aluminum vs steel heads

[I-ROC KID]

which is better i know aluminum cost way more becuase there suppose to be AHHH god like or something but i was talking to this guy today at a proformance shop and he was telling me that steel ones are cheaper and can make more power then aluminum ones so according to what i have heard its the other way around but im just making sure im not wrong

[poormillionaire2]

Uhhh...All I know is that the steel would be heavier than the aluminum. I think the steel would absorb and retain more heat also. I think its a potato -'patato' thing.

[FormulaLT1]

Aluminum is 4 times better against heat soaking than Cast Iron head. As we all know cooler denser air makes more power. While sometimes Iron heads tend to have slightly higher flow rates aluminum heads tend to get smoother ports and are easier to port. As they are a softer metal. Most high performance machines get aluminum heads for a reason.

[Mr. Luos]

Aluminum!!!!

[I-ROC KID]

so theres good and bad with either one.. which would u do is aluminum really worth all the money

[Mr. Luos]

I wouldn't put iron heads on one of my motors if given the choice.

[FormulaLT1]

Depends on many things which is better for you and what the cost difference is.. I already had aluminum and would not think of putting cast iron on them. Alot of the impala and caprice guys with Iron headed LT1's tend to be laying down the cash for F-body and corvette Aluminum LT1 heads but you will hard up to find the opposite. I know aluminum cost extra but to me its worth it in most performance circumstances.

[Morley]

Alumnium heads allow you to run higher compression ratios due to their superior heat rejection, as in they shed heat very quickly and this helps prevent detonation. Iron heads tend to hold heat which is not desireable bacause the air charge in the cylinders will be heated by it and cause detonation.

[stepho]

Heres my two cents..

Aluminum heads are lighter smoother but have a lower melting point.

So basically Aluminum heads are better for proformance and iron heads are stronger.

You have to be careful when removing aluminum heads too because you can damage them way easier than cast iron.


I had to have my aluminum heads machined, in my lt1, because the car had been over heated and the heads warped. (before i got it)

[1986Z28]

amunimum all the way, there lighter and dont retain as much heat

[drvngstorm05]

a point i haven't seen said yet... you can actually lift an engine from the heads if they're cast iron, which is sometimes a big help...

alot of nitrous junkies i've talked to prefer cast iron heads... you can run sick amounts of spray without causing the heads to lift... which sometimes happens with alluminum heads... sometimes they'll see coolant on the outside of the engine cuz the heads will lift up and cause the water jacket to leak... if i were going to run a huge shot of nitrous i would definately go with cast iron, but they do hold heat longer and transfer it much slower...

[ridge_runner]

Go with aluminum!! there was an article on this

same exact heads except one was cast iron the other was aluminum. same port sizes runners valves everything and the aluminums made 40 more hp on the dyno

[ridge_runner]

And with aluminum you will probably be shaving off 80 lbs where its needed

[1986Z28]

Originally Posted by FormulaLT1

Depends on many things which is better for you and what the cost difference is.. I already had aluminum and would not think of putting cast iron on them. Alot of the impala and caprice guys with Iron headed LT1's tend to be laying down the cash for F-body and corvette Aluminum LT1 heads but you will hard up to find the opposite. I know aluminum cost extra but to me its worth it in most performance circumstances.

when i did the lt1 swap on my caprice, i sprung for corvette heads, well worth the the money

[victimizati0n]

you ONLY need aluminum heads if you are RACING your car.

if your not, they are totally useless.