I notice a need of octane for the slant . Runs on 87 but not a happy camper
91 to 93 Sunoco is this the deal or can they be tuned to be less finicky

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Rediscovering what has been forgotten by many
the slant 6

In a stock engine 87 octane should be fine. If your engine doesn't run well on 87 octane there is something else wrong. Gasoline brand shouldn't matter enough to change the way the engine runs noticeably.

If the engine was stock and new then 87 would be fine. If you have any oil bypassing the rings and getting in the chamber it will reduce the effective octane and help it ping more. If you have a stock distributor, getting it recurved to match the drivetrain would help as well. If this is a hi-po build, then checking the cam phasing with the DCR calculator will tell you what octane will be required by your engine....

You might also have to check your damper mark, timing chain, distributor to rule out the usual, and check the plugs for fouling.

Runs good as it's rite out of the box , Meaning - all I've done is an oil change
& the truck received little use in it's life . Particular the last 2 years .
The idle has a little burble sound kinda like a mis but I don't really know how a slant is supposed to sound at idle . It's takes off well , runs strong /smooth but 87 it will ping under a lug in gears . So for now I run 93 with no ping & runs way better . On a hot day 87 is very noticeably not a good fuel choice . It seems to use some oil , one qt after 1200 miles .
I'm getting to know the truck .
My routine is no use from Monday to Thursday Friday to Sunday I scrap
& I will rush around as best a stock slant will do. Like today I completed a clean out by 2:15 & had to get to yard by 3:30 . I had a 45 mile ride 20 of them mountain roads . We made it in time & 93 octane for now till I work
out the kinks

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Rediscovering what has been forgotten by many
the slant 6

I would check your base timing, check for vacuum leaks, and check if your vibration damper is still accurately showing TDC. What year is your truck? Does it have lean burn?

Pinging could happen even with 85% ethanol (100++ octane) if the mixture is way too lean. What does the spark plug set indicate? If these are "clean" or "white" it could be the reason pinging when hot.

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1966 Dart. 170 cu.in. 200 rwhp.

The truck is 1985 I know they had been putting in lean burn systems in
Dodges around 1978.
Mine does have the telltale device in fender, behind the battery, I'd expect it to be an expensive project to undo . So soon enough I need check your tune up tips


http://www.slantsix.org/articles/leanbu ... rticle.htm

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Rediscovering what has been forgotten by many
the slant 6

Ah. If you have a lean-burn system then that is likely the cause of the pinging and poor running. The absolute best and cheapest thing you can do to make your truck run better is switch to a non-lean burn electronic ignition system (I highly recommend the HEI ignition swap) and switch to a non-lean-burn carburetor.

In the short term, here are scans from a factory service manual telling you how to troubleshoot and maintain a lean-burn system.

When I go to the scrap yard I get receipt slips . This truck put me back in the Money. I like how it's low to the ground for easy loading. The fuel economy
in terms of it's use as a work truck is Perfect !!
Each trip to the yard delvers cash that some is used as a business expense the main need is FUEL & spending $6 per week more for 93 is completely worth it . If it compensates for issues wile creating an environment of great performance - I'm all in - I mentioned Sunoco previous cause they have 93 some stations have 91 or 92 why pay same for less . I tried a non ethanol 91 but felt the performance was no better then a 93 .

From looking at diagrams i can see that previous owner has certain lean burn wires not connected .I can also see a vacuum hose to carburetor from canister is gone but carb has no vacuum leaks
( I suspect some back yard fixes )
My slant six's dependability bottom line is , It's my ROCK .
I may dream of the replacements to remove the lean burn but for the moment the truck is doing what owners loved 32 years ago making money for them & Getting work done .
For now - I must say with some HUMILITY the above tech info
I am not there yet with full understanding .

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Rediscovering what has been forgotten by many
the slant 6