In 1971 - don't ask me why - I was young and "green." I was a science
teacher that wanted to show off my knowledge I guess. I bought a new
Chevy Vega - and had a propane tank put in the trunk and a carb fitted
that would work with propane. I was so proud that I had a car that could
"run inside" with little pollution. Clean burning propane would allow
the engine to run forever without needing new plugs or tuneups. In those
days when cars started up - especially in winter - they idled terribly
until they were warm but propane startups were really smooth. I would be
helping the energy crisis - I told my students. What I did not tell them
was - what a problem it was finding places to fill up. Also - that you
got less miles per gallon on propane than gasoline. After a year or so -
the whole idea wore thin (I got married) - I put the old carb back on
and ran it on gasoline. In 1973 - Winnebago made the Brave motor home
with a dual fuel option - gasoline and propane.
Just the other day I was in the junk yard - buying a replacement engine
for a friend's car. The junk yard guy - took us out in the yard with a
20 pound propane tank and a battery. Whenever we wanted to start and
engine - that was sitting for months - he would stick a propane tube in
the carb - hook up the battery - and the engine would fire right up and
run smoothly.
Harry