Can old cars like my 1963 Volvo become CNG cars?

[Old Volvo]

I have a 1963 Volvo that runs great but I don't drive it very often because it probably throws a lot of pollutants into our air. Can I convert it to CNG? I has a pretty big trunk.

[Idarusskie]

Re: Can old cars like my 1963 Volvo become CNG cars?

I do not see why not.

However you will not have an electronic computer to interface with. You would have to adjust the timing and such manually.

Maybe there would be some kind of after market electronic ignition that could be added on.

It would not be EPA listed but then again as I understand things. If your car did not have emission controls installed on it then there would be nothing for you to tamer with.

[Lakewood90712]

Re: Can old cars like my 1963 Volvo become CNG cars?

The only problem I can think of might be valve seat wear , and this may already be happening with the lead gone from gasoline.

Hard valve seats can usually be installed if you go to the effort to pull the cyl heads. It would be a good time to also mill the head to raise the compression ratio.

In California , we very strict rules on modifications, but older cars are exempt here. Sure would clean up the emissions on that Volvo.


John.

[John Mitton]

Re: Can old cars like my 1963 Volvo become CNG cars?

I think EPA also has exemptions for older vehicles too. You could probably do a conversion on this with any kit as there is no OBD II computer on your vehicle. I could probably look into this if you are really serious.

[maxman]

Re: Can old cars like my 1963 Volvo become CNG cars?

Here in Utah vehicles 1967 and older are exempt from emission testing.
I have been looking into conversions also. I am sure this old of Volvo has to have a carb. These are usually simpler as they don't require computer work. I saw a company who have kits minus the tanks custom made for almost any vehicle.

Good Luck
Max

[cngmike]

Re: Can old cars like my 1963 Volvo become CNG cars?

If I was going to do this on an old vehicle I would make it dedicated. The loss of power on a duel fuel is to great. The components you would need are; tanks, high and low pressure regulators,high and low pressure coalesors, and high and low pressure solenoid a propane carburetor high pressure shut off valve, tubing and a lot of miscellanies parts. The problem lies in the amount of storage you would need to equal the fuel capacity you have now. at 3600 psi. you would need 2 15"x40" cylinders. There are mount concerns also. DOT has very specific mounting requirements for the tanks and components. I have given this a lot of thought for my 1966 Cadillac. at 8-10 mpg 20 gals would be a lot of storage. if you live in So. Cal. you Could talk to Bruce Ikelburg @ Alt Fuels on Gothard in Huntington Beach. he has been doing this for a loooooong time.

[neongreen]

Re: Can old cars like my 1963 Volvo become CNG cars?

I have contact with a guy in canada who converted a newer FI volvo to CNG so the answer is yes. I say go for it, yours should be a little easier.

[Old Volvo]

Re: Can old cars like my 1963 Volvo become CNG cars?

Thanks for all the replies. This car runs dual SU carbs and has had the hardened seats installed. Presently, the stock tank holds about 10 gallons of gasoline. I get 22-25 miles per gallon and mostly drive it in the city so no long trips.

I guess I now need to start compiling a budget to make this happen. What are the best places to get the items I need (cngmike made a good list)?

Since I am busy, who does total conversions in Salt Lake City (so I don't need to collect and install everything)?

If I ever need to sell (I hope never) the car, can it be converted to gas fairly easily again?

[Old Volvo]

Re: Can old cars like my 1963 Volvo become CNG cars?

I forgot to say, I have installed a simple electronic ignition system from a 1975 Volvo 240 on this car but otherwise is mostly stock.

[neongreen]

Re: Can old cars like my 1963 Volvo become CNG cars?

I would say that it probably wouldn't be very easy to convert back to gasoline. Of course it isn't very easy to convert to CNG in the first place.
From what I understand you could run an Impco propane carb if it was calibrated correctly and I think they can do that. Propaneguy.com has some very good prices, maybe you could call him and see if he can send you a Propane carb set up for CNG.
Sno-Motion does conversions in salt lake, but I don't know if they would do a custom setup like that. I would really like to do a carbed CNG system and have been trying to figure out how to do it, but don't have any actual experience with CNG.

[bbartholomew]

Re: Can old cars like my 1963 Volvo become CNG cars?

Does anyone know if this conversion was ever completed? I am trying to research converting a 1951 Bentley that also runs twin SU carbs, and this person's experience would be invaluable to me.

Thanks!

[KSneedsCNG]

Re: Can old cars like my 1963 Volvo become CNG cars?

Also can track down the guy (Mark McConville) who did prominent conversion of '66 Pontiac GTO that had triple carbs to also run on CNG. They call it "Goat Gas."

That red GTO is featured in article on www.cngnow.com . . . . even has YouTube video of it running great on CNG, showing off it's power. See various links:

http://www.cngnow.com/video/post.aspx?id=26

http://www.cngnow.com/vehicles/cng-conversions-gallery/pages/1966-pontiac-gto.aspx

http://www.cngnow.com/video/post.aspx?id=31

http://www.cngnow.com/vehicles/cng-conversions-gallery/Pages/information.aspx

It DEFINITELY CAN BE DONE . . . let us know how Volvo & Bentley conversions turn out!!

[cripple_rooster]

Re: Can old cars like my 1963 Volvo become CNG cars?

I've already seen some people just drilling the carburettor to fit a hose sourcing the CNG from the regulator, altough I'd rather replace the carburettor with one more suitable to gaseous fuels such as the ones used in forklifts if I were going the dedicated-CNG way...