Neal, I need your help

[mtml427]

I ran into several members at Wheels and Waves. After viewing Larry Davi's car I contacted Kirkham regarding a small block car. I had spoken with David Kirkham some months back about alternative fuels. What I would like to do is run a supercharged small block in a FIA car using natural gas. What are your thoughts? I also want to speak with you about another engine. Would you mind e-mailing your phone number? Martin (925) 577-1023.

[ByronRACE]

I'm not Neal, but if I might I'd like to interject a little info. I researched a variety of alternative fuels when considering my supercharged power plant and found the only fuel I could use that would give me ample energy density and range between refills was liquid propane.

The CNG approach could not achieve enough density; the fuel is still in gaseous form (although under high pressure) and the storage tanks required to give you a 100+ mile range in a cobra that gets say 10mpg are larger than the available space. If you're talking about an LNG system (liquid natural gas) and extremely high pressure cylinders, I could not find any equipment on the market to support such an endeavor. That doesn't mean it can't be done, it just means I couldn't find it.

The liquid propane injection had other significant advantages too. The octane is significantly greater than pump fuels. Because of the phase change from liquid to gas occurring right at the injector nozzle, you get a significant cooling effect. In fact, this is how refrigerators work. For a supercharged combo, both of these things are a godsend; and both spell power. The LNG approach would be similar.

In my case, I could not obtain the necessary fuel system components to make this happen at the 1000fwhp level (the goal) and opted for gasoline for that very reason. 5 years have passed...that stuff may be available now. When I was looking, the largest injectors available would support perhaps 300fwhp tops. I would need 4 of them per runner; which simply isn't practical.

Sounds like a very interesting project, I wish you luck.

Byron