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RV8 LPG
coozer - 26/12/12 at 12:45 PM

I am looking at putting a lpg system on my 3.9 injected Rover V8.

Now, I don't know much about these as googling doesn't throw up much technical, or home built systems.

I've read the articles in PPC but they just bought a (expensive) system and installed it.

So, I'm after either a cheap second hand system, or a resource to build my own. WHY?

I do not want to compromise safety here just make my truck cheaper to get around in.

Ta,
Steve

austin man - 26/12/12 at 01:39 PM

Hi Coozer, I believe that any instalation requires testing and certifying to satisfy the insurance companies, think this is probably why there is a lack of info on the subject and why they can warrant the prices

britishtrident - 26/12/12 at 03:51 PM

There is no legal problem or insurance with DIY conversions the only problem is that a the trade body for LPG conversion companies (a fair percentage of whom are real cowboys) has been trying to make it difficult for you to register the vehicle as Dual Fuel converted with DVLA however most kit suppliers now have arrangements to get your vehicle installation inspected after installation.

Some insurance companies are more friendly than others towards LPG conversion
However you really need to buy a proper conversion kit suited to your vehicle also some parts of parts of the system need renewed or overhauled ever few years, tanks in particular should be pressure tested and inspected every 10 years.

black fingernail - 26/12/12 at 03:59 PM

At my last job, we used to buy v8 lpg range rovers every year for launching and recovering boats. we got them off fleabay for less than 800 quid.

coozer - 26/12/12 at 04:15 PM

Thanks BT, whats the bit about registering with DVLA? Is that a legal requirement?

britishtrident - 26/12/12 at 04:23 PM

quote:
Originally posted by coozer
Thanks BT, whats the bit about registering with DVLA? Is that a legal requirement?


The vehicle should be registered as Dual Fuel rather than after conversion otherwise it is incorrectly registered -- you do however get a whole £10 quid discount off the road tax !

With tin tops LV insurance are very LPG friendly but premium wise they are only really interested in very low risk drivers

mark chandler - 26/12/12 at 04:42 PM

If you get a second hand one include the cost of new hoses and a rebuild kit for injectors and vaporiser, LPG attacks all this lot so after a couple of years they will be perished.

RV8's are very good on LPG, with sequential injection I hardly knew any difference on power although the idle was smoother.

Regards Mark

Nb/ I installed my own kits, never had to provide any proof of install quality e.g. Certificates or otherwise and it did not put up the premium.

Well worth doing saved me literally thousands of pounds over ~ 300,000 miles

[Edited on 26/12/12 by mark chandler]

TPG - 26/12/12 at 07:13 PM

Have a look at BLOS carbs as well.

Oddified - 27/12/12 at 09:43 AM

quote:
Originally posted by TPG
Have a look at BLOS carbs as well.


Agreed, if your going to fit a basic lpg system (cheap and simple) which would normaly use a mixer ring on the intake, then using a blos carb is the best thing you could ever do (better economy, running, emmisions and power). I have lpg and a blos carb on my rover 3.9, excellent.

Tinley Tech do diy kits or the parts to put your own system together. I got the blos carb off ebay.

Ian

inkafone - 27/12/12 at 02:22 PM

The ignition system needs to be in perfect nick with LPG as it burns hotter & slower than petrol. http://www.lpgforum.co.uk/viewforum.php?f=48 is handy.

mark chandler - 27/12/12 at 03:46 PM

First p38 range rover I fitted a Venturi single point system, resulted in power loss as restrictive and also suffered occasional backfire which blew up a couple of air boxes. This is common so you need to leave hoses loose and add a blowback valve.

It unfortunately killed this car as caught fire when a friend borrowed it following a backfire. The engine was in good condition with recent cam, followers and lapped valves.

I would always get sequential, better still one that mixes a little fuel.

zilspeed - 27/12/12 at 04:05 PM

Sequential injection works fantastically well these days.

As others have said, ignition must be tip top as the spark has a much harder time.

Also make sure the equation of fuel capacity / availability works for you too.

Oddified - 27/12/12 at 04:54 PM

The only down side to sequential is the extra expense which takes much longer to recoup the initial outlay with the cheaper fuel.

The old mixer rings do restrict power and can provoke a back fire if not set up correctly or there's an ignition fault. The blos carbs fix both of those problems.

Ian