Aluminium heads
Like I said none..........
Aluminium heads
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Disadvantage - Aluminum heads cost more.
Advantage - ALL the alumunin heads on the market work better than the factory heads.
Disadvantage - Aluminum is more subject to corrosion against dissimilar metals.
Advantage - The motor will be at least 50lbs lighter.
Disadvantage - Aluminum alloy melting point is just above normal combustion temperatures, detonation must be avoided at all costs.
Advantage - Aluminum conducts heat better than cast iron, so a motor will be less prone to detonation with nominal compression ratios.
Advantage - ALL the alumunin heads on the market work better than the factory heads.
Disadvantage - Aluminum is more subject to corrosion against dissimilar metals.
Advantage - The motor will be at least 50lbs lighter.
Disadvantage - Aluminum alloy melting point is just above normal combustion temperatures, detonation must be avoided at all costs.
Advantage - Aluminum conducts heat better than cast iron, so a motor will be less prone to detonation with nominal compression ratios.
Hotshot
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
Likes: 25
From: south louisiana
Originally Posted by Conanski
Disadvantage - Aluminum heads cost more.
Advantage - ALL the alumunin heads on the market work better than the factory heads.
Disadvantage - Aluminum is more subject to corrosion against dissimilar metals.
Advantage - The motor will be at least 50lbs lighter.
Disadvantage - Aluminum alloy melting point is just above normal combustion temperatures, detonation must be avoided at all costs.
Advantage - Aluminum conducts heat better than cast iron, so a motor will be less prone to detonation with nominal compression ratios.
Advantage - ALL the alumunin heads on the market work better than the factory heads.
Disadvantage - Aluminum is more subject to corrosion against dissimilar metals.
Advantage - The motor will be at least 50lbs lighter.
Disadvantage - Aluminum alloy melting point is just above normal combustion temperatures, detonation must be avoided at all costs.
Advantage - Aluminum conducts heat better than cast iron, so a motor will be less prone to detonation with nominal compression ratios.
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,101
Likes: 0
From: Bristol TN.
I was going to go with the edelbrock top end kit for the 351w engine....but if the aluminum heads are riskier than iron heads I was thinking about going with the "iron flow" heads from tristatecylinderhead.com and just getting the edelbrock cam (same one thats in the top end kit) and a stealth intake...I would save quite a bit of money but I don't know how much power I would loose. The edl kit makes 400hp and like 412tq
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: conroe tx
Originally Posted by baddad457
Aluminum heads are also more prone to gasket failures from low coolant or overheating as well. As for them running cooler, that's only true till the engine reaches operating temps and the T-Stat takes over. Once that happens, they run the same temp as an iron head.
how would it be the same temp, if Alum desapates heat faster that Iron?
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Hotshot
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
Likes: 25
From: south louisiana
Originally Posted by dragogt
how would it be the same temp, if Alum desapates heat faster that Iron?
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,101
Likes: 0
From: Bristol TN.
So if I put a new radiator, water pump (high flow type), and a 160 degree thermastat I should be fine with the edelbrock top end kit for a daily driver?...to keep it from over heating and the head gaskets and engine lasting a long time...
More Turbo
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 524
Likes: 73
Originally Posted by baddad457
The thermostat regualtes the engine's operating temperature, that's why. I've run both aluminum and iron heads with the same cooling system and there is no difference in operating temps between the two.
Hotshot
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
Likes: 25
From: south louisiana
Originally Posted by s1120
Yes the coolent system will run the same, but the chambers themselves will run cooler. The intence heat of the chambers will be transferd faster then the iron, bringing them down closer to coolent/engine temp.
The engine's temperature will stay the same or nearly so, so close, you can't tell the difference. Just don't ever dare to run it hot or low on coolant. When the head reaches operating temperature, the combustion chamber roof does as well, it's going to be the same temp thru and thru as an iron head. Only the cooling system's efficiency will change that. Once you shut off the fuel, the aluminum head will dissapate the heat faster than an iron head, but while it's running, the two are virtually the same.
Last edited by baddad457; Nov 10, 2007 at 06:33 AM.