<VV> corvair fuel & cooling

[David Houston]

I try to duplicate the octane levels of the 1960's by adding tetra-ethyl lead that I buy from Jack Podell. It's called Max lead 2000. I had it tested and each quart has at least 14 grams/ounce of tetra-ethyl lead. I learned of this product from pilots of corvair powered aircraft that I have flown. The corvair motors were originally made to use unleaded, 'Gulftane' fuel in the 1960's. This is what I was told anyway. I do know and others have emailed me that the head temperatures are about 30 degrees lower consistently when using this product. There hasn't been lead in US fuel since 1978. The premium ethanol fuel of today is very different than the leaded premium of the 1960's.
I'm a little confused how the motor can be starved from air cooling.  From what I've heard, are you suppose to block off the door/vent that enters the fiberglass plenum on top of the axle?  Isn't the fan feed by the side vents, down over the heads and out the shroud doors? My late uncle's camper had upgraded his 80 hp motor with finned pans and covers, 12 row trans cooler, x-large oil cooler. He installed an electric fuel pump under the front passenger seat frame with it's own little fan and super insulated the fuel line to protect from vapor lock in Pheonix, AZ stop and go traffic in 115 degree heat. He added an extra solenoid switch and extra 12 volt battery. He told me that heat can kill a battery like cold can. He told me that it was common in the 1950's to lose batteries in the heat. He told me the earlier 6 volt battery worked better and had thicker cables than 12 volt systems. The big long 'tractor' batteries could withstand the heat better. Is
 that true?