Propane powered pickups

[O4L]

1972 GMC 3/4 Ton

Nice. I used to buy, sell, trade, fix up, and drive a lot of the '67-'72 GM trucks but I never had one with a big block.

That 400 BB is actually a 402 that GM advertised as a 400 Big Block for some reason. It is basically a bored out 396 from what I understand. They were powered down a bit in "72 I think but the earlier versions had 350-375 HP with over 400 ft. lbs. of torque.

I don't have any experience with the propane conversion.

OOps! I didn't see swampratt's post from earlier.

 

[conditionzero]

One of my HS teachers had a propane pickup and I thought he was from outer space

 

[swampratt]

Here is a BBC 396 bored over to be more than 396" Notice the very wide valve covers and more than 4 bolts hold the covers on.
It used to be in a 1969 3/4 ton and is now in a 66 1/2 ton.
I ported the heads and David ground the camshaft.
11:1 compression and runs on 91 octane.. it currently has a tunnel ram and dual 4 barrel carbs on it.
Much quicker than the single carb.

 

[PanhandleGlocker]

Definitely got a lot to learn. Also probably gonna have to start sourcing some parts. Mechanical and cosmetic.

 

[xseler]

When I was farming, used propane on both pickups, 1 tractor, and 3 portable irrigation pumps (2 were 300 I-6 Fords and 1 was a 440 Dodge with headers). Always loved the smell of propane exhaust fumes --- may explain some of my later life issues!!

Oil was always super clean when it was changed.


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