Engine/Gearbox combos

[Warren]

Sort of a tie in from my Engine & gearbox posts.

What Engine and gearbox, have you seen running in a beddy, and what are the Pro's and Con's

My Setup holden 202 on gas holden M20 4 speed into a 3.08 diff.

Pro's

Economical, ease of obtaining spares, cheap cost of spares, good proformance and cruising speed.
Tuning and service costs.

Con's

Lacks a bit of power pulling a camper van, changing gears in traffic (as compared to an auto)

Overall

Not a bad combination, I originally had a 3 speed fitted, and the 4 speed gave the van a much more easier to drive feel, good gear spread. Maybe a five speed with overdrive might improve things a bit but all round not a bad combination.

Warren

[Jock]

Good topic Warren, I'm currently umming and arrring about what engine to run in my Beddy.
Currently running a modified 202 on petrol - the fuel costs are killing me.
How many klm's do you get on a litre of LPG? What gas setup are you running?

Cheers

Jock

[Warren]

Jock

My tank is a 80 litre one i think, usually it takes around 65 to 70 litres from empty to fill.
Last tank full was 68.45 litres and at 65c per litre = $45.11, I normally do 400 to 450 klm a week to and from work etc, and in my other car a EL wagon, similarly its usually a tank a week but that works out more like $90 to $100.

The setup was in the van when I bought it, its an impco not sure what CFM, I guess I would be loosing some performance due to the dual fuel set up. 

So if you go for a straight gas conversion, with the latest set up you would do better than what I'm doing, plus you would get the gas rebate so limited out of pocket expenses, you could expect to cut your fuel bill in half at least, quite probably more.

If I was to do it again or update I think I would go straight gas, run a 80L cylindrical tank where the spare wheel is, and replace the petrol tank with another gas tank, a scuba tank, out of the LPG fords (I think they run to about 60 or 70 litres), increasing capacity to say around 140 litres.

Id look at a Gas research throttle body, gas cam, and ignition set up for gas, optimizing all the components for straight gas.

If your motor is already in good nick, then there is little else other than bolt ons to set up for gas.

I'm a big believer in the KISS principal.

What money you save you can spend on Beer

Warren         

[BusyKiwi]

You guys pay 65c per litre for LPG ? dang, is about $1.40 a litre here, and petrol just came down, is at $1.95 a litre. (NZ $)

My standard van is running a LD28 nissan diesel with 5spd gearbox and standard diff (need to change the diff) - hasn't been run yet

My custom van is running 350 Chev with 350 turbo and jag (series 3) rear end, forget the ratio but will be changing it to a LSD and aiming for around 3.01 - 3.5 ratio

[ben]

1.40 a litre for gas!! far out!! lucky you dont have as far to drive to buy beddies!!

ben

[waikatostocky]

Joel , lucky your beddie not going yet a mate with gas prices. I got a VS calie 5.0ltr and my beddie with a rather wild 253 thank crist im only running one at the mo.

Mate i got a complete diff with 3.5 ratio cresta gears all ready in it if your interested for your Deisel beddie mate.

[Warren]

You guys pay 65c per litre for LPG ? dang, is about $1.40 a litre here, and petrol just came down, is at $1.95 a litre. (NZ $)

Today LPG is 60c/L Unleaded is $1.58 and Diesel is $1.62

I have had a diesel ute, cars running on petrol and gas, and I've found Gas to be the cheapest and most economical of them.

Warren

[Tweaker]

I'm running a 350 chev with 4 speed Saginaw box into 3.08 Chevy Corporate diff out of a pick up.

[Brett]

I have a 253 but the trimatic is slipping in third. Im looking for a replacement but I dont know wether to stick with the three speed, or 4, powerglide or what. Its built for cruising but burnouts is fun.

[Tweaker]

Go the 4 speed! They're tougher and with the extra gears you can have a faster take off and lower RPM while croozing!