[FC] Damage w/o ZDDP & '63 car motor in '63 FC...potential problems?

[Bryan Blackwell]

Hi David,

On Sep 29, 2008, at 12:03 PM, David Houston wrote:

> This spring I witnessed motor failure in my friend's '66 110 using  
> the 'energy conserving' 10w-30. He drove many highway miles daily  
> and his valves disintergrated. I thought it was the unleaded fuel.  
> Until it was shown that ZDDP was no longer in the oil. I've since  
> been getting my supply from Eastwood in PA.

Question - what exactly happened to the valves?  Unleaded fuel  
doesn't hurt Corvairs, but pinging does.  ZDDP shouldn't really have  
been an issue on the valve heads, only on the stems, and I'd expect  
the lifters to die first.

> My next point of inquiry is what potential problems could I expect  
> from using an 80 hp car motor in my FC? Other than the oil tube, it  
> looks the same, but I know the FC engine is built sturdier.  I'm  
> adding ZDDP to my oil which stopped the foaming in the oil. I have  
> a PG with a 3:55 axle ratio. I run on Hi-test and rebuilt both  
> carbs. I'm afraid to go faster than 50 mph, because the motor seems  
> to be straining but not running too hot! Any advice?

What do you mean by "straining"?  The FC engines do work harder, but  
you should be able to get to 80 on flat ground with a 110.  That's  
about all I'd expect, pushing the FC nose through the air is a lot  
harder than on a Corvair car.  The FC 80 mainly had valve rotators as  
the HD upgrade from a car engine, but an 80 will work harder than a  
110, all else being equal.

> BTW I put 15" Chev Caprice rims on my front axle and they fit  
> perfect. The suspension doesn't hit. Would a '63 FC be stable with  
> narrow 15" radials all around (205/65-15)?

Should be a great size for an FC.  A 7.00 was about 205 wide, those  
really aren't narrow tires.

--Bryan

Bryan Blackwell bryan at skiblack.com
http://autoxer.skiblack.com/
   Corvairs: '61 Lakewood, '64 Greenbrier, '65 Corsa, '66 Corsa
   '69 Road Runner, '97 Ford F-150, '99 Neon R/T
"Why do something if you're not going to obsess about it?"