1977 3/4 ton Camper Special... leaded or unleaded fuel?

[bluto1all]

Hi all... new here... my first post other than in the New Member Intro section.

Got a quick question.  I have a 1977 Camper Special (8400 GVW) and when I bought it, it did not have a catalytic converter.  I figured it'd just been cut off over the years, but thanks to this site I now know that indeed from 1975-77 the 6001+ GVW trucks did NOT come with cats!  Great news!  My question though is... since these trucks didn't come with cats... did they then use regular "leaded" fuel back in the day?  My gas tank nozzle does not have the typical unleaded restrictor set into it.  Again, at first I thought someone had just removed it to run regular back in the day... but now I am thinking maybe (like the cat) it never had one?

It has an aftermarket 2nd gas tank and this one does not have it either.

Thanks for the help.

[ehjorten]

I believe unleaded fuel began around 1973.  Your '77 would not have been designed to run on leaded.  Even so you can run a leaded engine on unleaded.  It will slowly erode and pit the valve seats, but that is about it.  Of course you have to make sure you have enough octane rating for whatever dynamic compression you are running.

The '77 also did not have any sort of plate inside of the fill neck.  No problem for those gas stations without the compressible tube over the nozzle, but for the ones that do have it, you have to stand there and hold the nozzle in position and depending on the shape of the nozzle you might have to hold it at just the right angle, cross your eyes and stick-out your tongue to get it to fill at a decent rate and not puke gas all down the side of your truck! 

[daschlag]

Yup my '77 runs on unleaded.

[78 Chevyrado]

Your fuel gauge should not say "unleaded fuel only".  The one on my 78 C20 does not say that and it didnt come with cats either or the restrictors at the fuel tank fill.   

I don't think leaded is required because they were phasing it out at the time.  I don't think it's required, just you can use either one.  

[Lt.Del]

don't sweat it--even if it was a leaded engine.  I drive my '65 Mustang Convertible GT often.  They didn't even think of unleaded back then.  

[ccz145a]

I found it odd at the time that unleaded fuel cost more... lead was an additive. It was added to the gas at the refinery. So you paid more for something they did not have to put in. Go figure.

[topp]

I found it odd at the time that unleaded fuel cost more... lead was an additive. It was added to the gas at the refinery. So you paid more for something they did not have to put in. Go figure.

Like today, just another way to make us all pay more for a product.

[ccz145a]

My 75 454 +6001gvw leaded motor with no cats has hardened seats. My machinest says they all did when unleaded became a possibility. Guess there was less chance to put the wrong engine in the wrong vehicle that way.

[bluto1all]

Thanks everyone.  Indeed my fuel gauge does NOT say "Unleaded" on it... but I do suspect that the engine was built from the factory with hardened seat so that either could be run in it during those transitional years where unleaded was introduced into the national fuel supply.

Regardless, my main concern was more whether or not I'd be able to get it thru inspection here in Phoenix without the cats or the fuel neck restrictor.  Phoenix has very strict emissions testing, etc.

Anyway, it looks like my biggest issue will just be getting the carb set up right to pass emissions.  I am sure it is running very rich right now, so it'll need some tweaking.

[Irish_Alley]

i think if the vehicle doesn’t have cats (from the factory) its emissions exsempt. around here at least

[bluto1all]

I wish... but here in Maricopa County (ie, Phoenix) they are complete emissions nazis!  1967 and newer have to be emissions tested.  It's stupid beyond stupid.

But, since it didn't come with a factory cat (which I originally thought it did and would have to replace) and since it didn't come with an unleaded fuel requirement and the fill neck restrictor (which I thought it did and would have to repair) then all I really have to do is make its got all the underhood emissions crap and get it to pass the sniffer test.  May be easier said than done though...   Luckily I know a couple of good mechanics that can probably tweak it just right for me.  Still... what a pain.

Certainly am glad I don't have to buy/install a cat and fix the fill neck though... that's a relief.

[beastie_3]

wow and i thought california was bad. its 75 and older-dont need smog checks. but every vehicle still needs original smog equipment, they just dont check.

[Irish_Alley]

Around here if a truck is above a certain GVW then no emissions testing. If it’s above that weight also no cats