Hardened Seats- Midget 1500

[Morris]

Just got off the phone with my machinist, and he wants to put hardened seats in my head as a matter of "safe practice." That seems like overkill to me. Any thoughts?

 

[Billm]

No- just put a piece of plywood on your current seats and you're good to go! (but if he meant the valve seats then it probably is a good idea since he is doing a valve job anyway)
Bill

 

[Guest]

Morris - Installing hardened valve seats and new valves is expensive and it depends on how you intend to use your Midget to determine if it is necessary or not. Hardened valve seats and corresponding valves are usually necessary since lead has been removed from fuel. The lead was used as a lubricate for the valves & valve seats. You can still run your 1500 without hardened valve seats if you use the car for occasional drives and you add a lead additive at every fill up. You can buy the lead additive at any auto parts store and even Wal-Mart sells it. Now if you plan to drive your 1500 hard then you should have the hardened valve seats installed. I have run a 57 Tbird, 63 Falcon, 65 Mustang, & my 76 MG Midget without hardened valve seats for years with no failures or indication of valve recession. I always add the lead additive at every fill up. By the way the lead additive I use is CD2 Lead Substitute. Hope this info helps.

 

[Morris]

I gave him the machinist the go ahead. Turns out, they are not prohibitively expensive anyway.

 

[jlaird]

Was too late but was going to say that's a cheep job.