Should I rip out my LPG conversion?

[Grant]

Hi, this might sound mad because its actually running quite well!

Car is a '93 Rangie 3.9 EFi, system is a Tartarini G79 SEMS (means nothing to me!) fitted in 1999 by TMC autogas Kent.

Why? It takes up half the boot, car is used infrequently, I'm worried about it damaging a nicely running engine (*touch wood!*) and the safety side of an old kit with an unknown history.

How would I go about removing it, is it a pro job? I've run it out of gas in preparation!

Cheers

[ChrisJC]

Pulling it out shouldn't be too difficult. Some helpful points:
- The tank will still have some gas in it, which can be removed by venting it to atmosphere. The difficulty with doing this is that it will get cold, and also generate an explosive gas cloud!
- Removing electrics etc should be OK. You can of course refer to the Range Rover manual to find out how it is supposed to be wired for Petrol only
- If it's a gas-injection type, then there will be holes in the inlet manifold you'd have to plug up.
- The heater circuit will also have t-pieces in which will need removing, so you'll probably need new heater hoses.

Couldn't you flog it as-is, and get hold of a non-converted one?

Chris.

[Grant]

Hiya thanks for that. I was lucky with the rangie; previous owner fitted a new ashcroft slushbox/transfer box, suspension/brakes are fairly new and the engine runs very sweetly- I'd be reluctant to let it go! It needs the sills welding though... incidentally, does anything need doing to the LPG system before welding?

I'm also considering just giving the system a safety check/service and leave it where it is... I could end up ruing the day I rip it out when the petrol goes back up!

Is the system I have fitted any good?

[Dangerdoc]

Quick question - Is it running sweet on gas or pertol?

Don't rip it out if it is running sweet on petrol. A good, correctly set up, LPG system is a useful thing to have.

Think carefully about ripping it out but do consider maybe fitting underslung "torpedo" type tanks under the sills, especially if not going off road.

If you do take this route to recover boot space, only get stainless steel tank bands fitted and make sure they fit a floor strengthner and it is properly sealed to prevent corrosion.

My RRC has two underslung torpedo tanks and two smaller torpedo tanks where the pertol tank used to be (small reserve to the O/S now) and it handles off road very very well thanks to a +2" lift. So if you are not going off road sill tanks should be a pretty good way ahead. You can easily get decent quantity in these.

Doc

[Grant]

Hi, thanks for the reply- ended up selling the RR because of the welding needed! Got myself a 3.5 disco now (not lpg). I believe the 3.5 is the better V8 because a slipped liner is very unlikely? (touch wood)

[ChrisJC]

I believe the 3.5 is the better V8 because a slipped liner is very unlikely? (touch wood)

Certainly the 3.5 doesn't suffer from cracked blocks in the same way as the 3.9/4.0/4.6.

It's not without it's problems though! Don't nail it with a cold engine.

Chris.