Unleaded Gas in Leaded Cars
"How do you get by without unleaded gas?" This is possibly the most frequently asked question we hear when driving our Packard, even out-shining that all-time favorite, "What's it worth?"
The answer, of course, is that while we would rather not, the ban of tetra-ethyl lead in motor fuels does not pose an insurmountable difficulty to the Packard driver, nor does it mean the end of antique motoring.
In short, valve damage is closely linked to the load
an engine is put to bear, and the risk is a function of the horsepower to weight ratio. We refer you to Jim Chase's excellent article on the subject in a recent issue of the Packard Cormorant which discusses the issue in detail from an engineering point of view.
The ultimate 'fix" for the problem is to modify the older engines to circumvent the damage potential of unleaded gas by using valves and seats engineered to withstand modern fuels.
Stainless or high-performance stelite valves can be obtained to fit your Packard from most parts jobbers if you consult parts specification catalogues, rather than attempting to locate the parts you need by application. Make friends with a competent automotive machinist and your problems are practically solved!
Pistons, rings, bearings, valve springs and many other parts can be found to fit your car, by using specification catalogs.
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