What gas are you running in your 1968's

Just picked up a stock 1968 Buick Skylark, 350, 2bbl with 76,820 on the clock. No build sheet so I have to figure out what I got although I only pulled rear seat and haven't looked up under the gas tank yet.

Filled it up with regular 87 octane and it ran on highway home to NY from PA like a charm.

What octane are you guys running, since 87 is not always available at reputable stations out my way and are you putting any "lead" additive in the tank on fill-ups. If so, what kind of additive?

TIA

and God Bless Da Net for giving us the resources we didn't have back in da olden days of enthusiasts:TU:

 

Octane

Jim,

For the stock 350-2 the 87 octane should be fine. If you start changing things, like a 4 barrel, headers , etc. you should be fine with a 91 or 92 octance.

I've been running 92 octane Amoco premium unleaded for years in my '69 GS and have never had a problem. I do not run any lead additives as I've heard the nickel content in Buick heads is high enough that you don't have to worry about the valve seats.

 

I personally think that if you're not hearing knock and ping with 87 octane, then your timing is retarded.

The lowest I'd EVER go with that car is 89.

Just my $.02

 

89 is what I'll be running since that is the what is sold at local reputable stations.

I'll see about the timing when I do an HEI conversion. Good point; but, nonetheless I was pleased as could be with lack of ping, knock ... on the raod trip back.

 

Jim,
Welcome aboard,congradulations on your "new Buick". What part of the Island are you on? I'm in W.Babylon:TU: . We don't need no steeenkin additives!:Smarty:

 

Rockville Centre, keep and eye out for this one. :grin:




if link is still up. Just picked it up.

 

http://images.traderonline.com/img/10/plcnad/2410852/47366730_1.jpg

Thats the image, its huge in size, so thats just the link, I'll resize in a minute and post it here.



Looks very good, and the price was way good too!!

( http://adcache.collectorcartraderonline.com/10/3/0/47366730.htm )

Back on topic, I run 93 with octane boost in my '70, but I also do that to curb a detonation issue related to heat, (its fine, as long as I run the heater all the time... which means I can run more timing, too :Brow: )... the guy that had it before me ran 87 with the same timing Ive got with no issues, though.

 

i run bp 93 in my 68 special...it's got a 350-2 in need of a tune up, so once i get the timing set, the carb tuned, etc. maybe i could run lower octane, but... o No:

scott

 

I just picked up the car this Wed past and am learning about all the sites and groups. I just saw Buick Performance Group links and will probably pursue it further. This seems to be the best site for my purpose and I will make it my second home along with www.camaroz28.com

With four children my weekends are devoted to baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse this time of year. Thanks for the heads up.

S-K is right down street from me and one of my favorite local hangouts along with J&B Automotive here in town. Joe at J&B has a nine second 66 F-85 that I can stand around and admire all day long.

I think I'll stick with the local Mobil regular unleaded which turns out to be 87 octane and add a lil lead additive occasionally.

 

Did any of you found the built sheet ? If so , where was it ?

I run with regular gaz and haven't notice any particular trouble . but how many fill with "premium" gaz is needed to see any diference (improvement)?

Regular gaz price here is +/- 80 litre (aprox 3,20 gallon) and "premium" is +- 88 ,if their is no major improvement i'll keep regular gaz in my 350-2 .

See ya !

 

Jim. Welcome to the V8 Board. You just bought 1 pretty skylark ! My 68 LeSabre has the 350-2 with 44k on the clock. I run Shell high octane and add fuel lead attitive. In 68 "GM" claimed it needed regular gas. I feel todays fuel is Garbage . After all the $$$ i have in this car i don't need a calculator to decide which gas i will put in my Buick !! Good Luck and again Welcome !:beer :TU: :TU:

 

build sheet

> Did any of you found the built sheet ? If so , where was it ?

i've looked under the back seat, but...the "esteemed previous owner" (the same one who rewired the dash using the strip and twist method--no wire nuts--and tied the wipers to the blower, if that gives an idea of the sarcasm level in the quotes) at some point removed the seat and put it back in without fastening it in any way, so who knows what may have been there originally...haven't had a chance to check under the gas tank yet though...

scott

ps: i did meet a guy who claims to have owned the car before the "esteemed prev owner" and he claims to have the build sheet, but this meeting happened on april fools day, so who knows--i haven't heard from him since... :blast:

 

Re: Re: What gas are you running in your 1968's

I just found my build sheet under drivers side of bench seat in springs.

 

The Skylark 350-2 would have had lower compression than a 350-4 engine. 9:1 in the 350-2 and 10.25:1 in the 350-4. The 68 book does state that regular is recommended for the 350-2 and premium for the 350-4. I run 92 octane from Tesoro (BP) in my GS, and have 32deg total timing. No lead additives, I have a 71 block and 72 heads. Rebuilder before I owned it did the hardened seat conversion, but I don't believe it is needed, due to the high nickel content of the Buick heads.

 

DING, DING, DING, WE HAVE A WINNER.

One year later and under a regular maintenance schedule we just changed out the plugs, wires were good, put in nice brass contact ingnition pieces, adjusted carb and bumped up timing from 0 deg. initial to 4 deg.!

I reckon we'll run medium grade starting now! :grin:

good observation from afar sbbuick.

I can also say now, one year later, and a big thank you to those who responded to this thread. After a year I can see most of you are the stalwarts of the site.