No credentials for the folks in <
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-395658.html >; but,
one poster says that auto store products are mostly legit--only the
decimal point is in a different place.  "Four points" of boost means
that it raises octane from 87 to 87.4.  Thread also has a formula for
adding bulk xylene or toluene to gasoline--remember that xylene attacks
some plastics and toluene is toxic.  As a kid I breathed a lot of
toluene cleaning engines (perhaps the reason I'm senile 55 years later).

Here's a Brit thread < http://www.theaa.com/allaboutcars/fuel/LRP.html >
that contains less environmental emotion on the lead topic and it offers
some substitute products.  I hadn't realized that the Brits were a
couple of decades behind us in making a universal move to
stellite/hardened valve seats.  If you opt for a manganese product, it
might be available in Canada as they are more tolerant of manganese
additives that we are in the U.S.

 ...PJ

There have been some comparison tests done(on the net if you search)
using various brands of booster, gas octane mixing and av gas cutting.
The "points" of increase that the "octane boosters" give are in
"tenths". In other words, if a bottle of the stuff is claming 3 points
increase in octane at a given mix ratio, you will go from 91.0 to 91.3,
so now compare what you got for your dollar.

All the good stuff disappeared 20-25 years ago because of EPA regulations.
The lead you get is so miniscule that nothing happens except the seller gets
rich.

You will be dollars ahead to simply locate some real higher octane racing
fuel and mix a bit of it even at the $5, $6, or $7 a gallon it will run. If
I remember right, I think you said once you were in NJ. With Flemington
Racetrack and Englishtown basically in distance to most, there have to be
some racers around who can tell you where to find racing gas or could
probably be talked into hauling you back 5 or 10 gallons from their weekend
at the track.

A gallon of 114 leaded racing will bring 10 gallons of 94 up to roughly 96
octane.

That is more than adequate for your 427 if it is stock.  The octane
requirements in your owners book are Research numbers. Today's octane is
R+M, which is the average of Research and Motor combined. So if the gas was
87 Motor and 93 Research, you'd have 90 R+M today.  So 94 R+M that you are
using is equivalent to around 97 Research.  Unless you are running the 12.5
to 1 engine, you should be fine on 97 Research.

If you are getting pinging, then likely the ignition is not set right.  That
is not just the initial timing, but the entire curve. Check your total
timing, how the curve comes in, and so on.

Lead is highly overrated.

In the typical lead-era small block and big block, if it would go 100,000
miles before having to do a valve job, then it will go roughly 75-80,000 on
the unlead, based on stock spring pressures and proper valve adjustment.
Wrong springs and too loose of adjustment will destroy the heads much faster
than no lead.

How long will it take you to put 75,000 miles on your Corvette?

I use a lead substitute in my '66 Elky on occasion.  Why not just use
that?
--
lab~rat  >:-)
Do you want polite or do you want sincere?