valvetrain · FF-0231

Does a Flathead need hardened valve seats installed during a rebuild?

Joe says no: Ford fitted hardened exhaust valve seats in 1934 and hardened intake seats in 1939, so shops that try to sell a customer hardened seats are selling something the block already has. He adds that Ford used advanced practices such as three-angle valve jobs and hardened seats in the 1930s that others did not adopt until the 1950s and 1960s.

Expert

Joe Abbin

Evidence

expert attributed

Component

valve seats

Applicable scope

Ford Flathead V8, 1934 and later for exhaust seats and 1939 and later for intake seats, according to Joe