1954 head...should I modify it for unleaded gas?

[Randy G.]

After looking everywhere I finally was able to find and purchase a correctly dated good condition (no cracks, etc.) 6 cylinder "241" head for my 1954. The shop that checked it out for me is recommending new valves and seats that will tolerate unleaded fuel.

What is the feeling from the expert restorers on this? I am looking to make this car as original as possible.

PS, anyone interested in a bogus head with the numbers 3836241 stamped out of JB Weld on it? Came on the car when I bought it. Maybe I should leave the original head in a box and keep the bogus head on it so I can drive it with no worries.

[Joel F.]

Re: 1954 head...should I modify it for unleaded gas?

Randy,

I am certainly no engineer, and I think you will find 100 different opinions on this, but IMHO hardened seats are for motor boats and other vehicles that will see sustained, high load operations. For a sunday driver, I think they are a waste of money and risk damaging a good casting if the machinist is not careful.

Just my $.02 (before inflation).

[Duke W.]

Re: 1954 head...should I modify it for unleaded gas?

There is absolutely no need to install "hardened" valve seats in vintage Corvette cast iron heads that will typically see very low average load, but neither is the factory way of grinding a one degree interference angle and letting the valve pound its own seat into the head very satisfactory.

Find a machinist who will grind both seats and valve at 45 degrees to reasonable seat widths like .040/.060", then thoroughly lap them in. This is the "old-fashioned way".

Duke

[Roy B.]

Re: 1954 head...should I modify it for unleaded gas?

Been driving my 55 for 30 years and buy the Cheapest gas original heads no problem.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1954 head...should I modify it for unleaded gas?

After looking everywhere I finally was able to find and purchase a correctly dated good condition (no cracks, etc.) 6 cylinder "241" head for my 1954. The shop that checked it out for me is recommending new valves and seats that will tolerate unleaded fuel.

What is the feeling from the expert restorers on this? I am looking to make this car as original as possible.

PS, anyone interested in a bogus head with the numbers 3836241 stamped out of JB Weld on it? Came on the car when I bought it. Maybe I should leave the original head in a box and keep the bogus head on it so I can drive it with no worries.

Randy----


As others have stated, you don't really need the hardened seats. It's a good thing to do IF there is no significant risk that goes along with it. However, in your case, I would not take a chance on ruining the head for the sake of something that will have, most likely, no practical benefit.

[Boyan B.]

Re: 1954 head...should I modify it for unleaded gas?

I also do not recommend installing hardened seats. I made the mistake of having them installed in my 63 heads. The machined area where the seat would go broke into the water jacket and you could not see it. Upon startup, coolant was in the cylinder. It took me along time to figure out that coolant was getting past the seat. Waste of time and money fixing something that was not a problem before. I will never do it again.

Boyan

[Randy G.]

Re: 1954 head...should I modify it for unleaded gas?

Thanks, everyone!