Fuel question?

[stox58]

Can you still buy leaded fuel in the USA?

Or are you converting your Classic cars to run on unleaded fuel?

Thanks

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

No leaded that I know of at normal gas stations....maybe aviation fuel at air ports still has some lead.

Some are either getting hardened valve seats installed in the heads, running lead substitutes/additives or are just using unleaded gas due to the low mileage most of these cars see now a days....

[68X426]

Leaded gas was phased out by the 1970s. Red Line makes a lead substitute additive. I've never heard anything good - or - bad about it.

http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=78&pcid=12

http://www.redlineoil.com/content/files/tech/Lead%20Substitute%20Tech%20Info.pdf

[stox58]

From the replys above am i right in saying that a V8 needs no conversions to run on unleaded?

Thanks

[b5blue]

No the exhaust valve seats need to hardened.

[Tilar]

You can, or at least could still order leaded fuel from a fuel distributor as late as a couple years ago and I haven't heard of any changes.

[Mike DC]

 
The exhaust valve seats need to be hardened for unleaded gas, that is for sure.  The engine will technically still operate without that being done, but it won't last very long. 



The octane rating on the older leaded gasoline is higher than most of what is available at US pumps today. 

Some guys compensate for that with lower compression pistons.  Others just buy octane booster bottles and add it to the tank during every fill-up.  The degree of problem caused by the lower octane depends on the original compression ratio of the engine.  Some old cars have higher compression than others. 



Modern unleaded low-octane gasoline also runs the engine "hotter" than the old gasoline did.  The 1960s stock cooling systems still technically work, but they are just barely adequate now.  If you live in a hot climate and you have hot-rodded the engine above the stock power output, then an improved radiator is a good idea. 



 

[68X426]

I see where Sunoco makes a leaded race fuel, 5 octane levels. http://www.sunocoracefuel.com/

[BigBlackDodge]

I think Chrysler started using hardened seats in '72.


BBD

[b5blue]

346 series heads are "induction hardened". They are what I have on my 440, it's a surface treatment so if the seats are cut deeply from repeated valve jobs the effect is mostly lost.

[Khyron]

Charger = Eddie heads, Used Super unleaded

66 Mustang 6 cyl = as stated above, low miles put on car, I just put the cheap stuff in it

soon to be 36 Chevy Pickup .... yes I will be starting a thread = will get regular unleaded, cause it's getting a new fuel injected motor in it.

[Grim Jhaixus]

Leaded gasoline is still available in some rural areas for use in farm equipment right at the pump, just like some places have 107 octane racing fuel for reasons I do not understand right at the pump (Elkton, MD). However, my 440 has been converted for alcohol use (no, it's not in the car yet), and I suggest doing that because non-ethanol gas is getting expensive in my area (Panama City, FL) and I fear all gasoline will have ethanol in it soon.