Suspect Posted March 5, 2011 Report Share Posted March 5, 2011 For a couple years I've been thinking about converting one of my 620's to propane. I got the idea when I looked at a Datsun forklift. Forklifts don't seem to be very hard on fuel consumption. It looks like the datsun propane forklift uses a normal datsun motor, maybe 1.2L... i really don't know. I deal with L series motors and sometimes Z22's. I was wondering if anyone has tries something like this and if it would be worth it. Quote Link to comment
Pumpkn210 Posted March 5, 2011 Report Share Posted March 5, 2011 Anything is possible! Quote Link to comment
inline4 Posted March 5, 2011 Report Share Posted March 5, 2011 Anything is possible! a datsun forklift with an L16/closed chamber head and dual mikunis? Quote Link to comment
Madness Posted March 5, 2011 Report Share Posted March 5, 2011 I was kinda thinking the same thing the other day. The company next to where i work has a propane datsun forklift. Quote Link to comment
king bee66 Posted March 5, 2011 Report Share Posted March 5, 2011 a datsun forklift with an L16/closed chamber head and dual mikunis? its an a14 Quote Link to comment
hellamikey Posted March 5, 2011 Report Share Posted March 5, 2011 Datsun actually produced a few LPG sedans. It was an option on the L-series cedrics and glorias in some markets. I've been thinking about a duel-fuel setup for the 620 after the 4x4 conversion. If you stick with carbs it seems like a fairly straight-forward mod. Quote Link to comment
deadmonkey Posted March 5, 2011 Report Share Posted March 5, 2011 Looks like this site has lots of stuff, but this site is really hard to follow. How you order/buy from this site is escaping me. But they have both LP and natural gas setups it looks like. http://www.propanecarbs.com/ Apparently Holley made propane Carbs! And a site that sells them. And this site looks a little more organized Quote Link to comment
DanielC Posted March 5, 2011 Report Share Posted March 5, 2011 I have heard rumors that Boeing used some Datsun pickups converted to propane in their factories, in Seattle. Quote Link to comment
deadmonkey Posted March 5, 2011 Report Share Posted March 5, 2011 lol, derp! there is a phone # and Email listed at the bottom of the page for propanecarbs.com. Looks like somebody will just have to call them up or Email them. Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted March 5, 2011 Report Share Posted March 5, 2011 That forklift has an H20 Datsun engine Datsun had a factory 510 with propane sold in Japan. There are lots of propane Datsun out there -- any gas engine will run on propane. A mixture of propane and butane used mainly as vehicle fuel is commonly known as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Quote Link to comment
Guest DatsuNoob Posted March 5, 2011 Report Share Posted March 5, 2011 Boeing's shop trucks and service rigs back in the 70's-80's were boeing blue Datsun 620's converted to run on propane so they could operate within the bldg. Some old timer told me theres a place where they still have a few layin around. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted March 5, 2011 Report Share Posted March 5, 2011 Propane contains less energy so you will take a hit in power. You can't just convert them. There are certification rules usually. Tank and system must pass for sticker. Every year or two must be certified to get insurance. Propane runs cleaner and more efficient though. Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted March 5, 2011 Report Share Posted March 5, 2011 L-series Datsun engine IMPCO mixer and convertor using origional Nikki-Datsun carburetor base and home-made adaptor to fit the mixer. 1 Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted March 5, 2011 Report Share Posted March 5, 2011 L-series Twin Hitachi setup with LPG mixers A14 Turbo propane Datsun B210 with A12 LPG 1 Quote Link to comment
Farmer Joe Posted March 6, 2011 Report Share Posted March 6, 2011 mike is right... you will take a hit in power.. unless you do forced induction, and then you get amazing power gains... my dads 78 f150 has a 250cu inline 6 thats been converted to propane.. he had an 82 toyota with a buick v6 swap that had propane on it too.. propanes starting to get spendy where im at tho... Quote Link to comment
Suspect Posted March 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2011 Do you think gas mileage would be any better than a gas motor? Quote Link to comment
DanielC Posted March 6, 2011 Report Share Posted March 6, 2011 The engine does not put out as much power with propane. The heavier a fuel refined from crude oil, the more energy is has per gallon. liquid propane is lighter than gasoline. the second issue. Propane goes into the cylinder as a gas. Some gasoline goes into the cylinder as a liquid, believe it or not, and vaporizes on the compression stroke. Because the propane goes into the cylinder as a gas, it displaces some air that would go into the engine. I have heard that a propane only engine can run a higher compression ratio, but I am not sure. Quote Link to comment
Jason Posted March 6, 2011 Report Share Posted March 6, 2011 Propane is less efficient in energy potential and you have 2 results, less power and lower milage. You have to carry around great big steel cylinders too that are pretty heavy. I used to run a propane Chevy van with a 305, 2 big propane cylinders underneath for something like 130 litres of propane between them to get the same milage out of a 117L gas tank. Propane is a lot cheaper than gas up here though, Friday we where at US$4.99 a gallon of regular 87 :angry: ! Quote Link to comment
HRH Posted March 6, 2011 Report Share Posted March 6, 2011 Personally, I hate the exhaust smell of propane. Stinks like ass. That and yes, it's lower hp/lower everything. Great idea, but problems arise when looking for storage for extended mileage. For in town short trips it would be good though. I'd say just drive the forklift to and from work. :D Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted March 6, 2011 Report Share Posted March 6, 2011 a datsun forklift with an L16/closed chamber head and dual mikunis? Do want. :devil: Quote Link to comment
datsunaholic Posted March 6, 2011 Report Share Posted March 6, 2011 I have one of the factory propane carbs. It's a Hitachi, looks like the regular DCH340 just no floats or such. It's used, but it is as clean as the day it was built. One thing I learned about the factory Propane setups is that a lot of them used a cast-iron head. Quote Link to comment
Steroid Posted March 7, 2011 Report Share Posted March 7, 2011 Guy Gray's 620 had propane at one time, but was removed prior to His purchase. Quote Link to comment
Suspect Posted March 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2011 I'm always thinking of ways to change something. I have 3 620's... in my perfect world they would be dent and rust free with fresh paint and rims but my world isn't so perfect. My plans for them is 73, leave all stock with exception for the 5 speed and maybe someday restore. My 74, currently in restoration, started building LZ23 motor with 5 speed to be my all Nissan faster 620. My 77 kc, would like to sell it and get another 620 standard cab preferably 78 or newer with disk brakes, Ford 302 or 351 v8 with 5 speed. That way I would have it all, gas mileage and performance. As for the propane datsun, its something I'd try... i would also consider diesel as well. Quote Link to comment
Z-train Posted March 7, 2011 Report Share Posted March 7, 2011 Other than a project to keep you busy,there is no point to a propane conversion. Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 So it saves money on fuel. Who cares about that? Quote Link to comment
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