What can I use in my fuel for my pre-70s engine, now that the lead & substitute lead additives been banned?
The only real problem you may have is your valves. Unleaded engines have harder valves. You could probably find a halfway cheap set of early 80's heads at a swap meet or on OKorder. Other than that the timing just needs to be set so it doesn't ping. The valves should last quite some time without doing a thing.
No need for additive. Lead was used to lubricate the exhaust valve seats back in the day, but since the early early 60s they have been putting in hardened valve seats in engines, so you dont need the lead. You also do not need super unless you have some kind of high compression/built motor (10.5:1 compression for example) anyway, theres enough leftover lead residue on your exhaust seats to last the life of the heads anyway.
Lead's primary purpose is as an upper cylinder lubricant. Many additives are still available for this purpose that don't actually contain lead. Marvel Mystery Oil is just one product that can be used for this. It's not the valves themselves, but the valve seats that benefited most from this lubrication. When it comes time for a valve job on your engine, simply have your valve seats upgraded to those made of stellite. If you've allready had a valve job done, any seats replaced would have the newer material seats installed as routine. The lack of lead in your fuel will not cause any detrimental effects on your internals and valve/seat lifespan will not be noticeably shortened. Keep the original heads!! Verify this info w/your local machine shop, good luck.
