NB8A boot dimentions for LPG tank install

zoomzoomzoom · Postby **zoomzoomzoom** » Fri Oct 08, 2010 1:11 pm

Hi Folks,

Opened this thread here because it is sort of a panel/body question, I am asking. Sorry if it's not the correct place.

I've been talking to a JTG LPGas installer. He is in Melb (Smithy's LPG) and I live out of town. Anyway, I need to figure out the best way to fit a LPG tank into my NB8A. I was thinking I could remove the fuel tank under the car and add a gas tank there. The gas supplier suggests I cut out the spare wheel area in the boot and put a tank in there. Apparently JTG systems and hence tanks are different to the old fashioned tanks I have used on my old vapor system so I have a limited selection. One of their options however does include a donuts style tank. I think however it will be too big to fit into the spare wheel area untouched.

I wonder if anyone has drawings with measurements of an NB8A boot rear? Or does anyone have any thoughts about the possibility of installing a tank in place of the fuel tank.

Bigger Picture:
Why do this the above? This is a sub part of a larger project plan. I am planning to install a Rotrex SC kit into the car and make it a daily drive. I will most likely grab a KraftWerks kit from the US. It's just 6PSI, but I'm not after a world beater. Simply want to give the car a bigger engine feel, strong throttle response without attracting too much attention (little SC wine - I love the noise though). LPG will enable me to pass emission regulations as part of the certification process and because it is liquefied injection provide some kind of poor mans inter-cooling effect.

I'm in the learning / planning stages at the moment and am by no means an expert at anything to do with this, so any wake up calls are welcome. You may save me some money/embarrassment.

oh
PS. This will system will end up dedicated LPG, not dual fuel.

Regards,
zzz

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Fri Oct 08, 2010 1:46 pm

stilletto_rebel LPG'd his NA6 in the UK - might be worth pming him - he's also got a blog which provides some details on the system including the tank he used:
http://lpg-mx5.livejournal.com/

zoomzoomzoom · Postby **zoomzoomzoom** » Fri Oct 08, 2010 1:51 pm

Thanks for the pointer 93_Clubman. Will do.

Regards,
zzz

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Fri Oct 08, 2010 9:43 pm

changing an MX5 to lpg legally in Vict is not quite so simple as some imagine.Talk to an lpg installer and the reality may be very different to the aspiration. Try it also with your insurer hmm.. UK and other places do not mean anything here. Why anyone would even do it is a mystery- its a sports car!! Great idea on lump 6's and 8's weighing +1600kg with authorised kits.

Benny · Postby **Benny** » Sat Oct 09, 2010 9:29 am

How much does the tank weigh?

It's got interfere with the weight balance of the car and can you get a big enough tank in there to give you any reasonable sort of distance between fills?

There must be other, less restricting ways to get a s/c certified.

Steampunk · Postby **Steampunk** » Mon Oct 11, 2010 6:58 pm

zoomzoomzoom wrote:LPG will enable me to pass emission regulations as part of the certification process ...

Is this the main reason for installing LPG?
If so, then it would be counter-intuitive as Kraftwerks' kit is designed with California's EPA/"smog" legislation in mind, which is one of, if not THE, strictest in the world.
If it passes there, it'll pass anywhere.

zoomzoomzoom · Postby **zoomzoomzoom** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 6:24 pm

Hi Folks,

Thanks for the replies. The tank is the biggest challenge. I'm going to see my LPG installer in the next week or so. It is quite costly to have a S/C go through emission testing. I think it is $3k per shot, so I want to avoid it. Going with LPG offers a couple of benefits provided the tank can be fitted in a realistic way.

I'm no expert, but this is what I'd imagine are the benefits:

- No emission testing
- LPG Liquid injection provides a similar effect to inter-cooling. How effective? I will not know until latter.
- Performance of this kind of LPG system is almost as good as unleaded
- LPG has a higher octane rating which will go nicely with the S/C.

Finally, I'm curious and as you can tell a little mad. :-P

zzz

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Tue Oct 19, 2010 1:08 pm

sounds like an excellent way to burn money. Judging from comments by other forumites modding even minor is fraught with hassles- restorers building replicas cars etc are not just faced with the mechanical issues but with very expensive engineering prove outs. Modded cars also bear little resemblance in cost to their resale value - evidenced by guys trying to sell modded cars and then selling off the add on bits. Insofar as lpg systems are concerned some simply do not work properly because the cost of proving and certifying is prohibitive.

zoomzoomzoom · Postby **zoomzoomzoom** » Tue Oct 19, 2010 1:51 pm

All depends on motivation. If it were to save money, I would not do it. Instead I would on sell the car as I saved $5K on market value when I purchased it earlier this year. I'm more interested in the technical challenge. I'm interested in how S/C will behave being fed by LPG. This is our third car; a project car so to speak. So I guess I am more interested in dialogue about technical rather than banter/exchange about cost benefits.

I guess glass half full rather than empty. :-)

Thanks for the warning though Mr Morlock.

Regards,
zzz