoot with the sister car..
Absolutely! We've still to do the leather trim on one of the door panels before we put it up for sale, and we're prolonging that job 'cos we know once it's done, she goes
I'll get Ian to e-mail you to sort something out.
mike s said:
What - do the conversion or sell the S?!Or both!
Convert the Griff to LPG. It's criminal....
Mmm dilemma there. Seemingly the all singing and dancing conversion kits nowadays cause no loss of power and the transition from petrol to gas is unnoticeable, or have we just been given a whole load of sales prattle?
Being Scottish, the idea of halving our monthly fuel bill is very tempting, but if it means the Griff loses its growl, then there's no way we'd do it.
By the way, have I seen you in Tesco's car park Bursledon? If so, I apologise for drooling when I heard you drive by!
Unfortunately there seems to be quite a bit of mis-information about LPG, generally from people with little first hand knowlege of it. 
My car in NZ runs dedicated LPG (i.e. no petrol) and has done for about 8 years. The engine is basically a 5 litre Rover V8 unit (with some Australian parts) and in a relatively inefficient configuration (old style heads and small valves)put outs 220HP at the wheels.
LPG has a number of advantages apart from cost, it is higher octane than petrol, being about 110-115 RON equivalent.
It is cleaner burning, as there are much fewer carbon particles when it is burnt. Typically my engine oil stays golden coloured between changes.
LPG has a calorific value of about 85% of petrol (for equal weights), but if an engine can be modified to take advantage of LPG's characteristics (higer compression ratio, more initial ignition timing etc.) then the power 'losses' are minimised over petrol.
The fuel tank can be heavy as it is a presurised container, but I think you can even get composite tanks now frrom Holland, where LPG is used more extensively.
I'm pretty sure that at least one of the current BTCC cars is running on LPG.
I've often wondered about converting my Cerbera, certainly now you can get LPG injection systems I wouldn't rule it out.
So all in all, I think its a very good fuel, the cost savings at the pump are just one of its advantages.
>> Edited by simonsparrow on Thursday 27th May 22:15
>> Edited by simonsparrow on Thursday 27th May 22:18
My car in NZ runs dedicated LPG (i.e. no petrol) and has done for about 8 years. The engine is basically a 5 litre Rover V8 unit (with some Australian parts) and in a relatively inefficient configuration (old style heads and small valves)put outs 220HP at the wheels.
LPG has a number of advantages apart from cost, it is higher octane than petrol, being about 110-115 RON equivalent.
It is cleaner burning, as there are much fewer carbon particles when it is burnt. Typically my engine oil stays golden coloured between changes.
LPG has a calorific value of about 85% of petrol (for equal weights), but if an engine can be modified to take advantage of LPG's characteristics (higer compression ratio, more initial ignition timing etc.) then the power 'losses' are minimised over petrol.
The fuel tank can be heavy as it is a presurised container, but I think you can even get composite tanks now frrom Holland, where LPG is used more extensively.
I'm pretty sure that at least one of the current BTCC cars is running on LPG.
I've often wondered about converting my Cerbera, certainly now you can get LPG injection systems I wouldn't rule it out.
So all in all, I think its a very good fuel, the cost savings at the pump are just one of its advantages.
>> Edited by simonsparrow on Thursday 27th May 22:15
>> Edited by simonsparrow on Thursday 27th May 22:18
for others who want to follow suit! 
Mrs Gilesy said:
eeek - before you sell the S we best sort out that photo shoot with the sister car..
Absolutely! We've still to do the leather trim on one of the door panels before we put it up for sale, and we're prolonging that job 'cos we know once it's done, she goes
I'll get Ian to e-mail you to sort something out.
That will be me then
will drop you a line next time I'm down in Southampton with PRK to see Shnozz. edit: messed up the quote doh
>> Edited by Claire on Thursday 27th May 22:45
Claire said:
shnozz said:
eeek - before you sell the S we best sort out that photo shoot with the sister car..
Absolutely! We've still to do the leather trim on one of the door panels before we put it up for sale, and we're prolonging that job 'cos we know once it's done, she goes
I'll get Ian to e-mail you to sort something out.
That will be me then
edit: messed up the quote doh
>> Edited by Claire on Thursday 27th May 22:45
Great! Then we can go in a convoy to the pub!
Phyl.
simonsparrow said:
Unfortunately there seems to be quite a bit of mis-information about LPG, generally from people with little first hand knowlege of it.
My car in NZ runs dedicated LPG (i.e. no petrol) and has done for about 8 years. The engine is basically a 5 litre Rover V8 unit (with some Australian parts) and in a relatively inefficient configuration (old style heads and small valves)put outs 220HP at the wheels.
LPG has a number of advantages apart from cost, it is higher octane than petrol, being about 110-115 RON equivalent.
It is cleaner burning, as there are much fewer carbon particles when it is burnt. Typically my engine oil stays golden coloured between changes.
LPG has a calorific value of about 85% of petrol (for equal weights), but if an engine can be modified to take advantage of LPG's characteristics (higer compression ratio, more initial ignition timing etc.) then the power 'losses' are minimised over petrol.
The fuel tank can be heavy as it is a presurised container, but I think you can even get composite tanks now frrom Holland, where LPG is used more extensively.
I'm pretty sure that at least one of the current BTCC cars is running on LPG.
I've often wondered about converting my Cerbera, certainly now you can get LPG injection systems I wouldn't rule it out.
So all in all, I think its a very good fuel, the cost savings at the pump are just one of its advantages.
>> Edited by simonsparrow on Thursday 27th May 22:15
>> Edited by simonsparrow on Thursday 27th May 22:18
We've been told too that there is some software that comes with the kit, which sorts out the tuning (or have I totally misunderstood my hubby when he was trying to explain the details). I was under the impression that you plug the computer into the car, download it and it tells you what adjustments to make.
Must also try and track down a supplier for the composite tanks that you mention, but again, the problem is, where to put it.
Incidentally TransportEnergy have a PowerShift programme whereby you can apply for a grant to convert your car to LPG. Unfortunately, TVR and Dodge are not on the approved vehicle list. If we had a Ford Ka, however, we could get a grant quite easily! Bit ironic really.
>> Edited by Mrs Gilesy on Thursday 27th May 23:45
can't see the point! either...
you don't do enough miles for it to pay off
or
you do lots of miles - love your car and wouldn't spoilt it!
why not put a ford diesel engine in it? cheaper to run, and you could sell the V8 to someone who wants the power!
rant over...off to bed muttering
you don't do enough miles for it to pay off
or
you do lots of miles - love your car and wouldn't spoilt it!
why not put a ford diesel engine in it? cheaper to run, and you could sell the V8 to someone who wants the power!
rant over...off to bed mutteringGuillotine said:
can't see the point! either...
you don't do enough miles for it to pay off
or
you do lots of miles - love your car and wouldn't spoilt it!
why not put a ford diesel engine in it? cheaper to run, and you could sell the V8 to someone who wants the power!
It's our everyday car (that and the 5 litre V8 Dodge Ram - which is a bugger to park in Sainsburys. The dragster is not street legal, so although we have the power there we can't exactly use it!). We do lots of miles, we love the car and definitely don't want to spoil the fun and that's why I was asking for advice/information.
We need to put money into the dragster, and I was merely looking for ways to make that possible without having to sacrifice elsewhere.
I'm sorry that I have made you rant and roll your eyes before you go off to bed, but please don't lose sleep over the thought of a Griff 500 possibly running on LPG. The conversion is not final. There would still be the petrol option. Thanks for your input anyway.
>> Edited by Mrs Gilesy on Friday 28th May 00:38
Guillotine said:
can't see the point! either...
you don't do enough miles for it to pay off
or
you do lots of miles - love your car and wouldn't spoilt it!
why not put a ford diesel engine in it? cheaper to run, and you could sell the V8 to someone who wants the power!
Be reasonable... if you could get virtually the same power output for half the cost of petrol would you not be interested. With a tvr as a daily driver it would probably pay for itself fairly quickly.
The govt is shooting itself in the foot as surely we are the sort of people they should be trying to attract with this rather than a Ka driver who already gets 5 billion miles to the gallon ( I realise this is an exageration)
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