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By oldcarmark - 6 days ago
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I am rebuilding my 56 292 which is original untouched from New. Is it worthwhile to have hardened Valve Seats installed while the Heads are being re-conditioned? Not sure yet what cost is involved but looking for some opinions on here. Summer car driven maybe 2500 Miles during Summer. Worth the Expense?
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By DANIEL TINDER - 6 days ago
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oldcarmark (2/7/2026)
I am rebuilding my 56 292 which is original untouched from New. Is it worthwhile to have hardened Valve Seats installed while the Heads are being re-conditioned? Not sure yet what cost is involved but looking for some opinions on here. Summer car driven maybe 2500 Miles during Summer. Worth the Expense?
Depends. If most of the original miles driven were before leaded fuel was banned, there may not be much valve recession. Otherwise, if additional head work is planned (CC matching, modern seals, new valves, etc.) new seats would seem a small percentage of the job (?). A ‘grocery-getter’-grade economy rebuild once merely involved only replacing the rings, and maybe grinding the valves also 😀.
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By paul2748 - 6 days ago
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Since the heads are off and most likely there is going to be a valve job anyway, get the hardened seats. Then no worries if you may have to do it in the future.
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By Big Tim - 6 days ago
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I'm not sure what your machinist is going to charge to do the hardened seats but I recall when I asked mine about doing it on a set of heads I was taken aback by the price.
Being that your not driving it that much, I would save the money and just throw in some lead substitute from time to time in the tank.
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By cos - 5 days ago
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Hi Unless you want to keep your 56 original, probably finding 57 heads is a option. A complete redo EX seats, new valves, guides, springs cost the same. If your EX valve heads are still above floor of CC ( never ground) a simply regrind might work. Think about 800 to 1000 for complete redo. Like mention above valve recession is main reason for EX seats.
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By 55blacktie - 5 days ago
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As Daniel said, it all depends on your build. I have $1800-$2000 invested in my non-posted ECZ-G heads, and I cc'd the heads and did the port work myself. Machine work isn't cheap. I paid $400 just to have hardened exhaust seats and bronze valve-guide inserts installed. If you're doing a stock build, and it's not a daily driver, hardened exhaust seats might not be necessary (depending on condition of existing seats). I would use one-piece retainers and have the guides cuts for positive valve seals. Valve guides, seats, and seals are cheap, but labor isn't. Maybe it's cheaper in your neck of the woods, but still not cheap. Finding a reputable shop to do the work might be problematic as well.
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By KULTULZ - 5 days ago
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You might want to call TED directly and talk with him.
Valve recession is a hit or miss thing, it all depends on how the engine was used.
I think he keeps take-off parts in stock and may be able to correctly diagnose and machine a pair of exchange heads.
If seat recession is not too bad or he feels exhaust seats are needed, he can determine the best and cheapest way out.
LEADED GASOLINE was the refiners most cost effective way of lubrication, that is why it was used.
I'll tell you one thing, before having an unknown shop do work on an engine (especially a FYB), I would eat the freight to have him do it.
APPROX what is your geographical location?
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By oldcarmark - 5 days ago
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Way up north in Canada. Of course if Your President has His Way We and Greenland may become the 52 and 53 States. LOL
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By 55blacktie - 5 days ago
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Unless Ted recently started doing heads again, he hasn't been doing customers' heads for years. Ted is a one-man-show, like Tim McMaster. He told me that there's no money to be made on heads, and he's been sending them out to be done.
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By KULTULZ - 3 days ago
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Finding a competent/caring machine shop these days would be a challenge.
As for hardened valve seats, one would measure the amount of valve recession at tear-down to see if any significant wear. That would give you an indication of needing hardened valve seat inserts.
Another possibility might be induction hardening, a process FOMOCO started using around 1972 for the upcoming lead elimination -
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By KULTULZ - 3 days ago
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Way up north in Canada. Of course if Your President has His Way We and Greenland may become the 52 and 53 States. LOL
You guys might want to think hard on that one as it is complete chaos down here ...  I used to drive OTR and went into Toronto fairly regularly. I could not believe how beautiful and well kept the city (Ontario also) was kept and how polite society was.
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