Roush Debuts Propane Powered Modular Muscle Mustangs at Bradenton

[joesgt281]

Roush Debuts Propane Powered Modular Muscle Mustangs at Bradenton
After Ford Motor Company pulled out of the propane powered F-series conversion program, Jack Roush and Roush Industries picked-up the ball and found success in engineering, building and selling alternative fuel trucks and vans to the expanding construction and fleet markets.

When Roush’s Drag Racing team was looking to build new Mustangs and new powerplants for the 2010 NMRA and NMCA season, the team went GREEN for power, GREEN as in propane power. Having experimented with E-85, another green fuel, in Don Bowles Open Comp Mustang a few years ago, its cool to see someone pushing different fuel technologies in drag racing. For updates on the program visit www.shedevilmotorsports.com

The propane powered Mustang drag cars are an offshoot of the kits that ROUSH Performance uses to convert gasoline-powered Ford pickups and vans to run on clean-burning liquid propane. On the subject of propane, the innovative Jack Roush said, “It’s as American as NASCAR. More than 90 percent of the propane used in the United States is produced in North America, much of it from the U.S. natural gas supply. Propane has so many positive aspects and it is finally getting the recognition it deserves as an alternative fuel. Propane can help to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. Propane can help to clean up our environment. And propane can help to create new ‘Green Collar Jobs’ for displaced auto workers who can return to the lines to build alternative fuel vehicles.�

One big advantage that propane has in a drag racing applications is that it has an octane rating of 106 just a few notches shy of race fuel. The first drag Mustang in the Roush stable converted to propane was the white, red and blue 2005 ROUSH Mustang driven by Donnie Bowles. The conversion started just after the last NMRA race of 2009 and the car was on display at last years SEMA show in Las Vegas. Over the three day show the car had a lot of prying eyes looking at the unique propane fuel cell and fuel system.

Photo Credit: www.shedevilmotorsports.com

Over the winter, the Livonia, Michigan based ROUSH engineering crew built a brand new 2010 ROUSH Stage 3 Mustang for Susan Roush-McClenaghan. Starting from a 2010 Mustang Body-in-White, the crew tubbed the rear section and built a tubular front suspension for stability down the 1320. Its very similar to a NHRA Super Stock construction and was sprayed and airbrushed in-house by Roush's talented painters.

Photo Credit: www.shedevilmotorsports.com

The Roush Mustangs are powered by an all-aluminum 5.4L Ford modular engine that was originally designed for the Ford GT supercar. This engine was converted over to a naturally aspirated induction system and the compression ratio was bumped up to piston pounding 12.5:1.

Photo Credit: www.shedevilmotorsports.com

Other modifications included CNC ported Ford GT cylinder heads, high performance camshaft and valvetrain. Horsepower numbers are estimated to be at around 600+ at the flywheel.

At Bradenton, both cars ran in the NMRA Modular Muscle class and Donnie Bowles made it to the semi-finals with the new engine combination. Bowles ran in the mid-10s while Susan, who went out the first round, dipped into the nine second zone with a 9.992 @ 133.70 mph. Look for the Roush Drag Racing team to continue to whittle down the elapsed times and become more consistent for the dial-in based Modular Muscle class.

 

[scedd]

I am always amazed when i hear that the US doesnt make better use of propane.
Here in OZ all our taxis have been running it (LPG) for over 30 years at less than 1/2 the cost of petrol.
GM, Ford & Toyota all offer LPG cars.
I have travelled around OZ on LPG in my last 3 hiluxes, all have been dual fuel, but i think i will go LPG only on the next one with 2 x 250 litre tanks, this will give me a range of 4000 km's (2500 miles).
A company called Carbon Energy, now has a small power station running on propane that they have extracted from Coal seams prior to the coal being mined.
Personally i think propane will be the fuel of the future that will keep our old cars running, as you dont have to change your engine, just modify the fuel system.
Thats gotta be better than a diesel or electric mustang

 

[RyanG85]

That was one beautiful car! Wish I knew more about it before. Would've payed closer attention to it on the track...

 

[joesgt281]

I agree with you SCED, and I've been following the propane technology for cars for some time.
I'm not sure why it's not caught on here more, particularly in areas like Houston where I live where emissions is a big deal, and propane is readily available.
I think part of the problem is that the price differential between gas and propane is not that great.
2 years ago when the price was about 60% higher, it would have made sense.
I actually contacted Roush at that time about simply buying kits to convert cars.
They weren't really set up that way, primarily focusing on doing the conversions on trucks for fleet use.
Obviously there's a performance niche here as well.
I recall the recent build of Chevelle street machine called Pro-Pain, which was built here, but used technology and parts from down under. IIRC, it developed over 600 hp.
It seems like there's some inherent advantages, particularly with the cooling effect flowing thru fuel injectors.
And it's got vastly greater range and more energy potential than the other clean fuel, Compressed Natural Gas.

 

[apollard]

You are correct that it has to do with the cost of the fuels. Fuel comparison should be done on a basis of the energy they provide -

Propane =28,000 BTUs / dollar
Gasoline =45,000 BTUs / dollar

(based on us DOE data)

Since the propane engine is slightly higher efficiency, it costs about 25-30% more to get the same HP on propane.

 

[joesgt281]

Yeah when gas was $4/gal, it was really looking like a good option.
The conversion cost wouldn't be cheap but I had the wild idea that the environmental quality regulators in Houston might find this appealing enough to offer some sort of incentive to do it.

 

[scedd]

Here the Feds gave a 2k rebate as part of the emissions reduction scheme.
That has now dropped to $1750.
As an example on my 2008 Hilux 4wd with 4.0 V6, it was $4350 for the conversion including a 120 litre tank, which is done by licensed installers only.
Being direct injection, rather than using a Mixer (which replaces the carb on an older engine), i dont see a loss of performance or economy, which was noticable on the earlier cars.
I get abysmal economy anyway, around 5 kms per litre, so the cost factor makes a big difference.
We pay around 60 cpl for lpg & $1.20 for petrol.
i average 80,000 kms per year, so i am in front after 3 months and saving money therafter.
The more economical the less the saving, but in our mustangs the basis will be emissions and fuel availability rather than economy.
One day we will run low on petrol and china and india will make that happen sooner than we think as their economies improve and car ownership, which is at 2% now, takes off

 

[apollard]

We pay around 60 cpl for lpg & $1.20 for petrol.

That makes the difference. Right now, lpg is 3.20USD/gal and gas is 2.75USD / gal