This site combines my personal interests including alternative fuels (propane and natural gas), engines and combustion, and old cars, especially first and second generation Mustangs (through 1970).  

I have almost 40 years of automotive industry and alternative fuel related research and education experience, including vehicle conversions, engine and combustion research, emissions controls, prototype fuel system development, custom engine design and assembly.

I hope you will find it interesting and of some use.

Fair Warning, Legal Stuff:

ALL information on this website inclusive is protected under the US Digital Millennium Copywright Act of 1998.  Click HERE for information.  This website is NOT public domain material.

Diagnostic Guide Info

This Diagnostic Guide covers Propane powered applications with  commonly seen problematic areas.  There are no plans at this time to develop a Natural Gas version.

I have had many questions about the contents of the book.  Several discussions have revolved around the technical and engineering content value, at which time I had to realize that this is NOT a PhD dissertation and my intended audience will have little desire to see complex engineering graphs or discussions.  And frankly, I can not realistically charge my clients what it would take to provide such a paper.  Go to the Diagnostic Guide page for more information.

I reviewed all of my current requests for purchases from around the world and a large number of you have asked for the book to be e-mailable.  I have explored several options and have implemented some new compression algorithms to condense the book to a reasonable e-mailable size with no appreciable change in viewing quality.  The book is viewable in Adobe Acrobat version 4.0 and newer, or equal PDF readers.  I will provide the Diagnostic Guide in e-book format, and as a general rule, I will not send it in CD format.  Please see the note at the bottom of this site about e-mail problems! ! !

I will also continue to offer it at the current price until further notice.

PayPal usually converts the currency appropriately, but they charge a conversion transaction fee which varies considerably (I haven't figured that one out yet, the fees are not consistent).

Also, I will not send any product until I receive the PayPal confirmation AND I see the amount and destination.  I had a flurry of $1.69 attempts to purchase (I do not know if they were a mis-typed request or an attempt to defraud).  I will send an e-mail if I have any questions.

I will no longer offer it in print format as the cost for the printing exceeds the price, just remember that the book will be formatted in US 8.5 X 11 inch, not A-4.  Anyone purchasing the book in E-Book format will have the rights to print the book at their expense, but please, only one copy!

Status on the "Introduction to Conversions" manual:

This book is scheduled for completion around the second quarter of 2009.  This book will cover the basics of what goes into a conversion of a vehicle.  A more thorough book will follow approximately June 2009.

Status on "Advanced Fueling Technology" manual:

Parts for Sale

I frequently acquire new and used parts inventories from various sources, including businesses that are going out of business, online auctions, and other resources.  See the Parts For Sale page for information.  If you need something, ask, I may have it or an equal.  I have many carburetors (mixers), vaporizers, some CNG parts, adapters, Vortox air cleaner assemblies, but very few fittings, fuel lines, or fuel tanks.  The majority of my parts are propane related.  Some of them are adaptable to CNG service, but ask first.

My parts are reasonably priced but are NOT give-away's.  I will indicate the parts condition and my price on the webpage, and I may consider a realistic offer, but please make it realistic.  Shifting market trends, parts availability, and anticipated future resources dictate my prices, and are subject to change without notice.

I frequently purchase box-lots of propane carburetion parts and those which are suitable for resale are lightly cleaned and pressure tested, and if any adjustments are needed, they are performed to OEM specs.  All parts are sold as is, understand that I will use reasonable professional care to ensure that you receive what you ask for, if not, I will state so in an e-mail.

When I ship parts out, I will quote a non-negotiable shipping fee.  Please note that this price is NOT what it costs over the counter at the postal office.  I include boxing, documentations and customs forms if required, and unless prior to shipping, and if you specifically request and are willing to accept the loss and specify that you choose to decline insurance, I WILL insure the shipment for the full value of the purchase and will request delivery confirmation.  This is added to the shipment cost.

For my many readers who have been asking for fuel injection systems, I am working with a major supplier for systems, and when provided, I will offer the systems online.  In the meantime, you may contact Raso Enterprises for component availability and vehicle compatibility.

Lastly, there is no attempt at providing OBD-II compliant fuel systems.  The parts I am offering are intended to repair in-service equipment and for off-road applications.

E-Mail Problems

I have had rapidly increasing problems with various e-mail accounts blacklisting my e-mail replies.  For some reason, about 20 to 30% of my e-mail replies are returned as being either blocked, blacklisted, or declined by the recipient.  I will reply to all messages for technical assistance or parts requests, but if the response comes back as undeliverable, I have no way of communicating this problem to you.  If you have not heard back from me with one week, there is a problem with your mail service blocking my account.  I do not have any solution for you, that is YOUR responsibility.

I E-mail all of my Diagnostic Guide's, and about one out of 20 E-mail-outs bounce back as undeliverable!  I will use two additional private e-mail accounts to send the books, but eventually, if it cannot be delivered, I have no means of contacting the sender.  Again, if your account is blocked or will not receive attachments, I have absolutely NO means of contacting you.  If you have not received my Diagnostic Guide by e-mail attachment within 2 weeks from the order date, please e-mail me again and include your physical address.  I currently use an aggressive e-mail blocking and screening program but I have keyword exclusions that are targeted to look for the Diagnostic Guide, engines, propane, LPG, CNG, and other related words that may trigger a legitimate e-mail reception versus what may be as many as 100 e-mails per day (about 90% of which are spam or phishing related).

Contact me by Skype!

I use SKYPE (www.skype.com) as a Voice Over Internet (VOIP) service.  I MAY be available online, at "franz-hofmann".  Unless you are one of my clients with a current consulting agreement, this is the only means of voice to voice contact I provide.  This service is downloaded from Skype's website at no charge.  You will need to use a computer with a high speed internet connection, a microphone and speakers or headset.  You may find a webcam helpful.  I only speak American English. 

Click on the Skype logo below to connect and see if I am online.

Located in Central Texas

Material added frequently, check back often!

. . . .28663. . . . .