leaded or not
Printed From: The Ford Torino Page
Category: Powertrain Specific Forum
Forum Name: 335 Series Engine Forum
Forum Description: 351C, 351M and 400 engines
URL: https://forum.grantorinosport.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=5498
Printed Date: 26-March-2026 at 3:27PM
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: leaded or not
Posted By: bdavis
Subject: leaded or not
Date Posted: 13-May-2011 at 4:13PM
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A friend of mine asked what year ford swapped the fuel type from leaded to unleaded for the 351c 4v and I didnt know when either. When was it? ------------- -Ben 72 GTS 351c\Q 05 F-150 FX4 BUILT FORD TOUGH! |
Replies:
Posted By: 75GranMan
Date Posted: 17-July-2011 at 3:00PM
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I believe the Q code was available in 74 model ,which was leaded fuel.they went to unleaded fuel in the model year 75,but the 351 4v was not available for that year,so the Q code was only a leaded fuel engine.unless someone knows different. ------------- John 75Gran Torino 4spd  |
Posted By: lynchster
Date Posted: 17-July-2011 at 3:08PM
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None of the 351C's were set to run on unleaded fuel in the US. Australia? Used the Cleveland until 1982 I believe. Chuck ------------- Chuck 72 Gran Torino Sport 13 Taurus SHO "Mr Pig" |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 17-July-2011 at 3:35PM
| I have a 1974 351C 2v that was in a Ranchero 500 and it was a leaded fuel engine.I ran lead substitute in every tank fullBthen I moved to Arizona in 1992 and they still had leaded fuel thereN~hen I moved back I ran lead additive again as only unleaded was available.you have to take the heads to machine shop and have hardened valve seats installed to run the unleaded fuel in a motor pre 75.It will run but in time will do damage to the heads |
Posted By: occupant
Date Posted: 17-July-2011 at 4:38PM
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A lot of people say you MUST have the hardened valve seats. If you're racing, towing a trailer, hauling heavy loads, sure, by all means, go get the head work done. If you don't have constant heavy use like that, it's not a problem. If someone put hardened seats in my '72 351C that's 10K into a rebuild, fine. If not, fine. I won't be pulling an Airstream anyway. ------------- 15 Cruze LT, 145K, for the wife 08 Uplander LS, 280K, broken again 08 Explorer EB, 248K, backup work car still looking for another something |
Posted By: stanman
Date Posted: 17-July-2011 at 4:54PM
| I can't lay my hands on it right now, but I have an article from an old Popular Mechanics or similar from 1971 telling about the new 1972 Torino's. It said the 351C 4V heads had hardened valve seats. |
Posted By: GranTorinoSport
Date Posted: 19-July-2011 at 8:03PM
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I know my 71 F-250 heads did not have hardened seats in them - the unleaded fuel cupped the exhaust valve seats in about 30,000 miles. There were a ton of other problems with the heads, but certainly that did not help the situation. A complete head job which included new valves, hardened exhaust seats (only ones to worry about) and valve guides (and other extras) was just under $1100 at a very good machine shop. They were new heads at that time (4 months ago). ------------- Scott Eklund Webmaster |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 20-July-2011 at 6:13AM
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yes the exhaust seats are really the only ones need to have the hardened seats installed but you bet on my 69 429 I will have it done as I am gonna rebuild the whole motor and do performance mods so as the heads will already be having a valve job the seats will get done. Not worth burning up a set of heads.I don't know if they make that lead substitute additive anymore but I used it back in the early 90's when I ran unleaded in my Torino with a 74 351C 2v with 4bbl Carter AFB,Edelbrock Performer intake and Erson 290 duration cam as I was not taking a chance on ruining my heads |
Posted By: 73GTS
Date Posted: 22-July-2011 at 8:58AM
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Just run AV gas. It has lead in it. ------------- Jim |
Posted By: Rockatansky
Date Posted: 23-July-2011 at 12:24PM
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when unleaded first came out there was a problem but i'm pretty sure they have something in the fuel now to help the valve seats, probably been changed several times since
the 351C became the Q-code in 1971, prior to that the Q-code was a different engine
http://351cleveland.wetpaint.com/page/Q+Code+and+Cobra+Jets" rel="nofollow - http://351cleveland.wetpaint.com/page/Q+Code+and+Cobra+Jets
the Gasoline wiki says legislation began in 1973, but here
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070901142839AAQjE6X" rel="nofollow - http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070901142839AAQjE6X
they're saying that Amoco always sold unleaded? called White Gas ------------- 72 GT Ute |