I'm thinking about picking up a 1970 #'s matching LT1 and want to know if I will be able to run high octane gas in it without any problems.

 

My concern would be whether or not you will be able to get HIGH ENOUGH octane.
I just finished restoring my 68 coupe, all original with L79 factory small block (350HP) and the highest octane I can get is 93 and it pings no matter what we have tried with timing, vacuum advance, etc.
I have owned this car sine 1972 and I formerly ran Sunoco 260 but it is no longer available. My car, and I would think your LT1, need high octane. I found that I can make the pinging go away by buying racing fuel (101 octane $5.75 per gallon) and mixing 2 gallons per tankful with the 93 octane and it raises it enough to be able to drive it without pinging. I tried Octane Boosters and they do not work. Everyone on this forum warned me of this but I had to try them anyway. I do not remember what the compression ratio is on the LT1 with 370 horsepower but if it is high, it will probably require high octane fuel to run properly.
I live in Massachusetts and the highest octane I have been able to find is 93, you may have better luck in your area.
Good luck, the LT1 is a nice car.
Kurt

 

If I remember correctly, the 70 LT-1 was 11.0 to 1. What a beast. One of the best C3's.

 

My 68 is also 11 to 1 and that's the problem.
The high compression motors need the high octane that is no longer available.
Kurt

 

The Stock 70 LT-1 has 11:1 compression pistons and iron heads with non hardened valve seats. Running 93 octane no lead is not advised and will eventially do damage. I do on rare occasions but baby it all the way.

Bullshark

 

By me, you can find it if you look for it.

There's 3 places within a few miles that sell 101-110 octane.

It's not on every street corner, but she sure does like 110....

 

I had a chat once with a guy who was leaving the dragstrip as I was entering. He did not even come to race! He only stopped by to gas up his 70 LT-1 with racegas! Is it possible to back off the timing a bit and run with premium unleaded?

 

93-94 should work. However the 100+ is always a treat for those engines. If it`s a nice car, buy it as it`s the last of top HP small blocks. After 1970, the HP started to drop in all of the C3 SB`s

 

Do a search--this was discussed a while ago--I use a product called Max 2000--it's basically tetraethel lead--it boosts octane and as far as my case eliminates pinging--even after a little hard running.

SEMPER FI--1970 Dave

 

Where can you buy Racing Gas, other than at a racetrack?

 

Tetra Ethyl Lead Octane boost sold by Kemco
http://kemcoindustries.com/product_info.php?pId=61

You can get your octane where you want it to be, with the added benefit of valve seat lubrication from the lead. Works fine, just be careful handling it. Lead in any form is toxic.

 

Avijay...

Your gonna need race fuel if its still a 11:1 motor.

Just got finished restoring my 70 LT-1, rebuilt motor to original specs, it's a beast compared to my 71 LT-1.

I'm able to buy 111 octane/leaded and mix it with the 93 premium/unleaded at the pump, runs awesome and no pinging. Smells really good too !

I got lucky as we have a station nearby that sells/distributes this stuff (link attached) http://www.rockettbrand.com/

Check out their website, they have a listing of dealers by state, they maybe have one near you.

Its pretty expensive by the gallon (nearing $5), but mixing it with the 93 I can get at the pump gets me close to about 104 octane or so I figure...car seems to runs great on this mix.

Only problem (at least here in WI) you can't pump it directly into your car (its against the law), so I fill up (6) 5gal cans and take 30 gal home and fill up my 30 gal fuel storage tank in the garage and hand pump/mix into the car at home when I need it....safe and secure!

Send some pics out of the 70 LT-1 if you get it! You know you gotta buy if its a straight car and the real deal! (especially if it has paperwork to prove it).

Hope this helps

Chuck

 

In Michigan you can buy Turbo Blue 110 octane leaded at Sunoco Stations. I put about 8 gallons of Turbo & fill the rest with regular unleaded. My 70 L46 loves it. 11 t0 1 compression too.

Fred

 

You really might want to consider the Octane 130 stuff from Kemco. It's not snake oil like most of the octane boost stuff. Tetra Ethyl Lead is what was used in leaded gasoline to increase octane since the 1920's....and what was taken out in the 80's and 90's. You may be too young to remember, but I remember premium gas in the 60's and 70's was actually called Ethyl and was written on a lot of gas pumps. TEL (tetra ethyl lead) is exactly why! It's why aviation gas is called 110 LL or Low Lead....because they are adding tetra ethyl lead back in for octane and valve lubrication on older aircraft engines.

If you pump 93 octane and want 104 octane, you just add 6 ounces per gallon when you fill it up. It comes in 32 ounce bottles so it's much easier to carry around than several gas cans of race fuel. Plus it gives you flexibility to take the vette on longer drives and refuel when you need to without worrying about finding high octane stuff in strange places. There's a mix ratio matrix right on the label so it's easy to calculate. The highest boost they show is a 16 point increase, but that's adding a 32 ounce bottle to each two gallons of fuel. But if you NEED 109 octane, you can get there!

If you have any doubts, do some quick searches on tetra ethyl lead and read up on it. I did a lot of research before I bought a couple of cases. It's definitely the real deal.

 

68 Vert

Good tip....I'm gonna give the Kemco 130 Booster a try!

 

same here

i normally run the lead susbtitute, (makes a definate differece) and the 104 octaine boost ( may or may not be doing anything, but i use it anyway)


this stuff sounds like a step up


great tip

 

68Vertible,
Good information and thank you for providing it. I also was interested in the OS130 from Kemco but wanted the opinion of someone like you, who has actually used it, so I could determine if it was any better than the snake oil the local auto parts was trying to sell me.
I will order some of this stuff and hope that it cures my problem so I can finally enjoy this car without worrying about damage.
Thank you
Kurt

 

Kurt,

That's the same stuff (different name) that I showed you when you were at my place. It does work and should help you out.

Paul

 

Fast73........ Sometimes you can find a HighPerformance engine shop that carries the stuff. (I know for example of a place close to me over in Alpharetta GA that has it).......... but, RoadAtlanta is only 25miles away so that ain't too bad.

 

Paul,
Good to hear from you.
I didn't remember the name of what you showed me.
I am going to try it and see what happens.
Have a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend.
Kurt