Howdy Guys, I've been looking at this site for several days and thought it was time to step forward and introduce myself. I live in central NC and am retired from the communications industry. I currently own two Ford F-1 trucks, a '51 survivor I rescued from a barn, and a '49 which is my reason for joining this forum. My plan is to build a '53 Merc EAC engine for this truck. It will be 276ci mild performance engine for the street. My most pressing question, but one of many is, should I replace the valve seats with hardened ones. It is my understanding that the later flatheads had "softer" seats than their predecessors. Is this in fact the case or am I mistaken? Is there anything else about the Merc flathead that is unique that should be considered prior to machining the block? Finally, let me admit that I AM NOT a mechanic by any stretch of the imagination and will not be assembling this engine. I am completing my 7th decade in life.........what's that they say about old and new tricks. thanks for any input or direction you may offer.
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Welcome from South Ga >>>If it is not a daily driver you can do without hardened seats. Some say as many as 40k miles. I believe that the later flatties had hard seats on the exhaust from the factory. I am sure someone will answer that with more certainty
Thanks Willys1. would the choice of cam have any bearing on the matter? I plan to run a Potvin Super 3/8.
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