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Hot Rods Octane Ratings

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by TCATTC, Mar 3, 2021.

  1. TCATTC
    Joined: Oct 12, 2019
    Posts: 283

    TCATTC
    Member

    Does anyone remember the octane rating of "Regular" and "High Test" fuel in the early 60's ?
     
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  2. RmK57
    Joined: Dec 31, 2008
    Posts: 2,659

    RmK57
    Member

    Premium would be in the lower-mid 90's but used tetraethyl lead additive to reduce knock.
     
  3. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,861

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    It depended a bit on what brand you bought. When I was driving my 51 Merc with the flathead in high school as long as the pump said "gas" on it it ran just as well on the cheap stuff as it did on the spendy stuff. My 55 Buick with the Super engine in it (Special with an engine swap) was another story. It wanted premium and was a bit picky about who's premium at times. It sure didn't run worth a hoot on my grandfather's farm gas.
     
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  4. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,934

    squirrel
    Member

    It also depended on what rating system you use to get the numbers. they've changed over the years...used to be a Motor number, and Research number, and the modern numbers are an average of the two.
     

  5. yea and it was .25 a gallon same as a pack of cigs..........
     
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  6. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 31,177

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

  7. A9805812-A8EB-4553-8488-93204DC31465.jpeg In 1968, I was a young man of 21 years of age;I bought a 68 Plymouth Road Runner from a dealer in Temple.Texas;paid $2842.80 driveout. Super Shell 104 octane was $0.25 per gallon. Nobody cared your Road Runner, 396 Chevelle,Pontiac GTO, etc got 10-12 mpg; nobody cared!!!
     
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  8. egads
    Joined: Aug 23, 2011
    Posts: 1,419

    egads
    Member

    Don't know the octane rating but how many remember the Sunoco dail-a-matic pump's? [​IMG]?
     
  9. Elcohaulic
    Joined: Dec 27, 2017
    Posts: 2,212

    Elcohaulic

    Premium 100 to 110 octane, Regular 92-92.. However, this was due to a very dangerous lead additive.. I think todays gasoline is better so long as the engine was built around the octane to be used..
    Remember pulling plugs at least once a week to clean the lead deposits off them or they would short and screw the timing up..
     
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  10. This is very close. I worked for Standard Oil in the late '60s/early 70s and IIRC Chevron (regular) was 93, Chevron Supreme was 99, and Chevron Custom Supreme (white pump) was 105. These numbers could vary from place to place and even season as the mixes were semi-tailored to local conditions. These were all research octane numbers, not the lower motor octane.
     
  11. Budget36
    Joined: Nov 29, 2014
    Posts: 13,173

    Budget36
    Member

    And I recall it was full service too.
     
  12. Chicster
    Joined: Aug 5, 2018
    Posts: 313

    Chicster
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    1. Missouri H.A.M.B.ers

    And if you filled up you got a glass, get a oil change and you got the pitcher to match the glasses.
     
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  13. greybeard360
    Joined: Feb 28, 2008
    Posts: 2,074

    greybeard360
    Member

    If you were pulling plugs once a week to clean them it was way too rich or burning oil.

    Exactly how does a fouled plug change the ignition timing? Answer: It can't.
     
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  14. Jmountainjr
    Joined: Dec 29, 2006
    Posts: 1,672

    Jmountainjr
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I remember pulling my '55 Chevy into the Sunoco station and filling the tank with 260. It kept the 301 running strong.
     
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  15. Truck64
    Joined: Oct 18, 2015
    Posts: 5,325

    Truck64
    Member
    from Ioway

    Steak knives!
     
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  16. Flat Six Fix
    Joined: Feb 6, 2010
    Posts: 1,270

    Flat Six Fix
    Member

    Tiger Tail, ESSO put a tiger in your tank. A whole differn kinna tale....lol
     
  17. hotrodjack33
    Joined: Aug 19, 2019
    Posts: 4,128

    hotrodjack33
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    And S & H Green stamps:D
     
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  18. jetnow1
    Joined: Jan 30, 2008
    Posts: 2,152

    jetnow1
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from CT
    1. A-D Truckers

    And we checked your oil, tire pressure, cleaned windshield, rear window and lights.
     
  19. and had 8 seconds to respond to bell going off or you were fired, all for a buck an hr. and closed the station down 6 days a week at 12 pm......... but did get to use the racks after work for my own use that was worth the min wage gig............
     
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  20. I pumped alot of gallons after school from one of those at the Sunoco station. At the other end of town was the Texaco with Fire Chief regular and Sky Chief high test. In the center of town was the American station and they had the little circles that spun around when the gas was pumped. Any regular was$.26 a gallon.
     
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  21. TCATTC
    Joined: Oct 12, 2019
    Posts: 283

    TCATTC
    Member

    I believe the Gulf stations called theirs Good Gulf and No Nox
     
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  22. 31hotrodguy
    Joined: Oct 29, 2013
    Posts: 2,698

    31hotrodguy
    Member

    Although I have never heard of this issue i think he was referring to the deposits causing issues with the spark because of the electrical conductivity of the lead.


    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
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  23. Rusty O'Toole
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 9,657

    Rusty O'Toole
    Member

    B/A station in small town Canada mid sixties, regular was 88 hi test was Super 98. I always thought that was the octane. Blue Sunoco 103 octane. All gas was leaded back then, we also sold naptha gas for blow torches, coleman lanterns and stoves, it had no additives.
     
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  24. hotrodjack33
    Joined: Aug 19, 2019
    Posts: 4,128

    hotrodjack33
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    And you could get a pair of vacuum-formed (orangish brown) horseshoes to put on your car:)
     
    Last edited: Mar 3, 2021
  25. Truck64
    Joined: Oct 18, 2015
    Posts: 5,325

    Truck64
    Member
    from Ioway

    I thought I read Amoco sold unleaded back in the day? By that I mean long before TEL was banned for automotive use.

    I wish they still sold "White Gas" for stoves and lanterns, it's well north of $12 a gallon now. Why, I'm not sure, it's 50 octane first cut Naptha with no additives. Seems like it should cost less than auto gas, at least wholesale.
     
  26. mountainman2
    Joined: Sep 16, 2013
    Posts: 336

    mountainman2
    Member

    Don't forget Gulftane! :rolleyes:
     
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  27. Pete1
    Joined: Aug 23, 2004
    Posts: 2,253

    Pete1
    Member
    from Wa.

    Ah yes, the good ol' dayz when av gas came in 4 colors and was only a nickle more than "white pump".
     
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  28. TCATTC
    Joined: Oct 12, 2019
    Posts: 283

    TCATTC
    Member

    I have some of those somewhere
     
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  29. Rusty O'Toole
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 9,657

    Rusty O'Toole
    Member

    I was talking about the gas stations I worked at, I don't think they sold Amoco around here. Unleaded gas was a new thing in the 70s, they had special pumps for it at first.
     
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  30. Dave G in Gansevoort
    Joined: Mar 28, 2019
    Posts: 2,598

    Dave G in Gansevoort
    Member
    from Upstate NY

    Amoco white gas late 60s early 70s was about 100 octaneby the method they used then (motor I believe). No lead, but there was another additive that wasn't too good for us either, however it didn't foul plugs. It was the recommended gasoline for 2 stroke engines, as it had adequate detonation/ping resistance, and as 2 strokes didn't need the TEL to protect valves and seats it was good for most purposes. Add a little Fuel Activator to boost octane for racing snowmobiles (well a lot actually, a whole bottle per 5 gallons...) and good to go.
     

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