I'm trying to restore a 1956 Willy jeep 4x4 pickup with a 6 cylinder hurricane engine, my question is, would it be ok to uses today's gasoline to run the hurricane engine or uses a different fuel?
That's a low-compression engine by today's standards so octane should not be a problem. However if the engine is still original with its soft metal valve seats you might want to use a lead additive periodically to extend valve life. (When rebuild time comes, go with hardened valve seats and you won't have to worry about it.) If the fuel system has not been gone through since the advent of ethanol-laced gasoline you'll want to make sure you have ethanol-resistant fuel lines, fuel pump, and carb internals.
Chuck!
I knew this one would make you sit up and take notice!
Back in the stone age, you could buy aviation fuel that was loaded with lead. Some of the old car guys would put a few gallons in the tank, then top off with non ethanol. Here in Citrus County Florida, I can get racing fuel that is also loaded with lead.
Those are cool trucks! As I recall the Hurricane inline six engine in that is an "F-Head" design with intake valve in the head and exhaust valve in the block. (A halfway OHV conversion of an old flathead design.) As I recall the basic block of that engine was the basis for the first mass-produced overhead-cam six in the U.S., which was not Pontiac's but the Jeep "Tornado" engine.
If I ever win the power ball. I'm gonna start making Rambler Americans and Studebaker larks again.
I could go for that!
