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Hey there Fellas! I just joined up with the group. Ive been lurking for a while, as this is a stellar place for info on our rigs. Finally signed up. (Dont know why I waited so damn long..) So, what the heck. I figure I might as well post up my little project as its kinda on the unique side of things.
This is project Big Ugly
http://www.fbdr.net/uploads/2/3/8/1/...37675_orig.jpg
No, your eyes aren't deceiving you. Its in fact 6 wheel drive!
Long story short, I had some spare bits laying around. I bought this 79 c20 camper special for its engine. The 454 in my tow rig decided to lunch itself. The c20 had a decent engine. So I snagged it up, tossed its engine in the dually and then it sat.
Well, me being me, I thought "Nice frame, not a heck of a lot of rust. Okay, welcome home new project!"
Sooooo, I had a set of Deuce axles. One thing led to another
http://www.fbdr.net/uploads/2/3/8/1/...51829_orig.jpg
http://www.fbdr.net/uploads/2/3/8/1/...35572_orig.jpg
http://www.fbdr.net/uploads/2/3/8/1/...13089_orig.jpg
http://www.fbdr.net/uploads/2/3/8/1/...34127_orig.jpg

And now I have this:
http://www.fbdr.net/uploads/2/3/8/1/...83179_orig.jpg

From the get-go, I wanted to run propane. Its a wonderful fuel. Runs like an EFI system. Its around 104 octane and is only $1.14 a gallon in my neck of the woods.
http://www.fbdr.net/uploads/2/3/8/1/...59674_orig.jpg

Originally, the plan was to just run a 6.0l converted to dual carbs and slap a turbocharger on it for around 600hp or so. Well, then this 496 fell in my lap for a price that I couldn't refuse.
http://www.fbdr.net/uploads/2/3/8/1/...71147_orig.jpg

Then things started to get out of hand. Raylar Engineering stroker kit, pistons rods. For 512ci of displacement.
http://www.fbdr.net/uploads/2/3/8/1/...32492_orig.jpg
http://www.fbdr.net/uploads/2/3/8/1/...91465_orig.jpg
Soon to be sporting 2: 40mm turbochargers.
Custom propane vaporizers to keep up with fuel demands.

Then I changed the front leaf suspension to triangulated 4 link for better travel and less stress on the frame.
http://www.fbdr.net/uploads/2/3/8/1/...74718_orig.jpg
http://www.fbdr.net/uploads/2/3/8/1/...25209_orig.jpg

Well, in the end, this has gone from simple and cheap to overly complicated, obnoxious and expensive. Just like any good project should. :D

The plan is to have this as a bit of a swiss army knife of a truck. It will be our tow rig, chase truck, trail truck, recovery vehicle and general eye sore to people in little eco-cars.

Yup. So there ya go, fellas. Project Big Ugly. :metal:

that has to be one of the coolest squares i have ever seen :metal:

For more pictures and videos, you can go here to my site: http://www.fbdr.net
Or for the full build thread, check it out on Pirate4x4 http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/chevy...-big-ugly.html

Feel free to ask questions, tell me that im nuts and so on :) Once its up and running, i will also post up some videos.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guilty-by-Design (Post 7139561)

that has to be one of the coolest squares i have ever seen :metal:

Thanks man! *chuckles* You know, I get something like that allot. A bunch of "I dont like square bodies, but yours changes my mind!"
Hey man, I'm just glad to spread the love for vintage iron.

Sweet man! That thing looks killer!

general eye sore to people in little eco-cars.

hahahahahahaha i love that

This thing is awesome!

We're the original tires on the deuce 16x9.00 bias? I'm looking for some if you want to flog them.

A wee bit bigger. 20x9.00 Regretfully, most I had to actually cut the bead in half to remove them from the wheels as they had vulcanized to the wheel. Royal pain in the tookus. You looking for some 16x9's? If so I have some connections. Aside from next to nothing :D What kinda budget do you have for tires? I think I can can get those new...ish for around $50 usd each. Shipping costs to Regina.. I have no idea. Id have to see what sort of deal I could muster.

:jdp: More pics of the truck flexed out please!

sick work!!

if you have any questions on the propane, i converted my LS to run on the 'pane so i will be happy to help

http://i.imgur.com/8cXyAGGh.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/wUaLVUMh.jpg

This thing is super cool. Keep adding pictures as you get them so I can drool a bit more.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rajincajintj (Post 7140753)

if you have any questions on the propane, i converted my LS to run on the 'pane so i will be happy to help

Don't want to hijack, but I have a question about LPG conversions. The OP says LPG is around 104 octane.

I have read that:
"Propane holds approximately 86 percent of the energy of gasoline and so requires more storage volume to drive a range equivalent to gasoline,"

"cars running on propane have less range, compared to the volume of the fuel stored, than cars running on conventional gasoline. The main difference in range comes from a difference in heat energy per liter of fuel (gasoline’s is better)."

I am not a thermodynamics professor, so we got that outta the way. I am interested in alternative performance fuels that can compete with gasoline but costs a lot less. So, how do the two statements above correlate to 104 octane of LPG being inferior to gasoline?

One comment came from a pro-conversion company that provides parts and installation service. The other comment came from an anti-conversion negative nay-bob.

that's an interesting project

Quote:

Originally Posted by Super_Dave (Post 7141498)

I have read that:
"Propane holds approximately 86 percent of the energy of gasoline and so requires more storage volume to drive a range equivalent to gasoline,"

"cars running on propane have less range, compared to the volume of the fuel stored, than cars running on conventional gasoline. The main difference in range comes from a difference in heat energy per liter of fuel (gasoline’s is better)."

I am not a thermodynamics professor, so we got that outta the way. I am interested in alternative performance fuels that can compete with gasoline but costs a lot less. So, how do the two statements above correlate to 104 octane of LPG being inferior to gasoline?

Your not hijacking. Its a legitimate concern.
Most of the figures people keep posting about propane being inferior are from books written in the 60's. No joke. Technology has evolved a great deal from then. Up to having fuel injection LPG and NG systems. With modern ignition systems, you have no power loss. All you need to do is advance your ignition timing quickly. Im talking 25 to 30 degrees just off idle. This alone will bring you to stock power levels if not surpassing them. Yes, the volumetric efficiency of propane is only 86% of regular petrol. And you will notice this on a bone stock engine built for 86 octane fuel. In stock trim, an engine just cant make use of the benefits of LPG.
Now, If your engine is pushing 11:1 or higher compression or like mine, running forced induction, the benefits are out the roof. No need for highrise intakes that kill throttle response as the fuel already in a gaseous state when entering the intake. A single plane standard height intake is perfect. So unlike petrol, its does not need to atomize with a venturi and a long intake runner.
Fuel metering is dependent on engine vacuum. Open the throttle plates, engine vacuum pulls a diaphragm and fuel flows. Simple. Thats it. With Impco 425 mixers (the standard automotive lpg carb) you get instantaneous throttle response as you no longer have an accelerator jet or idle circuits to worry about. You dont need vacuum secondaries or a choke. Mechanical secondaries that open with the primaries are preferred. You will never flood the engine. It never runs lean. It will run upside down. Fuel is added depending on vacuum which is metered by the mixer and the vaporizer to ambient air pressures. So it adjusts automatically with altitude changes.
If your speaking from a carbed petrol engine to a lpg carbed engine, you may see an increase in mileage.

If you just slap on a lpg system on a stock engine, yes. You will loose 1 or 2 mpg and some hp. Upgrade your ignition coil, advance your timing and your right back at stock power levels with far-far cheaper fuel. Build your engine for higher octane fuel, and you will gain some serious ponies under the hood with lpg.

lpg is stupid simple. No electronics. Minimal maintenance. As good as an efi system for a 1/4 of the cost.
You get a TAX CREDIT for converting as it makes your rig an ultra low emission vehicle. You pollute less than a Prius. :thumbs:
Im stunned more people dont run it. The people who say "It sucks" have never run it or are simply ignorant.

Now, natural gas is another matter. Its simply a power sucking, fuel economy killing bad idea.

Cool truck. Even cooler The high performance propane motor.....very cool

Dcheat - Sounds like you have been around LPG for a while. What is your background with this setup?

When I put my 010 High Nickle 355 in my C20, I kept the OEM 350 so I could someday play with it. Like anything to do with our toys, there more combinations and modifications than anyone could possibly record. Guess that's what makes it so interesting... trying all sorts of ideas.

When I built my 355 I had the option of installing Vortec heads and the necessary port matching intake manifold. The design flows better and burns more efficiently. Good for an easy 50-70HP. Funds were dwindling and I opted out. At some point, I want to rebuild the OEM 350 and do what I would have done if the funds were there. A nice high compression engine good for some serious rpm's, and at idle lets everyone know "she aint stock." Add some 456 gears and a built 700r4 with a final drive ratio of 319 on the highway. After all, we are pushing bricks uphill into a headwind!

With LPG, it seems like I have the fuel to power the engine and not break the bank or the engine with detonation. I need to do some more "learn'in" on LPG. Seems like it really has come a long way in the past 10-15 years.

Oh it has come quite far. I think more so in just that people are starting to understand lpg and figure out how to properly utilize it. The technology of LPG to automotive application hasn't changed all that much from the 70's. But with improved materials and, in all honesty, the ability to just build a better engine, its coming into its own.
From this:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attac...3_dsc02610.jpg
To this:
http://www.gasresearch.com.au/g001.jpg

I will be completely honest. This is my first LPG vehicle. Ive never built one. Nor even driven one. But I research the ever living crap out something before I ever decide to use it. I have many books on the subject in my shop and have spent the better part of a year asking questions and reading up on installs.
Like any good hotrodder, I want my ducks in a row before I pull the trigger. No surprises. Thats really the glory of the internet these days. All this info at the click of a mouse. You just have to be willing to delve into it.

Lpg is big outside the usa,In europe and aus lpg is really common.

I like you truck. It big. Does it get good mileage? :lol:

*MPP (Miles Per Pound)... >(not being serious)<

:D MPP is about right. Hahaha
In town, I expect it to be just like any other bigblock. Thats allot of weight to get moving. so 7 to 9 mpg city. But on the highway, it should be in the 14mpg range. With the gear reduction of the axles, I can actually move this thing around the yard by twisting the axle pinion by hand. No joke.
6.72:1 gears. Even with 40" tall tires, thats like running a 5.0:1 gear on stock street tires. With the overdrive of the 4L80E, im looking at 2600 rpm at 75 mph. Liveable.

This is all counting on me being able to keep my foot out of the throttle. But lets face it. With 800 hp... thats just not going to happen. Thats why the fuel tank is 43 gallons. Heheh