I agree that it's possible to ruin a valve, but unless someone is beating a 70 year old engine to death auto-crossing it or some other foolishness, you're never going to damage the exhaust valves. High rev racing engines or engines operating at the redline all the time are in danger of burning valves.

Driving antique vehicles under normal circumstances at normal speeds and normal loads won't hurt them.

I've put a couple hundred thousand miles on The Bismarck over the last 25 years. That included highway trips of over 500 miles at 75+ mph as well as local stop and go driving. It has only ever had unleaded fuel in that time and the heads are stock.

The same is true with the other vehicles. Drive like a normal human being and you'll be fine.


1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)

1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)