Lead additive

[Patrick_R]

Gents,

I currently use a Nulon lead additive in my 25 Chev.

Does anyone use a lead additive in their standard grey motors?

Or does anyone have any advice regarding lead additives with standard grey motors.

Many thanks in advance.

Ric.

[Harv]

I used Nulon in the FB for a while, then switched to hardened valve seats.

In 20-odd years of lead-free motoring, I have yet to see a photo of a grey suffering valve seat recession - has anyone? Feels more like a myth, albeit few greys do serious miles anymore.

Cheers,
Harv

[Patrick_R]

Thanks Harv.

I’ve never heard or seen anything either.

Maybe it is a “better to be safe than sorry” situation?

[Mick]

yep never used a drop of any additive never had a problem but then i don't own my cars very long, a mate that's into racing bikes did a lot of study on it and they rekond no real issue unless the engines are sitting on constant high revs
and i put any old crap fuel in my cars (many and varied) and never noticed any difference in performance or consumption

[ardiesse]

Ric,

Valvesaver and similar additives are lead-free, by the way. Tetra-ethyl lead enjoys a similar reputation to asbestos these days.

I've done maybe 120000 miles in my two early Holdens in the past twelve years or so.

In 2006 I had hardened exhaust valve seats installed in my FX, and 90000 miles later I've just completed an engine rebuild. I just wanted to shut the main bearings up, but the crank needed a grind, and the exhaust valves were leaking a little, and the head gasket wasn't sealing perfectly . . . I refaced and lapped in the exhaust valves, but I found when I pulled the head apart that the exhaust valve stems had carboned up, and the exhaust valves were a little sticky. (The earlies don't have valve stem oil seals, by the way.) This would have reduced the seating force and made them prone to leaking.

I've done 35000 miles in my FC in the last six years, without hardened valve seats. If I'm driving anywhere further than, say, Canberra, I'll put additive in (if I can remember). So far I've had no trouble with leaky exhaust valves.

My two cents' worth: You don't need to use additive, unless you're doing >10000 miles of hard highway driving per year. And I remain agnostic about the benefits of hardened valve seats.

Does anybody else use their old Holden as their everyday transport?

Rob

[Patrick_R]

Thanks for your input Rob & Mick.

Both very valid points and well researched based on experience.

I currently only use the Nulon additive in my 25 Chev, but I only do about 1 tank (40 litres) every few months.

I run 95 in the Chev & the Holden & 98 in the Rolls.
The Rolls is a UK delivered high compression 6.75 litre litre all aluminium V8 engine that actually stipulates 100 octane, but is sweet on modern 98.
I won’t put any additive into the Holden, it runs sweet as a nut and I don’t flog it (very often ) anyway.
Still a very interesting topic, that’s for sure.

Ric.

[Errol62]

Hmm 6.5litre alloy donk. Thinks..........

Gee that would really make the FB get up and go........ha.......ha......


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Harv]

Hmm 6.5litre alloy donk. Thinks..........

Gee that would really make the FB get up and go........ha.......ha......

Kind of like this, but in reverse?

Rolls-Royce-Silver-Shadow-with-a-Supercharged-Chevy-V8-01.jpg (139.59 KiB) Viewed 633 times

First the RR people would get upset with you.
Then the Holden restorers would get upset with you.
Then you can park the Roller-powered FB at my place so I can appreciate it .



Cheers,
Harv

[Patrick_R]

Now THAT sounds like a plan.

You forgot to add the wife would be upset with me

Can we drink beer while we appreciate it Harv?
This is what she looks like under the bonnet.

Think about a 72 Holden 253 installation, and this is a horror story in comparison.

[Patrick_R]

Drivers side

[Harv]

There's always appreciation beer at my place.

We might have to delete some of the optional extras to squeeze the Roller motor into the FB.

I like the SUs though .

Cheers,
Harv

[Patrick_R]

Passenger side

She runs a standard Turbo Hydo 400, But a massive independent rear suspension, and a huge 3.08:1 diff mounted to a sub frame in the rear.
Front & rear springs are massive.
They would be 3 times the height of a standard Holden front spring.
The car weighs 2450kg.

I can post some pics if anyone is interested.

[Patrick_R]

I like your thinking there Clay.

We may need a shoe horn to get it into the FB though.

Ric.

[Patrick_R]

Harv,
The SU,s are there for torque.

In 72 she produced more torque than a current VF SS.
But only around 180kW.

The torque is massive and very fun.

I can flog any modern V8 off the lights, she leaves 2 beautiful long black strips on the road, but that is down to super high torque & the low diff. She will then have the modern V8’s pass her by around 80kph, but it always scares the V8 boys

The brief when RR wanted a V8 replacement for their very old 6 cylinder was:
Maximum lift off/surge with very little throttle input.

They did this perfectly with the massive twin SU’s.

Some guys have fitted Holleys to the engine, but it takes away all the torque, and as she is very heavy turning it into a HP over torque engine, just turned it into a slug.

If I can describe how it drives in a few words.

It’s like driving a huge new Diesel engine. BUCKETS of torque right from the get go, but runs out as the revs & speed increase.

But a whole lot of fun between the lights!!!!!

[59wagon]

Geez Ric, under the bonnet looks fuller than a fat lady’s sock!
So do they have 100 octane in the UK?
Yeh more pic’s please.

Cheers,
John