Hardened Valve Seats during Rebuild?

I say if you will be using the car as a daily driver, go ahead and get the hardend seats. But if you are going to put limited miles on the motor anyway, just leave the iron seats alone. You shouldn't have any problems with erosion if you only drive the car ocassionally.

After all, the heads can only stay original once, and if they do wear out in the future you can just get them changed then with a valve-job.

I think they still sell "lead additive" that is supposed to replace the lubricating quality in fuel. If you're worried you could mix that with the gas.

I had my Hi-Po heads rebuilt with the hardened seats. I suppose an argument can be made that now they aren't original, but to me it was an easy decision to have it done since I drive the car often.

Z. Ray

You really don't have a choice with the evolution of fuels; get the hardened seats.

I had mine hardened. Pretty close to a "no brainer."

During my rebuild in 2004, the hardened valve seats where put in. The car runs great as long as I use preminm fuel.

Yup,when I did my heads I also put in harden sets.Put 800 miles on it the first trip,using unleaded gas.No need to take the chance since you have it apart already.

Greg

As you know, the seats are only installed on the exhaust side. Make sure you get a good performance three angle valve job to help with the flow on those heads as well. Sometimes seats are installed on the exhaust and intake if the heads have had too many valve jobs or if they won't clean up because of deep pitting caused by rust.