1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Propane Run Engine

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Old Oct 16, 2003 | 07:42 AM
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Lightbulb Propane Run Engine

i was planning after gettin a second engine be it 12a or 13b which ever i find, and i plan to make it a dual fuel vehical, which would primarily run on propane, but when i can run propane it will be ran on gasoline, then i can propane inject it while runnin gas if i need an extra boost. has anyone ran straight propane on their rx?? it burns so clean and much cooler, plus with the extra high octane of it, if i decied to run a turbo/turbos i wouldnt have to worry about detonation. also which brings me to another question.... does anyone know of turbos which can electronically be activated.... and has anyone done direct inject into the housing with a fuel injector???

sorry for the but load of questions but i want to make this the best possible setup i can think of, a daily drive and a fun after the sun car.
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Old Oct 16, 2003 | 08:07 AM
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I've never seen an rx run on propane, but I had a work truck once that had both propane and gas. While running on propane it was the biggest most gutless dog on the planet. It was total crap. I wouldn't ever ruin a perfectly good rx with propane.
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Old Oct 16, 2003 | 08:27 AM
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it has almost zero emissions other than H2O and carbon dioxide plus it runs very cool, oil doesnt need to be changed because noo hydrocarbon build up, and i bet it would increase seal life, you do need to change your timing or it will run like crap, you do loose a 5% HP in carbed vehicals, but if i make the switch over to fuel injection while doing it, it will put out more HP than a carbed vehical.
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Old Oct 16, 2003 | 09:26 AM
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There is a website for someone "Down under" that is running only propane on his car. I hit google but can not find the site right now. This guy liked it alot and had good information on how to do it.
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Old Oct 16, 2003 | 09:32 AM
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hmm, that might be useful info, but most likely hes running carbed, and i want fuel injected
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Old Oct 16, 2003 | 11:29 AM
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Hmmm... Given the low compression of the engine and the spark rating of the spugs it isn't going to work well. You are putting super high octane gas in it and I think the car will just simply have trouble detonating the fuel. You would probably have to goto a hotter spark plug, maybe even a glow plug but if you do that you're not going to be running the right plug in the engine and it will probably break up under the heat and destroy your rotors and housings.... If you could get the compression up IE super charger or turbo it would work under boost but probably still idle like ****.
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Old Oct 16, 2003 | 11:31 AM
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my friend used to run his pick-up on propane. What does Hank Hill say taste the food not the fuel.
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Old Oct 16, 2003 | 12:12 PM
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http://www.autospeed.com.au/A_0406/cms/article.html

Search around on http://ausrotary.dntinternet.com/forums/search.php as LPG conversions seem alot more common down under than here.

Cool I didn't know that you could run Turbo LPG applications....sweeeet.
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Old Oct 16, 2003 | 05:57 PM
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The general consensus from people that have actually DONE this on a rotary (as opposed to just opinion and hearsay) is that it works great... both n/a and turbo. Talking about straight LPG though. And obviously it depends on how well it's setup and tuned.

The problem with dual-fuel vehicles is that you can't have the timing optimized for both the petrol and LPG so the engine runs like crap on the propane. Plus, most are probably not setup with performance in mind so that's why LPG get's a bad name.

Most people who convert to LPG in Australia run www.gasresearchpc.com.au throttle bodies. These guys are the experts.
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Old Oct 16, 2003 | 07:55 PM
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i plan to have the ignition contolled by a pc, so when i do switch back and forth timing can automatically be adjusted
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Old Oct 16, 2003 | 09:17 PM
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Alright...!
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Old Oct 16, 2003 | 10:19 PM
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No you got it wrong.....


it's AALLRIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGHHHHTT! -Quagmire
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Old Oct 16, 2003 | 10:37 PM
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Actually atkins rotary has a single rotor engine that runs on propane. It makes around 80HP or so.
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Old Oct 17, 2003 | 02:34 AM
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Yeah, you're right... hgeh hgeh (gotta get the throat into it a little)
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Old Oct 17, 2003 | 03:13 AM
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http://www.geocities.com/rx-2/propane.html
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Old Oct 17, 2003 | 03:50 AM
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Heh, that used to be my car. Haven't really updated that website in ages. That car ran great, but I could never get it to pass smog. It failed the visual miserably. I always got weird looks when I went to a LPG or gas station asking them to fill my car up.

Mike
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Old Oct 17, 2003 | 04:59 AM
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*Quagmire knocks and door opens*

Quagmire: Hey sweet thing, how old are you?

Girl: 16.

Quagmire : 18? You're first !

Girl: "MoooommmM!!!!!

Quagmire : I like where this is going...giggity giggity gi-gi-ty
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Old Oct 17, 2003 | 05:16 AM
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in te video from down under "Serious performance 3" there's a 12sec FB that runs LPG.
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Old Feb 24, 2004 | 11:12 PM
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im gonna reserect this puppy!! BUMP!
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Old Feb 25, 2004 | 03:44 AM
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Ive been looking into it too. Pretty much they only convert Turbo rotors to LPG.

You seem to lose a lot of power so on a NA engine theres no benifit. But on a turbo you can run higher boost at lower temps hence giving you more power than before.

The biggest problem the have is finding places for the gas tanks... usually custom tanks are made for Gen 1 RX-7

-James
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Old Feb 25, 2004 | 07:47 AM
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i was a little nieve when i first madde this thread, after finding out how much the utilities would cost to make a computer self made F.I. kit. I think i would be better off putting in a 13b tII or usuing a Haltech.
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Old Feb 25, 2004 | 08:36 AM
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How about propane and nos mix?
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Old Feb 25, 2004 | 01:10 PM
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Yeah, pump some propane and NOS in the engine at the same time. That would keep it bottle fed (whatever that means).
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