The Ford Barn

Dave1931Pickup · 05-26-2023, 08:43 PM

My '31 Pickup has a fully built touring engine with hardened exhaust seats. I'm now rebuilding my wife's '30 Coupe which will not be a touring car but rather just used for short trips. Are hardened exhaust seats necessary?
Thanks, Dave

Synchro909 · 05-26-2023, 09:42 PM

It sounds like the Coupe won't be doing many miles and what it does will be at low speeds. I wouldn't bother.
Henry didn't use them and there were thousands of Model As criss-crossing the country. The engine I use for long trips (up to 12,000 miles) does not have hardened seats

nkaminar · 05-27-2023, 06:16 AM

If you do not use the hardened seats, keep an eye on the valve clearances as they can change as the seat wears. A friend found one exhaust valve with only 0.002 clearance, but this is an extreme case.

Kurt in NJ · 05-27-2023, 10:18 AM

It depends on how much the seats were previously ground , the seating area can be too wide and the valve can be sitting too low , some engines should have all the seats replaced

Synchro909 · 05-27-2023, 07:07 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurt in NJ

It depends on how much the seats were previously ground , the seating area can be too wide and the valve can be sitting too low , some engines should have all the seats replaced

I should have mentioned that. Hardened seats are a good way of overcoming worn seats in a high mileage engine. I use a lead replacement additive in the fuel to prevent valve seat recession.

05-26-2023, 08:43 PM	#1
Dave1931Pickup Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 167	Hardened Exhaust Seats My '31 Pickup has a fully built touring engine with hardened exhaust seats. I'm now rebuilding my wife's '30 Coupe which will not be a touring car but rather just used for short trips. Are hardened exhaust seats necessary? Thanks, Dave

05-26-2023, 09:42 PM	#2
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,496	Re: Hardened Exhaust Seats It sounds like the Coupe won't be doing many miles and what it does will be at low speeds. I wouldn't bother. Henry didn't use them and there were thousands of Model As criss-crossing the country. The engine I use for long trips (up to 12,000 miles) does not have hardened seats __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.

05-27-2023, 06:16 AM	#3
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,897	Re: Hardened Exhaust Seats If you do not use the hardened seats, keep an eye on the valve clearances as they can change as the seat wears. A friend found one exhaust valve with only 0.002 clearance, but this is an extreme case. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

05-27-2023, 10:18 AM	#4
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,158	Re: Hardened Exhaust Seats It depends on how much the seats were previously ground , the seating area can be too wide and the valve can be sitting too low , some engines should have all the seats replaced