Probably been asked before but iIve got the 12G1316 smog head of the motor at the moment and wondering if its worth getting hardened valve seats fitted to cope with the unleaded fuel a little better ?

Been told that this can sometimes be a hard operation for a reconditioner to do because of the space between the valves or is this just a myth?

What would you expect to pay for this these days?

Cheers,

TasTyger

Yep it's a myth, Rover ones fit fine in a stock 12G940 or 12G1316 head. I got the wife's 12G1316 done years ago.

Going price up here to do it is ~$140, including inserts.
Talk to your local engine reco shop, or buy the inserts in from Minispares and get them fitted.
NOTE: THEY ARE AN INTERFERENCE FIT.
Ideally they should be shrink fitted, or at least press fitted. Don't try to hammer them in, you will just bugger the hole and they will fall out.

http://www.minispares.com/Product.aspx?pid=33978
p/no is TAM 2069.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

The local engine reconditioners said that fitting hardened valve seats would bugger up the gas flowed head - I guess they mean that the work done on gas flowing would be mucked up.
So they didn't want to touch it.

I don't buy that. Even if the exhaust valves are bigger than stock there is little detriment to flow by fitting inserts and running stock size exhaust valves.
The fastest (arguably) Nb Mini in Sydney (Greig Malaure's) has nearly 160HP at crank from 1300cc, and the exhaust valves are stock size 29.4mm ones.

The only time I would avoid fitting inserts is, if the inlets are much bigger than S size, or the exhaust valves have been respaced outwards and BIG ones fitted.

Even the old Mk1 S had inserts listed in the workshop manual for reconditioning, both inlet and exhaust...

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

i'd be looking for another local engine reconditioners to be truthfull

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Stop Licking the Dog...I Don't Care Who Started It