Welcome to my website! 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 accumulated more than 39 years of automotive industry and alternative fuel related research and education activities, 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

This information is provided "as is" without any warranty, condition, or representation of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to, any warranty respecting non-infringement, and the implied warranties of conditions of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event shall Franz Hofmann, or any directors, trustees, associates, or employees thereof be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential or other damages howsoever caused whether arising in contract, tort, or otherwise, arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of the information contained on this web site.  By accessing this website, you agree by these conditions.  This is a 'Litigation Free' website.

Diagnostic Guide Info

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.

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 unless you specifically request it in CD format, I will send it by e-mail.  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.  For the many people overseas, please remember the currency conversion when ordering.  The following list is a current currency conversion, also where most of the book purchases have been distributed.  The prices below are for the e-mail version.  For the CD version, please remember to add the applicable shipping fee, usually the equivalent of $2.00 USD.

http://finance.yahoo.com/currency?u

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).

One thing else, 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 purchase the book in either CD or E-mail formats will have the rights to print the book at their expense, but please, only one copy!

Status on Book Two

Book Two is on again and off again.  Since I first wrote the draft, the industry has changed considerably, along with emission regulations (US and Europe).  What I initially developed almost a year ago is now practically obsolete.  One vendor I elected to use as a test subject has since retired their fuel injection platform and selected another technology.  Stay tuned for updates.

Parts for Sale

Since late summer 2006, I acquired two separate inventories from two businesses that were going out of business.  The inventory list is extensive and not complete.  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, CNG regulators, adapters, Vortox air cleaner assemblies, but no fittings, fuel lines, or fuel tanks.

My parts are reasonably priced but are NOT give-away's.  I will indicate the parts condition and my price on the webpage, but I will consider a realistic offer, but please make it realistic.

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.

E-Mail Problems

I have had an ever increasing problem 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 assistance or parts requests, but if the response comes back as undeliverable, I have no way of communicating this problem to the mail sender.  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 the senders responsibility.

I e-mail approximately 90% of my Diagnostic Guide manuals, and about one out of 20 e-mail requests 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.  Please ensure the addition of your physical address in your PayPal order.

Contact me by Skype!

I use SKYPE (www.skype.com) as a VOIP service.  I MAY be available online, at franz-hofmann.  At this time, this is the only means of voice to voice contact I am conducting.  If you wish to contact me personally, this is the means I prefer.  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.  I only speak American English. 

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

This is one of my most frequent haunts.  Click on the image to visit and be sure to sign up, its free.  Visit the Engine & Fuel Engineering Forum with over 16,000 members!  Please understand that this is not a "Help Me" website, it is for engineers with engineering questions.

You will find me a frequent contributor.

Located in Central Texas

Material added frequently, check back often!

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