SuperEd73 , that sounds like a fun car to have
- any more details ? Always thought highly of that year and that engine . Well, I'm digressing . As to the other yes , you are on the right track as is dwendt44's first post - thats definitely part of it - although on this one I think those rules are a little severe .
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I keep hearing conflicting information on this one from various sources.
Yep , esp. from the Chevy , Ford and now the Import guys who now are collecting Mopar .
What pray tell , have you been hearing ?
Is this by any chance about potental valve/valve seat recession with unleaded fuel ?
If so , this is not as simple a subject with 60s Mopar as it is with '60s everything else .
Thats not a bad thing , but rather , a good thing although with the internet and I guess the passage of time its now all 'confused up', if you follow .
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I have a 1968 Dodge Polara with a 383 under the hood. I've been running the engine on Premium since I purchased it.
How long have you had it ? Do you happen to know what the PO was running ? Is this a two door ?
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I have the timing set to factory specs and no pinging whatsoever.
No surprise on this one . Does this include the UCL ?
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Does anybody know if this engine would need some form of lead substitute added to the tank?
Well , the short answer on this specific 383 'B' block build from this specific year is it depends - its a little more variable than most .
Again not a bad thing - you have more possible outcomes and choices in a sense from superior metallurgy and some other things so its a little more complicated than some others .
From the sounds of it you definitely don't need it for preignition and detonation avoidance - assuming your mechanical and vacuum advance are stock (or better ) and working properly .
In only general terms if you've got what your manual specs for an advance curve up thru about 32 - 38 degrees dialed in by anywhere between 1400 - 2400 rpm you are definitely ok and are not stuck with a reverse set of cheater springs on the mechanical portion or something similiar in effect on the vaccum side ie unecc. additional spark advance 'retard' .
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I believe I read that Lucas UCL can function as a replacement to the missing lead but I'm looking for some guidance. I'm also thinking about running a seafoam treatment to clean out the intake manifold/combustion chambers.
In the meantime Lucas UCL is yes , a real good idea - in more ways than one , and it definitely won't hurt anything . Right now for no particular reason the oldy and junior we have here ( all Mopar ) are for summer being doped with basically a 1/2 dose of UCL combined with a 5/8 dose of STABIL on one and MMO/100 LL AvGas with a little pump premium on the other which is working well enough in both cases .
Same thing with the Seafoam ( done correctly ) , although I usually prefer steam .
So , SuperEd73 , have you done the more manly '68 Mopar things here such as adjusting your torsion bars for your own fancy , favorite 'road course' and local area road crown ?
Checked the driver's side lugnut torque ?