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Hi, I wasn't around when they were being sold new, but out in this area, they all run on natural gas now. Just feed the propane through a regulator into the carburetor - I think Impco 225's are the common one in this area. They are used for pumping irrigation wells out here. They aren't as common as they used to be. They are pretty powerful - but I sure wouldn't rate them over 240. A few have been turbocharged out here, but basically, if you need more power than an HD 800 can provide people go to either 855 Cummins or Caterpillars, or twin-set 454 Chevy's set up to pull in tandem. I had an HD 800 I started one up one night about midnight - sounded good, though I didn't know why it had died - let it run idling to warm up for 10 minutes or so (very important!) and she sounded great. So I wound it on up to full throttle to start pumping water. I was standing there beside the thing roaring like a lion as the exhaust manifold began to glow red-hot in the night, when I thought I could hear something ticking through my gun ear muffs that I always wear around them. I went around on the dark side of the motor and leaned down to the pan to listen to different parts of the engine when about that time, I could really hear it - tick, tick, tick, TICK, TICK, TICK, SLAM, SLAM, SLAM, BOOOOM!!! That thing threw a rod right through both sides of the block about 6 inches from my ear!! Luckily, the oil filters were mounted where I was listening and kept me from getting slapped upside the head! That was several years ago and it still makes my stomach tense up thinking about it! :) Howard H.
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