Alright so I'm building up my 355 again, improving on the spots that were weak last build.
So the subject of heads comes up, currently I have a pair of #993 smoggers on there from back in 1973.
I want to put some new heads on there, in my other thread all the heads I'm looking at are aluminum. I was previously looking at vortec heads until I found out you need to buy vortec intakes for them, and those are more expensive with less selection (afaik).
Anyway, he's real firm on NOT running any aluminum heads on our 355 because they will warp because cool water is not introduced in the back of the head like it is in the front of the head. So the heads will warp and be screwed is basically what he's saying. He's from the old school, very pro Iron. Thinks aluminum heads are for race cars only, or very high end street cars not driven very often.
Me on the other hand, I don't want to keep these stupid smogger heads cause I want to make power with this build. I know aluminum heads won't warp unless they get real hot, they're just not going to warp whenever they feel like it. He says we don't need aluminum heads because they are "racing heads" and this is a street car ('68 malibu).
I know there are a lot of hot rodders out there running aluminum heads on the street with no problem. I also know that aluminum heads will take more compression than iron heads without pinging, and I'm going to be running at least 10:1. This is really frustrating because I want to buy the heads and use them but he doesn't and he's still supplying a lot of the funding for this car, but I'm buying the engine parts.
All the aluminum heads I've looked at are perfect, small chamber, large intake runners, large valves ready to bolt on.
The other heads like the DART Iron eagles require porting and crap and they aren't that good. I can just buy these aluminum heads and they're ready to go. If I spend a couple hundred less on iron heads then I gotta make that up by having the work done...
So, am I right or wrong? I'm going to work on getting my dad to see these points. He's not unreasonable and once he sees this hopefully he'll go for these. Are aluminum heads reliable on the street?
So the subject of heads comes up, currently I have a pair of #993 smoggers on there from back in 1973.
I want to put some new heads on there, in my other thread all the heads I'm looking at are aluminum. I was previously looking at vortec heads until I found out you need to buy vortec intakes for them, and those are more expensive with less selection (afaik).
Anyway, he's real firm on NOT running any aluminum heads on our 355 because they will warp because cool water is not introduced in the back of the head like it is in the front of the head. So the heads will warp and be screwed is basically what he's saying. He's from the old school, very pro Iron. Thinks aluminum heads are for race cars only, or very high end street cars not driven very often.
Me on the other hand, I don't want to keep these stupid smogger heads cause I want to make power with this build. I know aluminum heads won't warp unless they get real hot, they're just not going to warp whenever they feel like it. He says we don't need aluminum heads because they are "racing heads" and this is a street car ('68 malibu).
I know there are a lot of hot rodders out there running aluminum heads on the street with no problem. I also know that aluminum heads will take more compression than iron heads without pinging, and I'm going to be running at least 10:1. This is really frustrating because I want to buy the heads and use them but he doesn't and he's still supplying a lot of the funding for this car, but I'm buying the engine parts.
All the aluminum heads I've looked at are perfect, small chamber, large intake runners, large valves ready to bolt on.
The other heads like the DART Iron eagles require porting and crap and they aren't that good. I can just buy these aluminum heads and they're ready to go. If I spend a couple hundred less on iron heads then I gotta make that up by having the work done...
So, am I right or wrong? I'm going to work on getting my dad to see these points. He's not unreasonable and once he sees this hopefully he'll go for these. Are aluminum heads reliable on the street?