Coverting to unleaded?

[GothicKidd]

Okay so my Kingswood has the 253 v8 that runs on leaded petrol, they don't sell leaded petrol anymore so I need to use unleaded with a lead replacement. I'm not looking forward to squirting lead replacement everytime I need to fuel up. I have a bad memory and I'll probably forget.
So is there a way to converting it to unleaded?
I've heard people using premium unleaded in replacement of using unleaded + lead replacement. Is this a good replacement? or what?
Cheers

[Jonah 101]

I dont know if it possible because lead substitute's protect your valve seats from receding.

[GothicKidd]

I dont know if it possible because lead substitute's protect your valve seats from receding.

Hmm, Yeah I've read that someone ages ago. Isn't there something I could change or something ? :S

[Jonah 101]

They do replace seats in head rebuilds. I dont see why they couldnt use harder steel. maybe someone could shed some light on this for us.

[Ghost]

Best bet is to find an unleaded engine

[Hangman]

You can get the valve seats changed to suit unleaded. My HB Torana is on unleaded.

You can also get the thing to automatically add the flashlube etc set up under the bonnet. I haven't looked into it though.

[acarmody]

Take your car to a engine builder or heads specialist and they will replace the parts necessary to allow it to run on standard unleaded.

[ari666]

running 98 is better than lead subsitute. probably a bit cheaper too.


nothing needs to be changed on your heads

[383 hatch]

Just put unleaded in the tank and drive it.

[ari666]

this is true. we are talking about a 253... run it till its got no more compression then buy a new one on ebay for 50 bucks.

[GothicKidd]

I wanna keep everything somewhat original though. D: like same engine no and what not.

[DANNY8]

The lead in the leaded petrol cushioned the valves as they made contact with the heads. With no lead in the petrol there is no cushioning which is why they eventually sink into the head.

IMO just use ULP and don't even bother with lead replacement shit. It'll still last, it ain't gonna crap itself in a matter of weeks/months or even possibly years (can't garuntee it tho lol). Or just buy one of the automatic vacuum fed systems so it sucks the lead replacement gear in automatically. They r about $50.

Otherwise get hardened seats put into ur heads. No idea wat it's worth to get done, ring Richards Motors on 8632 2474, they can do it and r local.

[ari666]

I wanna keep everything somewhat original though.

you say that now... just wait till you get thumped by a hyndai getz

[GothicKidd]

The lead in the leaded petrol cushioned the valves as they made contact with the heads. With no lead in the petrol there is no cushioning which is why they eventually sink into the head.

IMO just use ULP and don't even bother with lead replacement shit. It'll still last, it ain't gonna crap itself in a matter of weeks/months or even possibly years (can't garuntee it tho lol). Or just buy one of the automatic vacuum fed systems so it sucks the lead replacement gear in automatically. They r about $50.

Otherwise get hardened seats put into ur heads. No idea wat it's worth to get done, ring Richards Motors on 8632 2474, they can do it and r local.

So should be sweet to drive on unleaded for a while before needing to worry?
I recon I'd go with the hardened valve seats then, The vacuum fed system would require mods to the carby and uncessary hoses (if any).
Probably be worth getting parts replaced anyways right? hah.
Cheers man

you say that now... just wait till you get thumped by a hyndai getz

Proposing drag racing? I recon my VR would get thumped by most cars nowadays. <.<

[DANNY8]

Pretty sure ya only need one vacuum hose going to the bottom of the tank which has the valve saver gear in it....so ya could just tee it from another vacuum hose. No mods needed to ur carby.

I drove me old VH 173 around for like 2 years with no valve saver (just the occasion squirt of it in the tank when I was feeling generous...which wasn't often lol)....the head was still fine when I pulled it off afterwards.

Ari ur a funny c**t aye lol.

[GothicKidd]

Pretty sure ya only need one vacuum hose going to the bottom of the tank which has the valve saver gear in it....so ya could just tee it from another vacuum hose. No mods needed to ur carby.

I drove me old VH 173 around for like 2 years with no valve saver (just the occasion squirt of it in the tank when I was feeling generous...which wasn't often lol)....the head was still fine when I pulled it off afterwards.

Ari ur a funny c**t aye lol.

Ah okay, thought it might of been injected into the carby <.<
Hmm not bad. awesome

Hey who where would you recommend to take my car to get properly tuned? :S

[DANNY8]

Best spot around here would prolly be LMG (8634 3118) out at Warnertown as he has a dyno. Other mechanics could do it by ear, but on the dyno it can show up alot more.

[GothicKidd]

Best spot around here would prolly be LMG (8634 3118) out at Warnertown as he has a dyno. Other mechanics could do it by ear, but on the dyno it can show up alot more.

Thought they would be, Had it tuned there a few years ago when the car was still on the road but dad ran the tank dry on the way home and was the last time it was really driven on the road and Ive played with the carby since.... But yeah I've heard goood about them.. Know a lad who lives near adelaide who'd prefer bringing his car down just to take it there.. but wasn't to sure if he was any good with the carbied engines
cheers

[DANNY8]

I don't think they'd be to much to it....if she runs a bit lean, turn the screw to give it more juice, or turn it back if it's getting to much. If the timing isn't right, turn the dizzy.....it's pretty basic stuff for a stocko 253 aye. It's not hard to bugger up and yeah as he has the dyno it makes it even easier lol.

[GothicKidd]

I don't think they'd be to much to it....if she runs a bit lean, turn the screw to give it more juice, or turn it back if it's getting to much. If the timing isn't right, turn the dizzy.....it's pretty basic stuff for a stocko 253 aye. It's not hard to bugger up and yeah as he has the dyno it makes it even easier lol.

Yeah no worries, when I get it running again I'll see how I go.
Another question if you dont mind; I've got my Timing cover off atm cause it was rusted out and had bolts snapped inside so I'm going to be replacing that.. Should I change the Timing chain while everything's off? We don't have much infomation about what the prevous owner has done..we think it's had work done to it but yeah.
Read online should be replaced every 100,000 odd K's, odo has 430,000 on it..so should I change it? and is it easy enough to not to fail? :\

edit; I think it's been changed some time in it's life.. from what I can read changing to a double row chain will improve the engine.. and it's got a double rowed chain.. or did I completly misread. <.<

[m1lky]

So should be sweet to drive on unleaded for a while before needing to worry?

Based on this logic. Use the lead replacement and if occasionally you forget then it won't be an issue.

In nz you can get av gas for your racecar from the airfield. You don't pay road tax so legally you can't use it on the road but it's cheap. 100odd ron and leaded.

[GothicKidd]

Based on this logic. Use the lead replacement and if occasionally you forget then it won't be an issue.

In nz you can get av gas for your racecar from the airfield. You don't pay road tax so legally you can't use it on the road but it's cheap. 100odd ron and leaded.

Yeah that doesn't sound to bad. Just be worth squirting some in once in a while :P until I get something done to bypass it

[m1lky]

I'd try do it more often than not. Even if the engines cheap to replace then time it takes to swap isn't.

The vac fed leaded replacement sounds like a go to me though. I know 2 stroke carby outboards use a similar system with vacume to feed oil into the fuel.

[drewVHSS]

Okay so my Kingswood has the 253 v8 that runs on leaded petrol, they don't sell leaded petrol anymore so I need to use unleaded with a lead replacement. I'm not looking forward to squirting lead replacement everytime I need to fuel up. I have a bad memory and I'll probably forget.
So is there a way to converting it to unleaded?
I've heard people using premium unleaded in replacement of using unleaded + lead replacement. Is this a good replacement? or what?
Cheers

Lead used to be in our fuel to act as a upper cylinder lubricant.
The uptight gooses believed that the lead emitted from the exhaust was harmful to our health, despite white papers that were released at the time stating the lead particles were so microscopically small they posed no real threat.
That aside, the lead was replaced with Benzine (a carcinogen e.g. cancer causing substance)
Benzine unfortunately is nowhere as good as lead as a upper cylinder lubricant.
So unleaded engines run hardened valve seats and stems.

There's plenty of head machining/repair shops who can reco your 253/308 heads with new valves and hardened seats and stems.

Carl at 7 Hill's in syd has always done a good job for me, last time i had a set done it cost $250 about 3 years ago with L34 spec valves.

[DANNY8]

If you've got ur timing cover off and the chain has a bit of slop then ya may as well change it. If ya can move the chain back and forth and it moves more then about 5mm or so I'd change it. Every Holden V8 I've pulled apart, stock and modded, have all had double row chains. I normally just replace them anyways. Rollmaster billet sets cost about $140 for 9kw version (9 keyways in the crank sprocket to adjust cam timing)...but there is a more basic version without the extra keyways which is probably a bit cheaper.

If it was mine tho I'd just rip the whole motor out and give it a birthday lol. I've got a good 253 which was rebuilt by Richards Motors bout 3-4 years ago...has only done maybe 2000km's since. I might sell that if ur keen? I'd prolly be after around $500 for the short motor. But really if u do start spending money on a 253....you'll regret it later and wish u just bought a 308 lol.

What r ur plans for the Kinga? Could buy a trimatic pattern 308 bottom end and chuck EFI on top of it. All bolt in, no rego hassles, more reliable and better on fuel, PLUS THE HEADS ARE MADE TO RUN ON ULP!!