3.9 CNG build ??

[96BlkDak]

With the cost of gasoline being $3.49/gallon here and I saw that CNG is $1.89/gal Maybe performance can take a back seat to economics.


anyone know anything about doing a conversion?



I originally posted this in the 3.9 section but the sound of crickets suggested I try a broader group.

[TazRango]

Found this on Youtube.. Looks relatively uncomplicated to convert to dual-fuel. They did this one on a 2001 Durango 4.7.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V8mgpfAZI0

[TazRango]

Just doing a little googling, there are a couple sites selling the conversion kits for about $1400. However, they do not include the tank. A DOT approved CNG tank runs about $2500.

[Grapejuice1998]

Just doing a little googling, there are a couple sites selling the conversion kits for about $1400. However, they do not include the tank. A DOT approved CNG tank runs about $2500.

And that bugger is probably pretty damn heavy too.

[ColoDak]

hope your sitting down, but for a fully approved and DOT legal CNG conversion kit, installed: $5,000 to $10,000.* They were discussing this on the radio a couple of weeks back, there is a company here in Colorado that does it, the guy had just done a kit for an Escalade and it was $12,500.* Something to keep in mind, some of these kits have to re-certified every 3 yrs.

[TazRango]

From what I understand, the kit does not need to be EPA certified to convert your own vehicle to dual-fuel. Only if you are going 100% CNG. The tank, however DOES need to be DOT certified so you don't drive around in a rolling bomb.

[96BlkDak]

I found a used tank being sold on craigslist for $400 and the guy referred me to a company in Dallas that resells certified used ones since I wont be buying his today.

here is a conversion kit for $1600 https://www.cngoutfitters.com/

yes the tanks are heavy but not that heavy, unless your installing it alone.

[IowaSQ]

GM sold "city cars" a while back..........cavaliers converted to CNG for use by meter maids, the water dept, stuff like that....as with any other gov't vehicle, they're sold off at auction......a buddy bought one for $300 a while back(like 2-3 years), ripped all the cng stuff off and gave the car to his daughter...the cng parts went to the salvage yard...:(

anyway, start checking out municipal auctions.

[ColoDak]

you did read that entire website right? $3,000 deposit at time of order, then they will call you to schedule the install and pay the remainder when it's done.

also, I see nothing showing that they have vehicle specific kits. I would strongly recommend you do a lot of homework before doing this. I have heard several discussions on the radio about this recently from peope who have been doing it for a long time. They are warning against some of the these companies that are suddenly popping up selling kits that originated in Asia, Europe, etc. and are not US certified (kits not tanks).

[96BlkDak]

Thanks :)

I dont even know if I will go through with it. My original idea for my truck was a 360 swap which has morphed into a Hemi swap either backed with a t56 scavenged from an LS or LT fbody.

I had to fill up my truck and the wife's Tahoe then drove past a CNG/propane distributor

Being naturally cheap .... I had to think about it :funny:

[IowaSQ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZdrWoNCUNM

skip to like 4:30 if you wanna hear about the price.

[sooner4x4]

There aren't many pros and there are a lot of cons in converting to a CNG and/or dual fuel type of setup.

The cost is huge as many have discussed already.
When you factor in mileage you get with cng, it isn't all that much cheaper than gasoline. Today I paid $2.49 per gallon and it is still dropping.
Where does the cng tank go? If it is in the bed, you loose hauling capacity, the very reason for owning a truck.
It adds quite a bit of weight, cutting into your mileage whether you are running on cng or gasoline.
Not many places to fillup.

There is a reason, this idea has not caught on. We have a few cng dual fuel vehicles in our fleet at work, everyone avoids them.

[Mystake]

Hey, I've got a natural gas powered truck.
the s10 you may have heard me talk about around the forums is our dual fuel truck.

The tanks are both 20lb tanks, mounted one atop the other. They are tall and cut the rear window view by a few inches making it a bit harder to see behind. Fortunately the s10 isn't ALL that high up but you still don't see very much out the back.

bed wise... we still have a good chunk of it. The tanks probably come out a foot and a half. for added safety when hauling we toss a blanket over it (that extends into the bed a bit so that wind doesn't take it off)

Over all I'm personally pleased with it. the truck has no balls when its on NG but that's not what its for.
the only quirk i have about it (and ill give u some figures in a second) is that sometimes when u turn the truck off after running it on NG, some NG will stay inside the carb and backfire when u start up the truck because it starts up on regular gas, then u have to rev it up past 1500rpm for a few seconds when swithcing it over to NG so as to not have excess fuel inside the carb.
what happens is that the airhat blows off and then the truck gets oversaturated with air. The other problem with it is the air filter got clogged and we havn't been able to find one since then because you need to get them specially ordered. there's no air filter on it right now.

so here's the figures
@ 1.05 canadian dollars per kilogram, the s10 gets 250-300km per 22$
the 1.05$ converts to approximately 70cents/litre too, by the way... or so the sign at the pump says. I'm not sold on that sign though because fuel mileage in natural gas... um.. price wise is better, yes but overall mileage? not sure.

I do believe NG burns clean though so thats a no-carbon buildup in the engine and its good for the environment.

we bought the truck as is too, it was formerly owned by Enbridge which is a NG supplier in toronto (and possibly all of ontario, i don't know or care). They did this to the truck (I'd assume so... NG conversion.. they are the NG supplier..)

OH!!!! the s10 has a 4.3l vortec in it. We bought it with 118000km on it and in around a year and a half, almost 2, it's now almost up to 200 000km. it's been running storng with no major problems. When we got it, a module was burnt and subsequently replaced at dealer's expense and quite frankly... NG wise... not much has gone wrong in the serious department. I know she got taken to a specialist a bit ago but i don't recall it being serious.

For all the milegae we put on it? it's useful. Monthly spendings on NG is about 200$(if not a little less) if we used it all the time, only gas would be about 350$(if not a little more).
That goes with saying there's about 3000km on it a month, 90% highway.


I should note: we don't own our tanks. there's a plate inside the engine bay that says that the tanks belong to enbridge.

for the cost... i'd almost recommend buying it pre-done like we did. We got a GST rebate on the purchase due to it being eco-friendly too.

[Mystake]

There aren't many pros and there are a lot of cons in converting to a CNG and/or dual fuel type of setup.

1.The cost is huge as many have discussed already.
2.If it is in the bed, you loose hauling capacity, the very reason for owning a truck.
3.It adds quite a bit of weight, cutting into your mileage whether you are running on cng or gasoline.
4.Not many places to fillup.

5.There is a reason, this idea has not caught on. We have a few cng dual fuel vehicles in our fleet at work, everyone avoids them.


I'm just going to comment here...
1. Buy it pre-done, or buy your truck new and then do it. you *will* save in the long run. We do, about 150$/month and thats been going on for 2 years now.
2. Not true. You can shield the tanks off, or mount them one atop the other. We fill it with tree branches, limestone and other crap and haul it around, NO problem.
3. I don't think its that bad. We still get good mileage on it. And we're still saving money. And if anything... with winters here the extra weight doesn't hurt a pick up truck's traction.
4. Too true. BUT, you can get @ home filling stations installed for 1000-1500$ (here thats the cost). We havn't done it... not sure why... but I guess for the hassle of having it installed, the cost and the return. We dont know how long we're staying here for but we're not gone yet.


5. Can't see why other than u lose alot of ur "umpf" and "get up and go". But then again... if you're concerned about get up and go then maybe you should try getting your fuel savings somewhere else... like not accelerating hard.


if I were to go back 2 years in time and debate buying a fuel saver... I think its a safe bet the s10 would be on the driveway. No question about it. I do note, its my step dad's truck, not mine.

[jmaack727]

Show us some pics, i for one would like to see it.

[sooner4x4]

It is good to hear a first hand account from someone who drives a cng vehicle.


5. Can't see why other than u lose alot of ur "umpf" and "get up and go". But then again... if you're concerned about get up and go then maybe you should try getting your fuel savings somewhere else... like not accelerating hard.


The original post asked about a conversion for a 3.9. While most V-6 Dakota owners don't buy one for its blazing speed, I would hate to give up any more of what "umpf" is in my 3.9 Dakota.

Given the huge price swings in fuel, both gasoline and natural gas, the savings per month could fluctuate a bunch. We see large price increases in natural gas in the winter here in Oklahoma (a major natural gas producer).

[Mystake]

Show us some pics, i for one would like to see it.



will do asap.