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Okay group, per previous string touching on the issue, it seems that I don't HAVE to install hardened seats on my '68 L79, but have I shot myself in the foot by going ahead with the installation (assuming done correctly)? Wouldn't I being adding extra protection for the guy who owns this engine 36 years from now???
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IF you live that long, AND...
You drive the car every day, you might have to re-do the valves after 100k miles. I once had a 300k engine with THREE valve jobs apart, and I had the valves checked- I needed only five seats. I did all sixteen, since it was apart. This is not the bogeyman the "lead susbstitute" sellers would have us believe. -
Re: IF you live that long, AND...
Okay. No hardened seats, but what about the guides? Unleaded fuel doesn't have the lubrication leaded fuel did.Comment
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OK, but...
Guides will undoubtedly get some oil, so I don't see how the fuel is a significant factor. Oil sucking down worn stems is what causes smoke when decelerating. Replace valves / guides as neccessary. Use IRON guides. The engine I mentioned above still has some original guides, now has slightly more than 400k. New valves and seats at about 300k.Comment
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Shot Yourself In The Foot?!...
Are you saying that you have authorized the hardened seats and the work has already started, and now you're asking if you have ruined your heads?...My opinion is certainly not, and I wouldn't shut the job down half way through.
All I think the "not needed" group is saying is that hardened seats are a waste of money for collector cars that are going to see relatively low mileage. If you have already spent the money anyway, then what further harm can be done? Hardened seats are undetectable after the engine is assembled.Comment
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Re: Shot Yourself In The Foot?!...
The actual sequence of events began with me asking the shop of the necessity of hardened seats in vintage heads, then telling them IF really required to proceed with them. Then I brought up the issue here and received the comments as shown in the string. THEN I called the shop back, and they said they weren't going to install the hardened seats for one of reasons not to do so that was quoted here - too much material extraction required on the 2.02/1.60's and getting dangerously close to the water jacket. They are proceeding with iron guides. Seems like they were on target all along.Comment
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Re: Shot Yourself In The Foot?!...
Dave, I confess I didn't read the previous thread, and wasn't aware of special considerations for the 2.02/1.60 heads. It should be reassuring to know you have picked an engine builder that knows his business well enough to not attempt just anything a customer requests.
I am not surprised that the idea of hardened seats for your heads was at first considered by the engine builder instead of being rejected immediately. Maybe this was before the builder knew valve size, but I found that the business contact (shop owner, shop manager, etc.) , although experienced, may not be completely knowledgable about the smallest details. A plan sometimes has to get down to the guy who makes it happen to find out something is impractical or impossible to achieve as proposed. (Univeristy of Hard Knocks...a good machinist never forgets cutting into a water jacket. )Comment
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Re: Shot Yourself In The Foot?!...
not likely to hit water on a 68 vintage head, whether 2.02 or 1.94. where one has to be real careful with case hardened seat installation is the 461X heads of the early 60's small blocks. been there boys. mikeComment
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