cast iron v.s aluminum heads

Discussion in 'General Maverick/Comet' started by bLaH_hA, Oct 9, 2009.

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  1. bLaH_hA

    bLaH_hA Member

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    i mean yeah you gain more horsepower with aluminum but i was told aluminum is risky but i am not sure.
    I have a extra 302 block that i want to make it a boss clone but i want to get all the facts straight before i do any advancements
     
    bLaH_hA, Oct 9, 2009
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  2. bLaH_hA

    bLaH_hA Member

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    btw i am not looking to race this engine it will be a daily driver and sometimes hit 90+ on the bucman lol
     
    bLaH_hA, Oct 9, 2009
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  3. fastback86

    fastback86 Loose cars and fast women

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    I'm not currently running aluminum heads but there's alot of them running around here. Not to mention all the newer stuff runs them. From what I understand they're alot less tolerant of overheating, so as long as your cooling system is up to par you shouldn't have a problem.
     
    fastback86, Oct 9, 2009
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  4. Mavman72

    Mavman72 Gone backwards but lookin' forward

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    The main reasons to go to alloy heads are for the weight savings and the better breathing characteristics.Improved port shapes/volums and chamber design along with valve size choices.You can usually run a full point more compression on pump gas with em too since they tend heat evenly and and are less likely to develop hot spots which can cause pre-ignintion.
     
    Mavman72, Oct 10, 2009
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  5. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

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    ...stock 302 w/iron heads...they have been doing this for years...:yup:
     
    71gold, Oct 10, 2009
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  6. maverick maniac

    maverick maniac Banned

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    I am just old school and if you can find an early set of windsor heads 70 -74 I would run those instead of allum. thats what I got and they are less money to,, thats my 2 cents
     
    maverick maniac, Oct 10, 2009
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  7. Jamie Miles

    Jamie Miles the road warrior

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    My aluminum headed 302 has been together since 99, and still runs awesome. If you've got the money, go aluminum.
     
    Jamie Miles, Oct 10, 2009
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  8. littleredtoy

    littleredtoy Seth

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    I could have gone with aluminum heads, but didn't. After I spent about $700 on my 351W heads, I wish that I had. Mine run well for a street/play car, but with only s/s larger valves and milling the combustion chambers, I am probably short on HP and torque compared to out of the box Edelbrock Performer or similar heads.

    On the flip side, I may have been less likely to mill new aluminum heads to up my compression. My motor guy told me that Performers stock woulkd have yielded about 9-9.25:1 CR. Milling my 351W to 53cc chambers yielded a little less than 10.5:1 CR.
    The flow of aluminum heads may have equalled that CR difference??

    As previously stated, aluminum saves weight, and dissipates heat better.

    Seth
     
    littleredtoy, Oct 10, 2009
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  9. my70mav

    my70mav Member

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    it wasent the flow that made the compression difference,it was the chamber size.

    aluminum heads are a TON better than they used to be.if you run aluminum heads you can run a point more compression like was mentioned,but use a good head gasket.most new engines with aluminum heads use mls gaskets that seem to stop from blowing out when over heated.
     
    my70mav, Oct 10, 2009
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  10. maverick maniac

    maverick maniac Banned

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    what year heads did you use ?? I only have 350.00 in mine all new everything there are 1970 heads
     
    maverick maniac, Oct 10, 2009
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  11. littleredtoy

    littleredtoy Seth

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    1970


    Mine were bare castings-stock supposedly. I don't have the breakdown, but after hot tanking, magnufluxing, cutting the bowls, S/S Ferrea valves, 3 angle valve job, guideplates, hardened valve seats, bronze valve guides, tapping & studs, milled to 53cc's, the bill was over $700. I'm probably including the $75 that I paid for the bare heads(if memory is correct).

    Seth
     
    littleredtoy, Oct 10, 2009
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  12. littleredtoy

    littleredtoy Seth

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    I know that, I'm talking about the performance difference.
     
    littleredtoy, Oct 10, 2009
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  13. darren

    darren Member

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    Lets put it this way. If I had to build a motor I wouldnt waste any money on iron heads. I have set of 68 302 4V heads in the garage but I would still go and buy aluminum heads instead of spending money on machining and my time on porting.
     
    darren, Oct 10, 2009
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  14. Dave B

    Dave B I like Mavericks!

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    Dave B, Oct 10, 2009
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  15. bikerbuck65

    bikerbuck65 Member

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    Go alum, Ive got trick flow heads running 10.4 on the piston compression and absoultly no pinging whatsoever on pump gas,im making approx 400 hp..
     
    bikerbuck65, Oct 10, 2009
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