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With the government announcing possible grants for up to $1000 for new cars and $2000 for existing cars for lpg conversion is anyone thinking of converting their Subaru if they havent already. Could someone please tell me how much it would cost to convert a brumby?

I'm thinking of doing this to my EA81 coupe, sounds like a great idea - IF it doesn't drive the cost of LPG up.

I would do all the work myself (bar the certification), and simply shopping on Ebay it would cost about $500.

Once the rebate is in full swing it will no longer be cheap to buy LPG conversion parts and being the greedy pricks they are the oil companys will drive the price of LPG up so they make even more money

I got a tank (in certification) from a taxi at a wreckers for $80.
It is 120 litres capacity and I get exactly 100 litres of LPG in it due to the expansion space allowed.

It is the biggest baddest tank that will fit transverse in a Brumby.

The Bits n pieces to fit it cost me a further $450 ish from the Rising Steve,
Bear in mind I don't have all the dual fuel switching crap,

Fitting costs about $700 depending on how much time is put in.
Standard EJ22 got me 750 kms of driving (spirited driving).

Supercharged EJ22 gets 680 kms for the same 100 litres.

In the 14 months I have had it installed I have done 39,000 kilometres......... I think its paid for by now!



I look at high octane petrol like designer jeans- some people have to pay for them but I laugh at them for doing it.

GAS ALL THE WAY!

My jeep costs $34.00 to fill on LPG 60 ltr tank 4 ltr 6 cyl
gets 230ks per tank

My H6 costs $70.00 to fill & gets 470ks

is it worth it ?

the jeep would cost more as it starts on petrol , then goes to LPG

I am working a LNG project now but the cost of the pump is 70K !

Isn't there a whopper of a tax being slapped on gas in 2008? Similar to the current petrol tax?

Anyone would think an election would be imminent with the government making an announcement like this... hmm

I have had a few lpg cars over the years mainly fords.
It cost me $26 to 30 dollars per week to fill the ford and i get 350 km out of a 60 litre tank.
My Vortex is on unleaded and it cost me $70 to $80 to fill but i put in $55 for 375 km per week.
(Yes 3 spd autos suck.)
I work in Nedlands and travel the freeway from Armadale every day.
So my gassed ford wagon is way cheaper to run but its crap to drive compared to driving the Vortex.
Yes the tax is going to be 12% after 2008 but its still only half the price of petrol.
I was quoted $2.5 to $3 k to gas the tex.
Dont forget the W.A gov will also throw in 1k as well.
I will have the tex for at least 10 years so its worth the cost.
Cheers Pete

converted my Brumby in 2002
18 month old 80 litre useable tank out of Courier $200
Impco Cobra converter new $145
used impco 125 mixer $50

are your major expense components.



another $200 bought new fill valve, line, supply line , lock off etc and final certificate and plate tags

labour was mine

cost is gonna depend on what way you go...straight is cheaper than dual fuel coz less bits and fitting involved

if you thinking of doing it yourself...find the Australian Standard AS1425

my dad said, the government is gonna start taxing LPG in 2008, increasing each year until 2012. no wonder theyre promoting conversions now so they can reap the benefits later the bastards.

gas is going to taxed in start of 2008. and i suspect that it will be a similar price to petrol;/ diesel.
unless you can recoup the cost of installation and wear the loss of space for the tank in a short time, is it worth it??????
Gas may be cheaper but doesnt give you the same power or milage as does petrol (in my experience anyway).
Govt rebates ??? read the fine print and notice the ads say UP TO $1000 or $2000. They always give with one hand and take with the other!!!

This whole rebate (Fed Gov + WA state Gov rebates = $2500) damn near pays for the equip, plus fitting costs. Not bad considering.......

The double edge sword is that the prices will go up, as the kits will due to demand, and to get 30% less efficiency (read - not economy) than petrol, is it really worth it???

I had my old Nissan fitted some years back, but the amount of gas it consumed really didnt make it worth getting to far too a tank. It was worth getting the top end lubricating kit fitted as well, cos valve guides will wear etc and standard ULP exhaust valve seats usually only last 4-5 years, then the heads have to come off, and recommend hardened seats if this happens. (add those costs in????) Did add value to resale ok.

So, the big question is: How much will LPG go up?

Power is a gray area with gas.
My ford has enough cubes to be quick and powerful enough on gas.
My Vortex in its current form would be a slug but after a few mods or a EJ 22
conversion would be in the same stakes as the ford.
The Tax on gas is 12% over 4 years so it will be still 1/2 to 2/3 of the price of petrol if you remember that petrol will still rise as well.
I will be taking up little jonnies offer. $2k from him and $1k from the WA gov
thats most of the costs even if the lpg companys up the price to cash in.
Cheers Pete

As stated by the media, the best you could hope for now in savings is $26/tank for average family car. That gap will close.
As for LPG increases, expect that market to adust to demand.
The wait list for conversions is going to huge, already 3 months in some shops now

Might think about getting an installers certificate, just need the spare time.
Apparently it costs a bit, but woud say they would be limited now to due to demand. A couple of blokes at work had done just this a few years back, and you dont even need to be a mech for this, just certified.

the tax is liekly to be 2.5 cents per year from 2008 to 2012 or something 'minimal' like that according to the info i got a few years back

We're thinking seriously about getting the ProFIRE system for the rotaries:

http://www.profire.com.au/

not sure if we'll bother with converting the subi's.

There is a thought that you could solve the power problem by metering the gas to run lean at low to medium throttle then getting the petrol to cut in at above half throttle.
I have no idea if its possible but since the cut out on the fuel pump is part of the system then maybe you could add a line to throttle position sensor and get it to fire up after half or 3/4 throttle to increase power.
But under partial throttle you would be under gas.
Think of it as a gas hybrid.
Cheers pete

it is more than a thought...there is a fella out there that has done lpg vapour injection on a Falcon 4.0?, the vapour injectors are on the underside of the manifold (maybe it's a V8 ?) and it switches seemlessly between the two fuels depending on the demands !!

Hey all,

If your converting to gas you have to realise as said by subinator that you do/will need to do some head work at some stage. Dad burnt out a valve on 3 different heads before getting a gas head on my old tori (when he had it).

The other thing you have to remember is that if you go purly gas your stuck to one fuel. If the price of gas exceeds 3/4 the price of petrol your wasting your money as the $/100 km at that price is more for gas. I think i heard this on 4 corners earlier this year.

I think this scheme is to get more people dependant on gas to gather more tax. Think about it... they're giving you 2000 bucks or so... since when has the government ever given 2 grand away without getting it back... this is their investment in their future tax on gas...

Anyway... i won't be converting ruby scoo, i value my boot space too much...