OK so it's not a TVR

[simpo one]

Regrettably I have to sell my mother's car. As the complete antithesis to a TVR, it is a 1985 Peugot 1.1XR. It was designed to run on leaded petrol and did so perfectly. But since that was extinguished by the EU, it has been forced to eat either unleaded or LRP. Both cause significant pinking under any load, and apparently the engine 'can't be modified' to run on unleaded. What do the members of PH suggest can be used to stop it pinking long enough to sell? Should I bung in some octane booster or is there a better way?

[Dave_H]

Castrol do a lead replacement and octane booster additive - I've heard good things about it.

I'm sure Halfords sell it.

[Roadrunner]

Tut, tut. I think you should give it away for charideee, mate.

[Roadrunner]

Second thoughts, pop a bean can on it and put an ad in MaxP.

[simpo one]

That'll teach me to put my head over the parapet... Normally I'd agree with you and donate it to the local tip, but it's only done 26,000 miles with full history and a service every year! So any idea on value chaps? It's way off the scale in any price guide.

(Max Power is out 'cos it's in 'hearing-aid beige', unfortunately)

[Leadfoot]

Guess it's a 205? Why not drop 1.9 GTi running gear in & make a 'Q' car?

[Andy390]

you need to retard the ignition static advance by a couple of degrees that's all. borrow a friends timing light and a spanner and twist the dizzy until you see the timing mark move in the direction of rotation by two degrees or so until the pinking stops.

[simpo one]

Sounds logical to me, but IIRC she was told it couldn't be modified for some reason! I agree with you 100% but is the Pug 1.1 petrol engine unusual for any reason?

[f402mlr]

You could buy a tank full of leaded. Okay it's expensive, over £1 gallon.
www.leadedpetrol.co.uk/list.htm .

If it pinks on LRP and Super Unleaded may be there's something else wrong, apart from it not being a TVR!

[dans]

My mechanical knowledge is shit, but is it not to do with the valve guides, and therefore you can alter the timing to deal with the octance change, but you will bugger the engine fairly fast - Also think that the cheap french engines were not designed in a way that they could be easily modified as the old BMC or ford ones were. Doubt it is worth more than a couple of hundred quid though.

[simpo one]

'You could buy a tank full of leaded. Okay it's expensive, over £1 gallon.'

Thta's shocking, I'll take 1,000 gallons please!

'If it pinks on LRP and Super Unleaded may be there's something else wrong'

I spoke to the mechanic at the garage today - he said LRP is basically rubbish. He said he could tweak the timing by ear, which is good enough for me as the car is for sale.

'is it not to do with the valve guides, and therefore you can alter the timing to deal with the octance change, but you will bugger the engine fairly fast'

I knew there'd be a snag. Ho-hum...!

'Doubt it is worth more than a couple of hundred quid though.'

I'm hoping he can turn the distributor cap for £0!