Hi All,

My first post, since I couldn't find an answer via browse or search :redface:

Just tonight brought (not picked-up yet though) a Nov/2000 TJ Magna Solara Auto with 73,500km for $9,400 - very happy with the price and car. My first Magna too.

Motorbikes are my first love, so this won't be anywhere near a pimp'd-up or highly modded car. The wife's pregnant with our first, :bowrofl: so it was a required change from the 2 door to a 4D, and I've always had a soft spot for Magna's - for a cage! ( Cage is what we riders call a car :D )

Being a TJ Solara, I read (http://autoweb.drive.com.au/cms/A_53127/newsarticle.html) that the Solara engines come LPG compatible, and it's definantly something I want to look at doing, to help save on the $. Since the bike gives me all the speed and acceleration I'll ever need, I won't being looking to the Magna to give me that, so I can handle the minor performance loss etc. that I've read about in here.

Anyway, onto my question ... is that webiste correct, and the TJ Solara's are ready for LPG? If so, how much of the boot space is lost to the tank? One of the requirements for a car, was that the boot had to fit a pram and some shopping bags - will it still be able to do this with an LPG tank taking up 1/3rd of the room? Lastly, how much will I be looking at for a LPG coversion/addition, and is there anywhere in Melbourne recommended?

And finally, does the Nov/2000 TJ Solara have climate control, or is it just manual control AC? :redface: Either way is fine, I just never really confirmed/checked which it was. :badgrin:

I have a 2002 Solara, I noticed while cleaning the motor on the w'end it had LPG etched into the block (I think it was) I asked Mitsubishi, they said only some Magna's come out with the engine that could take LPG, they made them for Taxi's. Im not sure if thats correct, just saying what he told me. So apparently I can convert to LPG if I wanted to.. Do you get poor performance from LPG?

I hear there's some performance loss, in the order of 10% or there abouts, quoted by LPG installers. My impression is that this is a optimistic figure, maybe 20% is a more likely number going by gas consumption & relayed experience of others, but as LPGs so much cheaper one still come out above in cost. Given the current & future prices of fuel, and if you planning to keap the car long term, I think converting to LPG is good idea, as reducing 20% engine performance is really not an issue for most city driving.

Unfortunately the AWD engines are non-compatible.

Screw price saving, give me performance any day :P

what about injection gas systems??? heard they give the same performance but instalation with parts cost from $3k +

you should be able to get better performance from gas as it has a RON of 110 compared to the optimax which has a RON of 100. I think that that gives gas a much better bang for your buck!
Also was wondering why the other magnas can't be converted to LPG? Is it cos of the ECU being locked and uneditable?

you should be able to get better performance from gas as it has a RON of 110 compared to the optimax which has a RON of 100. I think that that gives gas a much better bang for your buck!
Also was wondering why the other magnas can't be converted to LPG? Is it cos of the ECU being locked and uneditable?

Its about internal bits - hardened valves and the like. As to the other original question - your aircon will be manual on that model.

Can recommend LP Gas 1 in Lilydale, might not be the cheapest but they have a good reputation and I'm happy with the job on my car.

I have a TL and the engine is NON gas compatible but i have converted it anyway. So far so good (20,000km on gas) only problem i have had is the lifters are noisy at idle, but i'm not convinced that is related to the gas.

The Gas compatible motors were available in certain models (such as advance and some solaras) not sure exactly the difference but I think harder valve seats.

Performance loss is minimal.

Cost was about $2500 (station wagon)

Its about internal bits - hardened valves and the like. As to the other original question - your aircon will be manual on that model.

All alloy head motors have hardened valve SEATS (obviously), which are the critical components for lpg and unleaded fuel.

Had my 2001 TJ exec converted 6mths ago, cost $1800, dont notice any loss in power. I drive for about 1/2 hour on petrol a week this stops the fuel lines drying out.
I can recommend LPG Conversion PTY. 5 Freight rd Tullamarine 93303555. they make alot of the stuff themself. they also use your original fuel gauge which is good. the only thing is the computer fuel/trip meter on the dash will give false readings.