What are the general thoughts concerning lead replacement additives for early 70 2.0' ?
I believe that I am loosing valve clearance due to valve seat problems.
after working in the parts stores and getting to read the msds sheets, I found that those " lead replacement additives " you buy at autozone and advance and the likes, are just kerosene and some of them have a little tranny fluid in them too.
So they are rooking you for 4 bucks for a pint of kerosene that cost 1.90 a gallon.
It does help but it robs horespower. and shortens plug life.
Then would it be a better idea to have steel seats inserted for the exhaust valves ?
I used to have a '67 VW bug that I had to mix kerosene with the gas to avoid detonation and overheating.It raises the octane level of the gasoline.I dont know what it would do for valves though.A friend of mine uses 2-stroke premix in his '61 VW bus to lubricate the valves.I don't know if that does any good either.I am in the process of replacing the 2.0 engine in my '73 wagon,which had serious valve problems due to unleaded gas.The new (rebuilt) engine is supposed to have valves and valve seats that are designed for unleaded gas. If you still have your original engine,and have a lot of miles on it,do a compression check.I had almost no compression on the middle 2 cylinders,yet the engine ran strong.But I couldn't get it to pass an emissions test.Not even close.When I first got the car,I adjusted the valves,the intakes were all ok,the exhaust valves were so tight they weren't even closing all the way.
That is exactly where my engine is now. I have acquired another Pinto wagon that is not much to look at and has front end damage. I am going to pull the head and check the valve on it. I found a bottle of lead substitute in the back seat so I am hoping for the best. If it is a good head I will swap it for the leaker on the block now. That will give me a head to build.
Esslinger and Pegasus still show parts for the 2.0. I am partial to the 2.0 and giving it more power as opposed to an engine upsize. The parts Pinto also has a four tube header and sway bar that will make the transfer to my current Runabout. I put new ball joints and replaced the tie rod ends so that it goes down the road safely now.
Quote from: allfordmark on June 17, 2005, 05:37:30 PM
Then would it be a better idea to have steel seats inserted for the exhaust valves ?
Most definately.
The head came off of the donor car. The job was not professional. Still had old carbon in the exhaust ports and the valve seals were not replaced. The cam had grooves from the followers and the cam bearings were shot.
The valves looked new after cleaning and the seats are not bad. My current head has a good cam but I am going to get new cam bushings and gaskets. I already have cam and valve seals. The head gets a complete cleaning this time.
I can get the parts that I need for about a $100. Do I spend the additional $100 or so for exhaust valve seats or go with lead substitute ???
I would do the seats, but its up to you. Would you rather deal with it once and not have to worry about it anymore, or would you rather deal with it 1 or twice a week, every week, and have to wonder"shizod is there any more kerosene in the trunk?". Or lose $400 worth of cd's cause the damn bottle leaked and melted everything in the trunk that was plastic.
Definately do the seats now,and be done with it.Then you can drive the car without having to worry about anything.The piece of mind is definately worth it.
I could've sworn the 2.0 is able to run on un-leaded gas perfectly? I ran mine for a year and never had any valve adjustment issues.
-Harry
Hey Harry,
If the original 2.0 was run on leaded fuel then the exhaust seats are already hardened by the original use of leaded fuel.
BUT if you do a valve job all that is lost.
From pintony
After a thorough cleaning the donor head has seats already installed. They are in very good condition. I just need exhaust valves that have not been rusted from sitting several years. I was prepared to spring for the machine work and I appreciate the input. Thanks.
The old head definitely had receeding seats on #2 and #3 cylinders. I would guess that the last overhaul included a valve grind that took out the hardening.
Ok, i understand now. You'll have to forgive me, since I'm a young'un (23).
Well, this kinda throws a wrench in my future plans for my 2.0. I don't want to give them away, but we'll just say that if I can make it work, i'll be one of the first to do it.
Anyway, you guys have any idea how much it will cost to have hardened valve-seats installed?
-Harry
As far as installing seats my local automotive machine shop gave me a price of about $100 to install exhaust seats and recommended re-cutting the intake seats because the inserts distort the adjacent seats. There was going to be an additional cost of about $75 - $120 for seats and refacing the valves as necessary. I tore the head down and cleaned it before getting the pricing.