Original 426 Hemi questions

[cool_breeze]

Hi everybody!
I recently got a '66 Dodge 426 street hemi and looking for some pointers.
I see older oil suggestions but nothing current. VR1, M1 TDT ..are they still good for this app?
Needs to be high in zinc but what about an additive.
whats a good zinc additive thats not too hard to find?

Last i was told, the car may need piston rings. Im wondering if i can run some of the magical stuff of valvoline restore and protect to see if they will help clear them out. My pops never really drove the car for years and mostly moved it around the neighborhood only.
Maybe some MMO down the bores for awhile and then an oil change. Or add some to the crankcase for a few drives.

Just looking for some input if my ideas are ok or terrible. thanks

 

[Nessism1]

The modern phenomenon of oil burning, traced to carbon fouled oil control rings, doesn't commonly apply to old engines from the 1960's. Those engines burned oil because of poor, or no, oil control at the valve stems, wear in the bores and pistons, and old tech one piece oil control rings. You can try some MMO, to see if it matters, but I suspect it won't have any effect on your muscle car there.

There are various high ZDDP oils on the market, appropriate for an engine like that. VR1 being one. There are boutique oils also, available from the likes of Penn, and others.

Good luck sorting out dad's old monster. Sounds like a fun project.

 

[Kira]

What model Dodge...an inaugural year Charger, perhaps?

 

[SC Maintenance]

The modern phenomenon of oil burning, traced to carbon fouled oil control rings, doesn't commonly apply to old engines from the 1960's. Those engines burned oil because of poor, or no, oil control at the valve stems, wear in the bores and pistons, and old tech one piece oil control rings. You can try some MMO, to see if it matters, but I suspect it won't have any effect on your muscle car there.

There are various high ZDDP oils on the market, appropriate for an engine like that. VR1 being one. There are boutique oils also, available from the likes of Penn, and others.

Good luck sorting out dad's old monster. Sounds like a fun project.

^^ All True.

Have someone start the car while you observe the exhaust. If it blows a good puff of blue smoke at cold startup its probably valves. If it throws a puff on acceleration under load its likely rings. Could be both.

Pics are always appreciated around here.

 

[Cujet]

MMO does not dissolve carbon and will not free up carbon fouled piston rings.

Berryman's B12 will.

Done correctly, a so-called piston soak has some chance of helping and won't hurt. It works well on piston aircraft engines, which are as old-school as humanly possible. Just make sure to remove all B12 and install fresh oil prior to cranking the engine over.

Post a few pics please!

 

[oldhp]

Or if it's going to be too much trouble, please sell it to me.

 

[OVERKILL]

Given the pedigree of this engine, I'd just reach out directly to @High Performance Lubricants and have them suggest a product. Though I do agree with others with respect to ascertaining where the oil burning is coming from, whether it's valve stem seals or rings.

Valvoline Restore and Protect is not designed for this type of application where higher levels of phosphorous may be required for adequate AW protection.

 

[02SE]

I know a bunch of people with original configuration 426 Hemi's. Most of them in street and occasional strip use, run Redline 15w50 with good results. I wouldn't add any additional additives.

I'd get fresh oil in it and drive it for awhile. Get the oil up to operating temp on the highway, and then put a load on it by stepping on it for short bursts. If it was just babied around the neighborhood, I could imagine it having some deposits gumming things up. Let the oil work on any potential deposits for a bit, to see if the engine runs better. I bet it will improve.

When they were built, they were expected to be raced, and rebuilt fairly often.

 

[addyguy]

That old monster needs a thick oil with lots of ZDDP, lots of octane, and a good bit of hard running to clean it out. They weren’t meant to be babied or driven gently all the time.
VR1 20W-50, or Castrol Classic 20W-50 would be good places to start. I’d imagine it needs, what, at least 100 octane fuel to not knock? LL100 avgas might be your best bet. I’m not sure OTC octane boosters will get you where you need to be.
As others have said…PICS!!