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Re: Propane Reconversions

To: morgans@autox.team.net, "Phil Fisher" <pcfisher@ibm.net>
Subject: Re: Propane Reconversions
From: "Lorne M. Goldman" <gomog@angelfire.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 08:59:52 -0500
---
LMG
webmaster@gomog.com
http://www.gomog.com

Hi Phil and Rich,

There is a discussion called "Made in the USA" of US propane models off the 
GoMoG Plus 8 section that might help a bit.

Canadians have had the same emmission requirements as the UK so propane models 
were never a necessity up here.

In the US, I have seen Plus 8's reconverted back to gas and I can't figure out 
why. The Isis  "charged" propane 8's are the only US models that have ever had 
much more horsepower than their unmodifed UK sisters and they run cleaner and 
cheaper. It is unfair to compare their power to an US emission-acceptable 
catalyzed petroleum model as you would not be talking the same class of 
power/performance. (though the newest US spec models can do everything the UK 
cars can and more at times.)

I can appreciate the occasional awkwardness in filling up with propane rather 
than the far more expensive gas but is it worth a less performant 
car that has to be tuned DOWN to pass inspection?

Lorne




On Thu, 9 Dec 1999 16:34:41    Phil Fisher wrote:
>Rich:
>
>I know of one 1992 Plus 8 that Bill Fink reconverted from propane 
>back to petrol.  This car was originally supplied by Bill and 
>converted from the original twin-cat English version to propane.  He 
>did this in early 1997.  It was definitely not inexpensive (more than 
>twice the original cost of my 1970 4/4 4-seater!), and his costs were 
>held way down because he still had the original bits and pieces that 
>had been taken off when he converted it to propane in the first place.
>
>To my understanding this vehicle is now California-ized; but probably 
>only because the swap-over was done by a legitimate importer using 
>legitimate California regulations.
>
>As further info, the Plus 8 in question is only several months older 
>than our 1992 Plus 8, which was one of the first legal California 
>twin-cat Plus 8's.  We were willing to go the re-conversion route if 
>we found the right Plus 8 when we were looking in 1997; but lucked 
>out and found (and paid for!) an original California-spec ISIS 
>supplied Plus 8 with extremely low mileage.
>
>Knowing well all the highly specialized bits and pieces that have 
>gone into the catalyzed Plus 8's, I would suspect it would be grossly 
>dear if one had to go out and obtain all the parts before starting 
>the reconversion.  One could probabaly cannabalize a catalyzed 
>California Land Rover Discovery (post 1992) for most of the bits and 
>pieces.  I recall (at least a number of years ago) that if one 
>replaced the engine in his car with a newer one and the newer one 
>originally met California specifications that this would qualify as 
>being California legal as long as all of the extended list of 
>check-off items on our local smog test forms are in place and 
>working.  I haven't spent too much time lately pouring over BAR 
>regulations however to know what is currently required.
>
>Phil Fisher
>
>1970 4/4 4-seater (earlier than 1973 - no longer needs smog test in 
>California!!!)
>1992 Plus 8 twin-cat certified for California (passes smog test with 
>flying colours!)
>
>
>
>>I don't recall seeing any discussion of this topic.  Does anyone know if it
>>is legal in the USA?  California?
>>
>>Cordially,
>>Rich Rollins
>
>


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