Leaded / Un-Leaded Help

I have just got my 1986 110 v8 back on the road after two years. Problem
is I can't seem to find leaded petrol for sale anymore.

Is it ok to run it on unleaded with a timing change or do the heads need
to be changed?

Any help would be appreciated.

Bryan

if you have a 110 then its most likely you have a low compression v8
fitted which will run all day long on unleaded .

i ran an ex 110 v8 in a range rover with an SD1 camshaft and SD1
electronic ignition fitted and all ran great on unleaded .

it all depends on what kind of distributor you have on the engine, ie
if its just a vacuum advance or if its a vacuum advance and retard
type .
the timing will need setting according to type of dizzy you have .

basically youll be looking at either 6degs advanced, top dead centre,
or 6 degs after top dead centre for static ignition timing but best way
to see which suit best is to check general performance and also idle
performance at one of these settings .

if ignition distributor is fitted with vacuum retard as well youll need
to set idle revs and advance together .

on some engines if you find revs dont drop at idle then timing needs to
be retarded more .

i had great fun sussing out my timing because there are at least 4
different variations of engine >ignition types i found details on and
the settings can make a lot of difference to performance .

vacuum retard types will have 2 hoses from dizzy advance unit, the rear
[retard] one will go to the inlet manifold centre front under carbs if
i remember correctly .

i think in end i ran 6 degs advanced at 850rpm idle speed and that ran
as smooth as anything and would pull in top gear from very low speeds ,
in fact would still pull at 500rpm , would run on unleaded all day and
could hammer engine flat out uphill and down and no pinking whatsoever
....

hope this helps

In message <[email protected]>
Mozzie <[email protected]> wrote:

> I have just got my 1986 110 v8 back on the road after two years. Problem
> is I can't seem to find leaded petrol for sale anymore.
>
> Is it ok to run it on unleaded with a timing change or do the heads need
> to be changed?
>
> Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Bryan

Except for some early Sd1 V8's the V8 has always had hardened valve
seats suitable for unleaded, so you'll have no problems going
unleaded. The timing will need adjusting a bit, but V8's being V8's
its a question trial and error to get it right for your particular
engine (or find a mechanic with a magic ear who can do it).

Richard
--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
Running a business in a Microsoft free environment - it can be done
Powered by Risc-OS - you won't get a virus from us!!
Helping keep Land Rovers on and off the road to annoy the Lib Dems

beamendsltd wrote:

> Except for some early Sd1 V8's the V8 has always had hardened valve
> seats suitable for unleaded, so you'll have no problems going
> unleaded. The timing will need adjusting a bit, but V8's being V8's
> its a question trial and error to get it right for your particular
> engine (or find a mechanic with a magic ear who can do it).
>
> Richard

Does that mean that if I wanted another P5B I'd be in trouble? Would
I have to source later heads and would they fit? I miss my old 3l P5
Coupe. Wonder if a P5B would tow my 2000kg trailer short distances...


--
Regards,
Danny

http://www.gaggia-espresso.com (a purely hobby site)
http://www.dannyscoffee.com (UK advert for my mobile espresso service)
http://www.malabargold.co.uk (UK/European online ordering for Malabar
Gold blend)
swap Z for above characters in email address to reply

In message <[email protected]>
Danny <[email protected]> wrote:

> beamendsltd wrote:
>
> > Except for some early Sd1 V8's the V8 has always had hardened valve
> > seats suitable for unleaded, so you'll have no problems going
> > unleaded. The timing will need adjusting a bit, but V8's being V8's
> > its a question trial and error to get it right for your particular
> > engine (or find a mechanic with a magic ear who can do it).
> >
> > Richard
>
> Does that mean that if I wanted another P5B I'd be in trouble? Would
> I have to source later heads and would they fit? I miss my old 3l P5
> Coupe. Wonder if a P5B would tow my 2000kg trailer short distances...
>
>

I'm sure if did a Google groups search you would find a group
that can give you the exact engine numbers - certainly a lot
of the car engines are suitable for unleaded, but which ones
I couldn't say.

Richard

--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
Running a business in a Microsoft free environment - it can be done
Powered by Risc-OS - you won't get a virus from us!!
Helping keep Land Rovers on and off the road to annoy the Lib Dems

On or around Wed, 15 Jun 2005 15:16:53 +0000 (UTC), beamendsltd
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>In message <[email protected]>
> Danny <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> beamendsltd wrote:
>>
>> > Except for some early Sd1 V8's the V8 has always had hardened valve
>> > seats suitable for unleaded, so you'll have no problems going
>> > unleaded. The timing will need adjusting a bit, but V8's being V8's
>> > its a question trial and error to get it right for your particular
>> > engine (or find a mechanic with a magic ear who can do it).
>> >
>> > Richard
>>
>> Does that mean that if I wanted another P5B I'd be in trouble? Would
>> I have to source later heads and would they fit? I miss my old 3l P5
>> Coupe. Wonder if a P5B would tow my 2000kg trailer short distances...
>>
>>
>
>I'm sure if did a Google groups search you would find a group
>that can give you the exact engine numbers - certainly a lot
>of the car engines are suitable for unleaded, but which ones
>I couldn't say.


fair bet that the P5B isn't though. Although running a 10.5:1 "old" (pre
SD1) V8 on LPG didn't result in valve problems.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.fsnet.co.uk my opinions are just that
"Quos deus vult perdere, prius dementat" Euripedes, quoted in
Boswell's "Johnson".

Austin Shackles wrote:

> fair bet that the P5B isn't though. Although running a 10.5:1 "old" (pre
> SD1) V8 on LPG didn't result in valve problems.

Fair 'nuff... But would it tow my trailer - it's got to weigh about
the same


--
Regards,
Danny

http://www.gaggia-espresso.com (a purely hobby site)
http://www.dannyscoffee.com (UK advert for my mobile espresso service)
http://www.malabargold.co.uk (UK/European online ordering for Malabar
Gold blend)
swap Z for above characters in email address to reply

On or around Wed, 15 Jun 2005 21:33:42 +0100, Danny
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>Austin Shackles wrote:
>
>> fair bet that the P5B isn't though. Although running a 10.5:1 "old" (pre
>> SD1) V8 on LPG didn't result in valve problems.
>
>Fair 'nuff... But would it tow my trailer - it's got to weigh about
>the same

don't see why not. I doubt, though, that a P5B is really a practical
proposition as an everyday workhorse now - lovely cars, though. ISTR they
used the Borg-Warner 35 auto gearbox, which is not a bad piece of kit but
not in the same league as the ZF 4HP22.

I spose, with a bit of effort, you could substitute a 3.9 RR + auto box;
which would give you about the same power output as the high-compression 3.5
did in the old days on 5* petrol.

dunno what axle the P5B ran.

--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.fsnet.co.uk my opinions are just that
"Quos deus vult perdere, prius dementat" Euripedes, quoted in
Boswell's "Johnson".

Austin Shackles wrote:

> don't see why not. I doubt, though, that a P5B is really a practical
> proposition as an everyday workhorse now - lovely cars, though. ISTR they
> used the Borg-Warner 35 auto gearbox, which is not a bad piece of kit but
> not in the same league as the ZF 4HP22.
>
> I spose, with a bit of effort, you could substitute a 3.9 RR + auto box;
> which would give you about the same power output as the high-compression 3.5
> did in the old days on 5* petrol.
>
> dunno what axle the P5B ran.
>

I had a lovely 3.0 (Westlake head) P5 coupe (1963) that I bought from
an auction 15 years ago and drove for 4 years. I loved it. At the
time there were still people making parts for them and it was my daily
driver. I only do 50 miles a week towing the trailer and have a bike
(Honda Blackbird) for personal transport...

I'm sure it's a pipe dream - I don't know if a P5B can be kept in
rust-free condition or if it can tow 2 tons for a few miles on the
level each day. The 110V8 was happy with the trailer.


--
Regards,
Danny

http://www.gaggia-espresso.com (a purely hobby site)
http://www.dannyscoffee.com (UK advert for my mobile espresso service)
http://www.malabargold.co.uk (UK/European online ordering for Malabar
Gold blend)
swap Z for above characters in email address to reply

In message <[email protected]>
Danny <[email protected]> wrote:

> Austin Shackles wrote:
>
> > don't see why not. I doubt, though, that a P5B is really a practical
> > proposition as an everyday workhorse now - lovely cars, though. ISTR they
> > used the Borg-Warner 35 auto gearbox, which is not a bad piece of kit but
> > not in the same league as the ZF 4HP22.
> >
> > I spose, with a bit of effort, you could substitute a 3.9 RR + auto box;
> > which would give you about the same power output as the high-compression 3.5
> > did in the old days on 5* petrol.
> >
> > dunno what axle the P5B ran.
> >
>
> I had a lovely 3.0 (Westlake head) P5 coupe (1963) that I bought from
> an auction 15 years ago and drove for 4 years. I loved it. At the
> time there were still people making parts for them and it was my daily
> driver. I only do 50 miles a week towing the trailer and have a bike
> (Honda Blackbird) for personal transport...
>
> I'm sure it's a pipe dream - I don't know if a P5B can be kept in
> rust-free condition or if it can tow 2 tons for a few miles on the
> level each day. The 110V8 was happy with the trailer.
>
>

I'm sure the engine will cope - it's the rest of the car than might be
a problem. What is the max train weight for a P5B? That will give
you your answer.

Richard

--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
Running a business in a Microsoft free environment - it can be done
Powered by Risc-OS - you won't get a virus from us!!
Helping keep Land Rovers on and off the road to annoy the Lib Dems

m0bcg wrote:
> if you have a 110 then its most likely you have a low compression v8
> fitted which will run all day long on unleaded .
>
> i ran an ex 110 v8 in a range rover with an SD1 camshaft and SD1
> electronic ignition fitted and all ran great on unleaded .
>
> it all depends on what kind of distributor you have on the engine, ie
> if its just a vacuum advance or if its a vacuum advance and retard
> type .
> the timing will need setting according to type of dizzy you have .
>
> basically youll be looking at either 6degs advanced, top dead centre,
> or 6 degs after top dead centre for static ignition timing but best way
> to see which suit best is to check general performance and also idle
> performance at one of these settings .
>
> if ignition distributor is fitted with vacuum retard as well youll need
> to set idle revs and advance together .
>
> on some engines if you find revs dont drop at idle then timing needs to
> be retarded more .
>
> i had great fun sussing out my timing because there are at least 4
> different variations of engine >ignition types i found details on and
> the settings can make a lot of difference to performance .
>
> vacuum retard types will have 2 hoses from dizzy advance unit, the rear
> [retard] one will go to the inlet manifold centre front under carbs if
> i remember correctly .
>
> i think in end i ran 6 degs advanced at 850rpm idle speed and that ran
> as smooth as anything and would pull in top gear from very low speeds ,
> in fact would still pull at 500rpm , would run on unleaded all day and
> could hammer engine flat out uphill and down and no pinking whatsoever
> ...
>
> hope this helps
>
Thanks for this, exactly the information i needed.
Bryan