Not natural gas to the 300 itself, but the 300 is often used as a stationary engine by Ford. Impco do CNG and LPG conversions.
In NZ in 1980's, the 200 and 250 sixes got optional Impco or Landi Hartog, Bendini or Lavatogas CNG kits. The worked okay, but lost 25% power, and were only really good when fitted with hi compression pistons and Capacitor discharge ignition. If it runs 8:1 compression, and doesn't have Durapark ignition, it'll be a dog.
Commerical CNG runs a 130 octane rating, and can take 13:1 compression with a good ignition system and a strong forged piston. Landfill CNG or BioGas has a poor octane rating, and can't hack the hig compression.
Best advice I have is to
1.pull the head, and rasie the compression to 10:1 via a 240 or 300 I6 head, or shaving the stock one. When fuel prices drop, and having gasoline cheap happens again, just add an extra thick head gasket to get it back to 9:1 compression.
2. Make sure you replace the spark plugs and igniton wires on a regular basis. If your brave, get the best igntion system you can get, and use a CNG system with a 2-bbl carb throttle body, and a free breathing exhast and intake manifold.
The Americans are smart. Oil is a commodity best bought from others. It's better to make friends than enemies, and oil will always be driven down in cost when South, Central or Northern America, New Zealand, Australia or Japan decides it can use sugar cane (alcohol) CNG, Diesel or propane. Any change upsets a delicate balanace. Never dedicate a vehicle to CNG unless you are prepared to convert it back. I did use LPG on my last Falcon 250, but LPG is a by product of crude oil, and its always going to be cheaper than gasoline in New Zealand and Australia because we get a percentage of oil from vast offshore oil reserves in Bass Straight or the North Island coast. In the old days, it was just burned off, now we sell it!
Remember 1981, and the finacial bind Brazil got into when the Arabs decided to turn up oil production again. All the hard work in getting an effective and efficient alcohol fuel supply was promplty turned into a huge loss when Shiek Yumani and OPEC increased production. It wasn't the US who caused gasloine to drop in price 20%, it was the laws of supply and demand.
Best wishes,
: . It is now becoming a popular alternative in my neck of the woods. Is compressed natural gas a viable alternative for those motors? Fuel savings in converting to natural gas should be around 55% (here in Colombia). :thanks:
