LPG Installs - 1 Day - DIY and Professional Installs

[scottyf]

Hello All,
Just wanted to make a quick note to show that I've installed Gas on my Alfa 147 Twin Spark.

Now understand why the professionals take 3-4 days to do conversions.
A lot of information shows that it can be done in a weekend. I say no chance.

Those that offer one day installs (Lets say 10hrs) you'd need a small army of people.
Even if you had a workshop and ramp plus all the correct tools i can't see it being done much faster than three days on a simple install.

From getting the correct tank installs - Pipework, Manifold drilled / Tapped. Deciding where the items should do and where all the additional pipework should be routed.

My first install took me two weekends (Okay not full days but still) and another day to calibrate (Which I have yet to do perfectly).

Okay I can cut this down to three if it was my second install. But still. I just can't see it being done in a day to a good level. Having done it myself now I can see where the additional labor and technique comes from.

I just wanted people thinking of having a go at a DIY conversion that no. Its not the hardest thing to do at all.
But having all the right tools and problem solving skills takes time. Especially to do a neat conversion.

Also the calibration and setup getting it perfect. Does take some time to learn.

[Tubbs]

Absolutely agree, as I'm sure all of the pros will. It's a lot more labour intensive to get right than it looks.
Even if you have been doing it years. It still takes a lot of care,thought and time to complete to a good standard.
I see a lot of shocking installs. More from the trade than from diy'ers tbh. Mostly from the 'done in a day' merchants.

[scottyf]

Seriously Toby I can't fathom how it can be done in a day. Even to a poor standard.
You'd need

1) Person selecting a tank. Drilling holes, multivalve filler and some wires.
2) Person looking at where the front end goes, Drilling manifold
3) person connecting up the pipework and once that's done onto the electrics

[Tubbs]

There are a few cars I complete on my own in a day. Generally cars I have done over and over. It's handy if you know where everything is going up the front. Personally I think there is a set pattern to it, the first thing you need to know is where the reducer is going. Then you know where you need to run the pipe to.
Too many people on a job can cause problems as well. They all keep tripping over each other.
3 is the maximum really. I think if you actually put some thought into it you could streamline the operation. But it's the knock on effect if you have any problems for the next day that would be the real issue.
Mind you, personally I don't think corners should be cut when you are potentially throwing the car down the road at 100 mph.

[mat_fenwick]

But it's the knock on effect if you have any problems for the next day that would be the real issue.

For me it's the implications of time pressure that would be the worry - I know there are some things I can do in (say) an hour, but I'd probably do a better job, not to mention enjoy it more, if I knew I didn't *have* to get in done within the hour!

[scottyf]

Indeed maybe things could be streamlined. But even so. The practical bit of maybe fitting it all one day to a good standard. Then the second day electrics and calibration.
But then there should always be a follow up of rnd on the car to check it's all running get well.

[LPGC]

Agreed totally, particularly with what Tubbs says.

We convert a massive range of vehicles, all need components mounted in different locations etc, we can become familiar with the most common models that are converted such as RangeRivers, X5's, etc, we all know the usual vehicles, but the norm is that we convert vehicles that we haven't seen for a while. If you have several people installing components then there needs to be some discussion on who fits what and where, and then hope that the pipes and wires that run between components will run neatly... Arguably, with several cooks, no single one has the full picture.

There are many vehicles that I could convert in a day, and probably to a better standard than what I generally see from the 'done in a day' installers (these are not always the most commonly converted vehicles), but there are also a lot of vehicles that I don't think could be done properly in day. When I convert a vehicle I like to have it all done the day before he/she collects, this way I can re-check everything, particularly calibration as the engine warms, the morning following the main calibration.

I have done a few vehicles in a day, but this has been under exceptional circumstances and on relatively simple jobs. Example, I sold a DIY kit to the owner of a little K series engine'd MG a while ago, he later decided to let me fit the system and asked if I could do it in a day. Knowing it was a simple install I agreed and managed to complete the install in a day. But, if this were a vehicle that were much more difficult I wouldn't have been able to get it done in a day to a standard I would be happy with.

Currently converting a 4.4 X5, I consider this a bread n butter job, very much the norm and I am completely familiar with this model, I could throw parts at this and get it done in a day to the same standard as the 'done in a day brigade' but that's not what I'm about. Tomorrow I have a Cadillac coming in for conversion, I have converted all the various Caddy limo's but won't be as familiar with this 'normal' Caddy (except for the engine - but that doesn't necessarily include the engine bay layout).. I would never agree to convert this in a day.

Not that I'm complaining about the done in a day installers much - correcting their dodgy installs certainly helps keep me busy!

Simon