Head Identify...hardened seats

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Jul 4, 2004 | 09:34 AM

Mud_Hunter

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Head Identify...hardened seats

What year did they start with hardened seats? Is there a mark on the heads to tell me the year?

Jul 4, 2004 | 09:47 AM

Ratsmoker

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The only heads that came with hardened seats was the D2TE-AA heads from a 1972 casting. I hear that not all of them were hardened but the vast majority were.

Jul 4, 2004 | 09:59 AM

Mud_Hunter

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what is the process for installing the new seats.

Jul 4, 2004 | 09:41 PM

rusty70f100

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From: Iowa

Take it to a machine shop and tell 'em you want hardened seats put in the exhaust. The intake doesn't need 'em, it runs much cooler. Of course if they're out of spec it'll need 'em.

Jul 6, 2004 | 08:12 AM

Mud_Hunter

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Well im having the heads done anyway, might aswell have them done at the same time. Any idea how much more that would add to the cost?

Jul 6, 2004 | 09:40 AM

Mike G

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From: Littleton, CO

New guides/seats/cuts should be about $200, then you will need new valves too.

--Mike

Jul 6, 2004 | 10:01 AM

Mud_Hunter

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why new valves, cant they re-use the old ones. grind them to length?

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Jul 6, 2004 | 11:10 AM

Mud_Hunter

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and if i keep the old seats...any draw backs? Also when the valves where still in the head i put a straight edge across the top of the valve stems...they where uneven...do they grind them back to length?

Jul 6, 2004 | 11:18 AM

#10

fordman428

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From: Iowa

keeping old seats is not good, if you did the unleaded gas will eat them away, unless you used lead additive everytime you filled the tank, in the long run, hardened seats is definetly the way to go.

Jul 6, 2004 | 12:47 PM

#11

d44hd

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From: Maple Ridge BC Canada

Have a good look at your seats.....Constant pounding of the seat by the valve,over many years, actually does harden them.....Unleaded has been the only fuel available for quite a few years now....If the seats are in reasonable shape, hardened seats may not be required...A good macine shop will only sell you what you need...d44hd

Jul 6, 2004 | 03:18 PM

#12

Mud_Hunter

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Im thinking they may have already been done, they look in good shape..and the heads show signs of rebuild already, like sleeves in the intake guides for the valves. I was told stock would have NO sleeves?

Jul 6, 2004 | 04:57 PM

#13

EgoMan

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From: Montana

I have learned that when i get an old truck most of the time the heads have already had one valvejob in there life time. Unfortunately ive ran accross alot that are not capable of being done anymore because of this too. My point is that it doesnt supprise me that if they have been done already. Maybe you can have them magnafluxed and just put new parts in them.