LPG conversion for a Ferrari

Editing my original post...

On second thought, I think this is a fantastic idea, and I applaud your sensitivity to the environment.

We all know that the early 348's were a bit heavy in the rear -- that's why they moved the battery to the front. With the LPG tank up there, I reckon it will be just about perfect. Also, having the LPG pipes under running under the passenger compartment should help keep it nice and cool on those hot summer days.

As far as the power loss, maybe now's the time to work on flowing the head, "while you're in there". If that doesn't work, maybe you could add nitrous to recover the lost power. Does nitrous work with LPG? Can't imagine why not, but I'm sure we'll have some experts on here comment soon.

On an related thought, I've been thinking about adding a secondary hybrid power train to mine, with the batteries and electric motors up front, driving the front wheels (like that new Porsche hybrid). To keep it simple, I would just activate the the system with a button on the steering wheel, like my own personal KERS. I think it has potential...

- Eric

 

How many miles do they think you can go on the 30 liters? (miles per liter: mpl ?)

 

I also think this is a great idea. If you dont want the power loss, when you flick the switch to LPG just turn the air-con off and the power should remain the same as running standard fuel.

 

Sounds interesting, Sy. Not sure it'd catch on out here - be a miracle if you found a garage stocking it so it'd just be dead weight most of the time.

Just kind of curious, why would you want to put the system in your Ferrari? I can see that you can, and that it'd be good in a daily driver down south where you can get hold of the stuff, but if you're doing it for any financial benefit, and it'll take 2 1/2 years before you see any, it just doesn't seem worth it. Then you're driving about with a 348 kicking out 200 odd bhp some of the time and having a fair amount of extra weight in it for the rest. Lastly, are you sure it's not going to play havoc with your ECUs? What's the system going to do when the O2, temps, MAF readings etc all go outside the parameters that the system is expecting?

Genuinely interested, not just being totally negative for the hell of it, but don't really see why you'd want to do it to your motor.

 

Not sure that'll really work, mate. An aircon unit should use maybe 8-10bhp - Sy's talking about loosing 100bhp - think you'll still feel it quite a lot.

 

I don't think this will sell. People buy these cars for the raw power. I don't even care what mileage I get. Propane has been used in Europe for ages and it dosnt go over big there either. The loss of power is just too great.

 

Don't like you any more !!!!

 

Please don't make me vomit....... You went from building a LM motor to LPG? WTF?

 

No, he's just moving with the times. Nissan are said to be fielding a totally electric car next year at Le Mans. Is it wrong to want them to fall flat on arses?

 

Shouldn't be too difficult. I was thinking about picking up a second-hand golf cart and using that as the basis for the power train. It would have to be a high-performance golf cart, though, something with at least 75 BHP. If anyone has any leads, let me know.

- Eric

 

That's awesome Sy!! I have been tempted to really upset everyone with an all electric Ferrari. That coming from the current owner of the LM engine.

 

I was waiting for that!

 

If you are looking at the conversion, then you should probably look at a turbo charger as well to make up for the lost power. LP has a higher octane rating that gasoline, so it takes well to boosting. I remember when Dick Gulstrand did a C4 Corvette this way and it was not only killer but green.

 

Are you sure about the power loss? With these newer kits power loss isn't really an issue, especially if it's a liquid injection kit. I've converted a number of my vehicles to LPG over the years. Started with the basic carbed kits on my old accord and then into the more advanced electronic kits that involve wiring in their own ecu. Just about to start my conversion on my new '12 avalanche. Fuel consumption goes up on LPG (~5%) but with the difference in fuel costs I will have kit paid back in 12k km's or about 3 months of driving.

In regards to ecu trouble, the kits I have installed splice into the injector wires coming out of the ecu along with many of the sensors. The LPG computer allows the car to start on petrol and only switches to LPG once the engine is above a set temp. It also switches back to petrol automatically when the propane runs out.

I'll be watching this thread with interest to see how it turns out. I have read of one 360 and one or two quattroportes running on LPG already in Europe.

Steve

 

See Post #10.

 

Lol, well I totally fell for it, haha

 

God now I have read/seen it all. Is there nothing someone won't do to abuse a Ferrari..... LPG conversion ohhh lord.... save the world and all that sort of stuff !! Oh well we have hybrides so why not..!!

 

I would have more respect for it had they not screwed up the looks by painting the wheels black. Why do people insist on doing that?