I do not know whether or not the valve seats were changed or not by the previous owner or if he used a lead additive. I have heard mixed opinions on using unleaded gasoline. Should I just use unleaded gas?

 

You have no choice but to run unleaded. Leaded gas is not sold in CA. The lead additives don't do much at all. The only one that may help a little is the CD2 one but instead of lead it uses nickel.

 

Does anyone agree with this guy?
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Classic-A...leaded-gas.htm

 

Yes, I do agree with him. The worst thing you could do is wear out the the valve seats faster. I have a 390 with non hardened seats that is now pushing 200k of hard use. I would just keep on driving it.

 

Right on. That's good news. I didnt want to have to change the valve seats or use that lead additive. Anyone else have a different opinion?

 

Ask what kind of cars Dick Benjamin specializes in.

It's a seven letter word for a classic car, and it doesn't begin with the letter L.

All the engines are L heads, with compression ratios of between 4, 5 and 6 to 1.

Now...can you compare flathead straight eights and V12's from the 1930's with today's cars?

I run the lead additive in my two Packards, one a straight 8, the other a V12.

It's either that or spend mega bucks for hardened valve seats....if the aluminum heads decide they want to come off the blocks without a fight.

 

What do you think I should do number dummy?

 

Nothing...drive it as it is.

My 1965 F100 went thru a frame off restoration during 1981/85.

The seats were not changed.

The truck has 187,000 miles now. it had 150,000 miles when restored.

I've had no trouble since with burnt valves.

Wait till the engine needs work...then go with the hardened seats.

 

Thanks guys

 

I have a 66 F100 with a 300 I6 with 649,00 miles (give or take a few) and with the exception of a broken piston skirt (pulled it apart, replaced the broken part and put it back together) it has had no major work done to it. Cancer got the sheet metal but the engine keeps running. Run it till it starts amking noise and then just run it faster...