Sodium-Filled Valves/Morbid Curiosity

[Pete Kraus <Pete_Kraus@Emory.Org>]

Al Powell asks:

>Out of morbid curiosity, has anyone ever run into sodium-filled valve 
>stems in a US-made car??

As the list's token truck enthusiast, I feel duty-bound to respond that
although I'm not aware of any US-made cars with sodium-filled valve
stems, it was a fairly common practice in heavy-duty gasoline-fueled
truck engines that some US manufacturers and customers specified as
late as the '60s, after most of the world switched to diesels for large
commercial vehicles.  

Since this topic isn't even remotely Audi-related, if Al or any other lister
is interested in specific makes and models, contact me privately and I'll
look them up for you.  

Pete
Pete_Kraus@emory.org
Stone Mountain, GA
'85 4KSQ
'89 F250 4x4 diesel
'95 Z28