Lead substitute ??

[dmdec]

Thought it would be a good idea to get some expert advice on this subject.  Will be getting the barn find '51 Cranbrook on the road this  spring and would like to know if I need to use a lead substitute to protect the bone stock six banger.  I plan on very limited mileage, probably less than 500 miles per year. Any thoughts ?    Thanks   (car has 39000 miles)

[Young Ed]

Yup you don't need it. Car has hardened seats already.

[TodFitch]

All Mopar L-6 engines from at least 1933 for Plymouth came with hardened exhaust valve inserts and special alloy exhaust valves from the factory, so as Young Ed noted no lead additive needed. (Even if the engine did not have those features you wouldn't have a problem with light duty anyway.)

 

If the fuel system has not been gone over in the last 10 or 20 years then there may be some rubber components which are not happy with modern gas additives. If in doubt, replace the rubber flex line between the frame and the fuel pump, rebuild the fuel pump with a kit containing modern materials and if the needle valve in the carburetor has a rubber tip see about replacing it.

[Frank Elder]

Also it may have a rubber accelerator pump skirt, some kits didn't come with a leather skirt.

[dmdec]

Thanks guys, thats exactly what I needed to know.   I love this forum !