Hard exhaust seats? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Longhorn321 · 04-17-2011, 09:55 AM

What is your experience with hard exhaust seats? Have you not used them and regretted it? Trying to decide if it is worth the extra cost. I will not be putting a lot of load on the engine most of the time. Thanks.

cableguy0 · 04-17-2011, 01:20 PM

What year are the heads? Are you having them rebuilt anyway? Hard exhaust seats are needed when not using leaded fuel. No fuel has lead in it anymore and the lead is what lubricate the old seats to prevent wear. If your having the heads rebuilt its stupid not to have hardened seats put in. Also its probably cheaper to find a more modern set of heads that already have hardened seats and just replace yours.

Lee H · 04-17-2011, 05:56 PM

Discuss with your machine shop. This topic gets lots of debate. IMHO you don't need hardened seats if you are driving normally, no hot ridding, no towing, etc. These trucks are heavy and require the motor to work harder than in a car. If your doing a head job might as we do it.
Posted via Mobile Device

dwcsr · 04-17-2011, 06:25 PM

If it get driven little or week ends only then I wouldn't worry about it unless the valve seats are already sunk in the head. New seats bring them back up to spec. Gas without lead lets the valve just hammers the iron head seat and wear faster eventually they get sunken from repeated hammering and cutting. If your valves are not sunken in and its a weekend driver then save the money.

GASoline71 · 04-17-2011, 10:52 PM

It doesn't cost that much more to have it done. Cheap insurance. It needs to be done.

Gary

Longhorn321 · 04-17-2011, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cableguy0

What year are the heads? Are you having them rebuilt anyway? Hard exhaust seats are needed when not using leaded fuel. No fuel has lead in it anymore and the lead is what lubricate the old seats to prevent wear. If your having the heads rebuilt its stupid not to have hardened seats put in. Also its probably cheaper to find a more modern set of heads that already have hardened seats and just replace yours.

Heads are '69. When you ask are the heads being "rebuilt", are you asking if I'm having new seats put in anyway and just want to know if it's better to use the hard seats? If so then the answer is no, I'm going to do a valve job and as far as I know, there are no problems with the seats. As far as being "stupid", I'm just trying not to spend money for no reason...thus the question.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee H

Discuss with your machine shop. This topic gets lots of debate. IMHO you don't need hardened seats if you are driving normally, no hot ridding, no towing, etc. These trucks are heavy and require the motor to work harder than in a car. If your doing a head job might as we do it.
Posted via Mobile Device

You are covering all the bases

. You said if I'm driving normally, I don't need them but then you said I might as well do it....????

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwcsr

I wouldn't worry about it unless the valve seats are already sunk in the head. If your valves are not sunken in and its a weekend driver then save the money.

Kinda what I was thinking. I'm not fishing for that answer though and I appreciate everyone's opinion.

04-17-2011, 09:55 AM	#1
Longhorn321 Size Matters Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lyman, SC Posts: 9,189	Hard exhaust seats? What is your experience with hard exhaust seats? Have you not used them and regretted it? Trying to decide if it is worth the extra cost. I will not be putting a lot of load on the engine most of the time. Thanks. __________________ "Reading the owners manual is only for quitters." Jason Harper, Bloomberg News. ...WOOOO HOOOO!!!!

04-17-2011, 01:20 PM	#2
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,950	Re: Hard exhaust seats? What year are the heads? Are you having them rebuilt anyway? Hard exhaust seats are needed when not using leaded fuel. No fuel has lead in it anymore and the lead is what lubricate the old seats to prevent wear. If your having the heads rebuilt its stupid not to have hardened seats put in. Also its probably cheaper to find a more modern set of heads that already have hardened seats and just replace yours. __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

04-17-2011, 05:56 PM	#3
Lee H Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Upland Ca Posts: 4,139	Re: Hard exhaust seats? Discuss with your machine shop. This topic gets lots of debate. IMHO you don't need hardened seats if you are driving normally, no hot ridding, no towing, etc. These trucks are heavy and require the motor to work harder than in a car. If your doing a head job might as we do it. Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 1972 C10 SWB, Air, PS, PB, 350/350THM. Second owner. 1965 Corvette roadster, 44K miles, 327/365 SHP, 4 speed, side exhaust, knockoffs, teak, second owner (bought in 1970), Have ALL numbers matching components. My frame off restoration thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=556703

04-17-2011, 06:25 PM	#4
dwcsr Hollister Road Co. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Houston Posts: 6,134	Re: Hard exhaust seats? If it get driven little or week ends only then I wouldn't worry about it unless the valve seats are already sunk in the head. New seats bring them back up to spec. Gas without lead lets the valve just hammers the iron head seat and wear faster eventually they get sunken from repeated hammering and cutting. If your valves are not sunken in and its a weekend driver then save the money.



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