I am finally getting my Suburban converted, after gathering parts, redesigning my layout, and sloving all the little issues that come up when doing a conversion from scratch. To all those considering it, BUY A KIT!! I have gone back to the hardware store at least 20 times. I probably paid for the kit in fuel by now...I would have been SO much farther ahead if I had BOUGHT a kit, and then made changes where I wanted to. Anyway, I will have a unique system once I'm finished...I got the second tank up under the body along the frame rail today, got the FPHE mounted against the tank. I'm using a 16 plate FPHE as a primary fuel heater right before the fuel pump, and it's bonded to the outside of the fuel tank to heat near the fuel pickup. I will be running HOH from there to the secondary 26 plate FPHE under the hood, thru the PermaCool filter (with ghetto heater hose wrap) and then to the IP. Using dual fuel pumps with Hydraforce valve return, full return to tank, and the centerpiece is a "VO controller" which automates everything so my wife can just get in and drive (you can see it at www.plantdrive.com). I should be finished with it by the end of this month...assuming I can get the Hydraforce valve I have replaced by then (I ordered the wrong one)...CU-raaaaap.

Your post kind of discouraged me..

But I'm still going to do a DIY, and Im doing it on the cheap.. really cheap DIY everyting.. no controller but ill do a DINO fuel alarm.. A light or somthing on the dash that flashes to let me know im on dino.. kind of a electronic strin on your finger.

It would be great if you could make a write up on your DIY setup, pics would be a bonus..

Glad to hear you getting it finished.. and glad you making it wife friendly.. Thats a bonus!

Jason

www.plantdrive.com sells a great little "forgot-to-purge" buzzer to remind people to switch back to dino or biodiesel when shutting down. Personally, I think that's manditory since starting up on veggie is a no go unless yo're converted to a single tank svo system. Most people aren't.

I have 5 different colored LEDs which indicate which solenoids are on, they are wired back from the engine bay so they also indicate faults.
I can see at a glance what is happening. The flush solenoid is red, red for danger, danger of filling vege tank with diesel. Yes that has happened
Johnno

Well, let me qualify my last post.

1. I am a semi-perfectionist. If it "just isn't right", I will sit on it, wander around the hardware store or Lowe's looking at components, and think until I figure out the better way. That's taken a lot of the time.

2. I am going deluxe on this conversion, it's almost all the best money can buy. I went cheap last time with a hybrid single tank system, this one is the super deluxe.

Once I figured out the details of how I wanted to do everything, it has fallen into place pretty fast. And I will be able to say I designed and built the whole thing.

You live in Florida - how much heating do you need if it never freezes?!

BK you will do another one again ...
you have it down now ...
give it a few weeks ...

post some photo's

Good job

Omar

BK are you still making injection line heaters?

Yes, I am still making injector line heaters. $20 each shipped. Also, I must give Craig at www.PlantDrive.com some much earned credit, I asked him several dozen questions, and he got me some critical information during my conversion that was indispensable. Without his help I would have been floundering, and that was before I even ordered a THING! His customer service is fantastic, and if I buy a conversion kit in the future it will be a PlantDrive kit.

That's why I always recomend plantdrive. Superior customer service.

I will make another system again. Once you do it the first time, the second is always easier. It was an amazing learning experience that I think everyone should try. (Only if you are handy) My first system cost me more than buying a kit, but the second one is way cheaper. Steve

I will do another conversion, I am just thinking I will buy a kit for next time and modify it. Maybe not, but it would be nice to have all the parts ready and just put them in. If I wasn't so picky about how things go together, I would be done by now.

Nice job. I'd like to see it when you're done. Look what I scored this weekend.

05.19.07_pictures_092.jpg (5,138 KB, 151 downloads)

Niiiiiiiiice! I will keep you up on what I did, and how it works. When are you going to start converting yours?

If you pay particular attention to paragraph 4 when you write the op order to construct a conversion it will minimize your downtime ;-)

If you have any questions shoot me an email or PM and I'll see if I can help out.

WHAT??

Hi B.K.,

Glad you are moving ahead with your Suburban, (I know how you feel, I designed both of my conversions it can be a pain but well worth it). I have close to 10K miles on my 99' Burb. I use HIH and a 26 plate HE and a heated filter, and I am thinking about switching the 26 for the 16 plate HE in our 300D. I have a large winding hill (small mountain) and the veg. temps. get to 200 degrees by the time I come to the top. The Burb. puts out more smoke and seems to loose power with oil this hot, temps. w/normal driving stay about 175-180 deg., Just something to think about, you may have to much heat with the two heat exchangers.

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by B.K. Hosken:
WHAT??

You know, Service & Support. Lots of Class II, IX and X for this one :-)

Pedro,

That pic looks like the Dunnellon area...correct? Nice score

actually, BK, I feel exactly the opposite way
I am VERY glad I designed and built my own system
for one thing, I know every square inch of it intimately
I also understand how and why it works

however
I do remember days I felt just like you do now - that this was the stupidest, blindest, most impossible, ridiculous waste of time I ever committed
there was certainly much time spent standing in the plumbing aisle at Lowe's, scratching my head

but I wouldn't trade it
and I'll wager that when you finally get done - I mean good and done, all the kinks fully worked out, a good year from now - you won't want it any other way either
kits be hanged

also
it wasn't just the initial conversion that was instructive; all the adjustments, refinements, improvements I made afterward were at least as important
my next conversion will be much much easier and faster
and I'll know why
and so will you

quote:

Originally posted by Mike0000:
Hi B.K.,

Glad you are moving ahead with your Suburban, (I know how you feel, I designed both of my conversions it can be a pain but well worth it). I have close to 10K miles on my 99' Burb. I use HIH and a 26 plate HE and a heated filter, and I am thinking about switching the 26 for the 16 plate HE in our 300D. I have a large winding hill (small mountain) and the veg. temps. get to 200 degrees by the time I come to the top. The Burb. puts out more smoke and seems to loose power with oil this hot, temps. w/normal driving stay about 175-180 deg., Just something to think about, you may have to much heat with the two heat exchangers.

Mike

You could also try installing a monovalve from a MBZ in the coolant supply line to the heat x . wired properly, with a snap disc?, it could regulate the outgoing fuel temps(maybe)


And BK- you wont need to design another one. you already did it. all you'll need is some mods.