MG Car Repair: Midget valve seats, valve seat recession, caster oil

Question
We are rebuilding a Midget 1275, so I ordered the new valves, seats, etc. for using the new gas without lead. Then I sended the head to workshop in order to install the new seats, and in return they answer that the new seats were too close and there was not enough space in order to work. So I decided to go for welding with Nickel electrode and do the seats. Was it the right solution or would you recommend something else. Did we miss something with the new valve seats? Thank you in advance.

Answer
Hi Manuel,
I don't know about the gas in Mexico but our unleaded gas has other additives that cut down on valve seat recession. And there are many additives available from auto parts stores for use as an upper cylinder lube that do the same. When they first dropped lead from gas in the US it was a problem but within a couple of years most gasoline in the US put in additives. Amoco "White" gas back then never had lead and it never showed any valve seat recession in non hardened seats and valves like most MGs had. I still build MGs and older Jaguars that have non hardened seats and I see no signs of seat recession even today.

I had a US grant in 1980 to make a farm size alcohol still and convert a car to run on straight ethanol. Since the alcohol I made had no upper cylinder lube in the alcohol that I made and ran in the engine. I searched for an upper cylinder lube that would mix with alcohol and found that caster oil did and since I had a racing background, I love the smell. Caster oil is also a good upper cylinder lube for gasoline too.
Howard