I have just visited a club member with an original low mileage EH Special Sedan in Factory Black, 149 Hydramatic. It appears to have just over 30,000 Miles on the clock. The current owner bought it from the original lady owner in Sydney more than 30 years ago and drove it to Qld about 20 odd years ago. It sat for many more years and has never been regoed in Qld. The old black and white (personalised?) NSW plates are still on it.
The head was removed a long time ago when he tried to start it and at least one valve was stuck which resulted in the bending of one pushrod and stuffing of one rocker. It looks like only a carbon lip on the bores. Unfortunately I couldn't get into the boot to inspect the head.
The owner wants to get it back on the road again. The question I have is do you know of a good engine reconditioner to have the head overhauled. Without looking at the head I would expect it to only require a light deck skim and a valve grind? And make sure the guides are still good. Do they have hardened valve seats? It would be a shame to dip the head and remove the original engine paint.
I suggested to him that I remove the motor and fit an alloy cam gear set as well as new gaskets etc throughout. I believe you can't get water pumps for them with an original cast impeller? The modern ones are useless with the light steel impellers. From what I have heard they don't push enough coolant around at idle when stuck in traffic? I have an original NOS one to go on my Van and a NOS spare for my Ute.
TIA
Ron

Thanks Sandaro. It would be good to keep the original engine paint on it due to the low mileage. Any engine shop would dip the head immediately before looking at valves, guides, rockers etc. I wasn't sure about the valve seats on an EH? What about HK HT HG Valve seats? Are they hardened seats? I always used additive in my grey motor Holdens but have never added anything to my HG Ute. I've had it 20 odd years now and have done less than 30,000 miles in that time. It has around 153,000 now from memory.... and 124,000 when I bought it.
The EH appears to be in excellent condition but it is covered in dust. The left front guard has been dinged at some stage and appears to have been repaired very well. It is missing the special badge and spear on the ps. There is one minor dent in the PS C Pillar. I couldn't get around the back of it. No Rust anywhere by the look of it. Never left outside. And factory black too.
The engine shop could do hardened seats without dipping it surely?
My wife took some pics of the tags and I will add the details when I get hold of her phone. It is a Sydney car and was purchased from the first elderly lady owner at Mosman.
Thanks.
Ron.