There has been threads about what oil and zinc and this just came out from Hemmings today.
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2012/10/18/tech-101-zinc-in-oil-and-its-effec ts-on-older-engines/
Doesn't seem to state anything new. Perhaps it's just a reminder.
When the article refers to "older engines" they are NOT talking about Model T engines. ZDDP was introduced as an additive to motor oil in 1955 due to high performance engines of that era having stiffer valve spring pressures that caused premature camshaft failure.
This additive won't hurt a Model T, but it adds nothing to a Model T that is necessary, needed or desirable.
ZDDP is targeted for the time period between when they added Zinc in oil and then later when the government mandated it be removed. This time period of cars between 1955 and 1975ish kinda need ZDDP. I met personally the CEO of the ZDDP company. He seems to really know his stuff. I run it in my 73 Mach 1 mustang and while i obviously feel no power increase or anything like that, it feels good knowing i am taking good care of my engine. In full disclosure I am not related to the ZDDP company in any way shape or form with the exception of buying his product cheers!
The last lines in the guru's article talks about the new SN oil that should be out in a year or so. What?? It's been on the shelves about a year already.
Must be a two year old article.
I will stick with the $2.50 10-40 Accel oil that says right on the bottle it has plenty of zink and is for cars '88 & older.
I use it in every pre-80's engine rebuild like the MGB dual valve spring engine that I do a lot of. I have one now about an hour from firing up.
Never a problem so far but I worry every time I do one.
I have been using the old cam and lifters but having them reground.
I use half of a small bottle of cam break-in oil the first two hundred miles, then change oil & just use the oil without the break-in stuff.
I have some of the special zink rich antique car oils too, but at $10 a qt. I usually don't use it. Beside, it only comes in 20-50, a little heavy for a tight rebuild.