Now the winter is coming I have started to rebuild my Lancia Beta Spyder.
I am rebuilding the engine at the moment and not sure whether to get the valves seats and guides changed to suit unleaded fuel.
I have read conflicting reports and dont know if its worth the bother.
Anybody on here know for sure if the twin cam lancia will take unleaded, I seem to think not but I live in hope.
one word
""fuelcat""
need i say more.
http://www.fuelcat.co.uk/benefits.html
FuelCat (& other catalysts like Broquet)
Snake oil - Broquet were banned from stating some of their claims by the advertising standards authority some time ago. The same claims are made by
this company.
Good discussion here.
It's also worth looking at the rest of that site - very interesting.
David
(who is now sitting back and ready to avoid incoming flak! 
)
[Edited on 29/10/07 by David Jenkins]
i seem to remember years ago hearing that, if the head is set for leaded fuel, and has always been on leaded fuel, there's enough of a build up
of something (lead probably) around the valve seats, that they'll be safe on unleaded for a few years.
may as well get it done though, its not that expensive is it?
quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
Good discussion here.
[Edited on 29/10/07 by David Jenkins]
Cost could be upwards of a couple of hundred quid to replcae the valve seats and regrind + new valve guides, so Im not sure. May just buy the
additive, only if its going to work though.
Cant see me doing many miles in a Lancia convertable in the North of scotland if this year has been any guide.
If you are only doing low mileage and not rebuilding the cylinder head to make hardened valve seats a worthwhile option then best bet may be to just
use an additive package to put into normal UL petrol (that works).
I would recommend Castrol Valvemaster - but then again I would as I was the Research Chemist for Associated Octel that evaluated the process used to
make this product for the UK market before it was marketted by Castrol. The actual Phosphorus based compound was used for many years in Australia
prior to being introduced over here. http://www.triumphshop.co.uk/Quiller/Unleaded/valvemaster.htm
In my trusty Triumph I did 40,000 miles after rebuilding the engine. After the first 5000 leaded disappeared, so I happily carried on thrashing it
with no mercy. When I stripped the engine (re ringing a 100,000 mile engine had a limited life!) the valves had NO sign of recession at all.
Look at it this way, if the valves do start to eat into the head, then have seats fitted. I really wouldn't bother with additive at all.
I ran mine on cheapo 95 ron, you might be nice and generous and use 98+