Gas Price Trick: Use an Old Chevy Truck Powered by Wood

      Jp Prat Projects on YouTube

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      If you don't own an electric vehicle (EV), you're likely in the same boat as the rest of us seeking relief from rising fuel costs. Although gas prices in my area are below the national average, they are still significantly higher than in the past, and I'm growing weary of it. If only I had an old squarebody Chevrolet pickup with a small-block V8 that could run on firewood.

      This seems to be a shared thought among others as well. Jp Prat Projects recently shared a video showcasing his father’s “wood gas car,” which is actually a 1983 Chevy fleetside. It features a 350-cubic-inch engine manufactured in 1972 and has not used any gasoline in over 100,000 kilometers (or 62,000 miles).

      The truck doesn’t consume liquid fuel at all; instead, the burning wood generates carbon monoxide that combines with hydrogen to power the vintage pushrod V8. A gasifier is positioned behind the cab, requiring about five to 10 minutes to fully ignite, after which the engine can start, idle, and drive. A filter is located on the opposite side of the cab, connected by a torch with a ball valve to regulate flow. The setup has a notably industrial appearance.

      Unlike a standard truck where you'd turn the key halfway to prime the fuel pump, the startup process here is quite different. It begins with a crumpled piece of newspaper placed at the base of the gasifier. An electric fan then draws the flame upward, allowing the charcoal and new wood to ignite. Once the engine is running, it draws in the gas automatically.

      Regarding engine modifications, there aren’t many. The owner mentions that a different camshaft and an intake manifold from a 1986 Corvette with throttle body injection were installed. Naturally, there are some distinct plumbing arrangements, including a large cooler mounted at the front of the truck. This vehicle is easily distinguishable from stock models, with its oversized metal component surpassing most brush guards and the two barrels at the rear, but relatively little effort went into the modifications compared to what one might expect.

      In terms of efficiency, they report burning 35 to 40 kilograms of wood per 100 km, which translates to 81 pounds for every 60 miles. A hydraulic log splitter certainly proves useful for them. They replenish the gasifier every 43 miles for precaution, and if the fire is already lit, there’s no need to relight the newspaper. The small-block Chevy does not require any additional fuel to start, unlike some alternative fuel systems.

      While performance isn’t the main goal, the host notes that torque peaks around 2,000 rpm. A 3.42 final drive allows the vehicle to operate without excessively high RPMs, paired with a TH700 transmission with overdrive connecting it to the engine. Thus, it remains a fairly typical setup.

      Running a vehicle like this in Los Angeles would undoubtedly present challenges. It's uncertain how a smog station worker would react to seeing a functioning gasifier. While wood is considered a renewable fuel, the particulate emissions are significantly higher than those from a gas engine, making it less “clean” in that respect. Additionally, the energy density doesn't compare favorably to gasoline.

      Nonetheless, this serves as an intriguing example of a technology that's been around for a long time but is rarely seen today. Comparing it with modern internal combustion engines, it’s easy to understand its decline in popularity.

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