First off, unless I am mistaken, leaded gasoline was still pretty readily
available 20 years ago, so can think of no reason hardened seats would have
been installed at that time in the rebuild. The only way to tell if you
have hardened seats though, is to pull the head. If you are planning to
keep the 216 (maybe now is a good time to think about swapping in a 235 or
other?), I am not sure if the missing lead is as critical as you might
believe. The only reason I had hardened valves put in when I rebuilt my
235, was because I knew it would be undergoing a cross-country trip as soon
as it was completed. I have heard from MANY knowledgeable people, that
unless you do a lot of long distance driving, the hardened seats are really
not necessary, nor is the additive. I have started using the additive only
when I know I will be driving long distances (on my '67 and '70 Skylarks).
Anyway, if you either DO do a lot of long distance driving with the 216, or
it simply gives you comfort to feel that you are doing everything possible
to preserve your engine, then the answer to your last question is "no", the
lead additive will NOT hurt your engine, so add it as you see fit. It WILL
help it, but simply may be an unnecessary expense.
Rob
----- Original Message -----
From: Brad Newman <bkn@cyberramp.net>
To: oletrucks <oletrucks@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, June 04, 1999 5:59 AM
Subject: [oletrucks] lead additives
> All the talk about leaded vs unleaded fuels and hardened valve seats and
> such got me wondering. My 40 1/2 ton has the original 216, but as I am
> at least the 3rd owner, I have no idea (and neither does the guy that I
> got it from) if the engine has ever been rebuilt, and if it has, if the
> newer "hardened" valve seats were installed.
> Is there any way to tell if this has been done? The truck was restored
> around 20 years ago...........if the 216 was rebuilt at that time, would
> it have been commonplace then to add hardened valve seats? Also, if I go
> ahead and start adding a lead additive, will it hurt the engine if I do
> have hardened valve seats?
> Thanks for the help
> Brad
>
> oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
>
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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