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

[Rad Davis]

I have to concur with Dale here:  Oils with insufficient anti-wear additives would cause problems in components with sliding friction and high loads - typically the lifter/cam interface is the first thing affected.

'destroyed valves' is both vague and unlikely as a result of an oil type change.

More info, please. 

-----Original Message-----
>From: Dale Dewald <dkdewald at pasty.net>
>Sent: Sep 29, 2008 3:36 PM
>To: Corvanatics at corvair.org
>Subject: Re: [FC] Damage w/o ZDDP & '63 car motor in '63 FC...potential problems?
>
>At 09:03 9/29/2008 -0700, 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.
>
>How exactly did his valves "disintegrate"?  Did the seats and valve edges 
>wear so that they no longer held compression? Did the guides wear out? ZDDP 
>really only helps prevent cam and lifter wear and helps with the push 
>rod/rocker arm/ball/valve tip mechanism.
>
>>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.
>
>About the only thing different on the 80hp FC engine is valve rotators and 
>the larger 8-plate (folded fin?--please correct) oil cooler.  Your car 
>engine, if in good repair, should work fine without the valve rotators, but 
>I would suggest swapping in an 8-plate, 12-plate or folded fin oil cooler.
>
>>   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.
>
>High octane fuel should not be necessary for the low compression 80hp engine.
>
>>  I'm afraid to go faster than 50 mph, because the motor seems to be 
>> straining but not running too hot! Any advice?
>
>If it is not running hot, then you should be fine.  The 80/PG/3.55 combo is 
>not going to have a surplus of power, but it should be able to do 55-60 MPH 
>or better on level ground in still air.
>
>>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)?
>>Thanks
>
>I have 215/65R15 tires (a popular minivan size) on our Greenbrier on 15X6 
>wheels. The fit and stability is great.
>
>Dale Dewald
>Hancock, MI
>
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