if you go back a bit in pages, I listed it but here is a short synopses:
Originally I wanted to run a Hemi, I went to autorama, 75% of the cool rats had a hemi.
Obviously if you look at my build and some of my other cars I've done, I don't like following anyone's lead or path much. (I love hemis, but I don't want a carbon copy either)
So, for many reasons other than just being different, I decided I wanted to build a truck that runs off propane, not the fork truck / car conversion style vapor system, but the roush style liquid injected kind. So, I kept my eyes and ears peeled, and also had help from my father who works for roush help me find a wrecked truck or van, and I made a bid on the van in order to get the motor, trans, and everything else that is on it to run the propane already installed.
Now, I know this is not a typical rat engine, but I probably paid less for the van & transport than anyone has into a rebuilt motor of any type so I feel its fair for the build, and I can recoup some of that by selling off the parts I'm not using like the dana 60 rear end etc..
So, propane is like $2-$2.50 a gallon... the 5.4L gets a few miles per gallon less on propane, but the same power output. So vs running gasoline, this really makes sense to me, I'll have a vehicle that weighs roughly half of an E250 van or less so should get decent mileage. This is something I really want to be able to drive and do it afford-ably. The other benefit is that it burns way cleaner than gasoline, so I can have a rat rod, and still be a little green with it... something you don't see much
So I'm hoping to maybe use a lot of the parts from the van in one way or another, there are so many things I don't have with the cab, even simple things like window regulators, etc. And even though this is a rat, I want my interior to be real functional, and real comfortable for me and my family, because it's something I plan on driving, not just to shows and such... so no sweet looking aluminum bomber seats for me =)
I have some long term goals as well for it including supercharger, etc...
