aluminum vs iron heads

Ok P2 I never said that I have not ever seen a good reliable aluminum head engine all I am saying is that if you overheat those aluminum heads that there's a good chance they will be junk.  
Professional hi-performance engine builder

Horsepower sells Engines and torque wins races.

Scott385 being a machinist does not make you a engine builder it makes you a machinist at least in my area.
I do my own porting but for a costumer it is some times not worth what it cost to port a set of old factory heads when if you are on a budget you can by a new set of iron heads for around the same price it would cost to properly rebuild and port a set of old factory heads.  
Professional hi-performance engine builder

Horsepower sells Engines and torque wins races.

agreed all im saying is everybody is acting like overheating is a certainty when its more like an improbability.thats all im saying.i know of plenty of aluminum head performance street motors and am yet to see one overheat(maybe run warm but thats ok)and same with iron.the only time ive seen warped heads was on a stock 90's mustang.im not knocking a good set of iron im saying dont let the miniscule chance of overheating be what effects your decision. if budget allows by all means go aluminum if small budget go iron  

There has to be pretty severe over heating.  Look at the OEM's, most are aluminum now, and if they were so likely to warp in varying climates they wouldn't use them.  Aluminum heads are reliable and solid if you follow the rules.  I don't recommend severely overheating any engine.  
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The Silver Buick- '77 Skylark coupe w/ a Fuel Injected Buick 455&TKO-600, '72 Centurion Conv't - 455w/TH400, '67 T-bird 4Dr (suicide) w/428&C6. Needing to replace a '69 Firebird 400.

http://www.bangshift.com/forum/index.php?topic=6189.0

And to a further point, OEM's run at 220*F with aluminum heads, and when the engines are shut off easily exceed 240*F. They couldn't use Aluminum heads if they couldn't take that kind of temperature cycling.  
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The Silver Buick- '77 Skylark coupe w/ a Fuel Injected Buick 455&TKO-600, '72 Centurion Conv't - 455w/TH400, '67 T-bird 4Dr (suicide) w/428&C6. Needing to replace a '69 Firebird 400.

http://www.bangshift.com/forum/index.php?topic=6189.0

right on the money silverbuick  

the only reason ive said the overheating was the mishap we had on the 427. we ran 40 year hoses and the temp gauge wasnt reading. coudnt tell till steam was coming out the dash. we were running iron heads and drove prox 15 to 20 miles with no water just to get to a gas station. put some water in it prove it home. put a new head gasket in and we were back on the road. now say if we were running factory aluminum heads they would have been toast. now most people dont usaually run into this problem on the street if everything is running right  

Here we go again? Following the trends. I'm not just going to give you my opinion, but I will give you facts. Then you decide.

Guestion; What are you using the car for?

If it is drag strip and dragstrip only it is better to use aluminum.

If you are going to use it for street use, than cast iron is better.

Do not get sucked into the must have to keep up with the trends.
I wasn't going to get involved here but you did ask a guestion and most of what I read is opinions based on trends. Some opinions were right on the money.

Here's the facts!!!! Challenge me If you will?

Aluminum is expensive and worps very easy when heated. Just get stuck in traffic for a while and you will find out what I'm saying. One Dream Cruise type traffic stand still and you will find out what I'm saying. These can cost you more than just gas. OK, Rush Hour than? Or how about construction zones? Does this sute your fancy?

Aliminum is very light, and excellent for racing. That is about it!!!!!

Cast Iron is cheaper and can handle higher temps.

Cast Iron is heavy for racing.

I do a lot of cruising and have built many engines, etc... fixing engines after cruises, overheating, Heads, Heads, Heads. Aluminum, Aluminum, Aluminum!!!!!

Most everyone I know that put Aluminum Heads on a street car spends time and money replacing them after getting hot a few times.

The guys running cast Iron get to drive their cars.

Think about it? GM did an all alumiinum engine back in the 60's they were junk.

Aluminum has become more of an alloy today, which is a combination of soft metals and can handle a little higher temp, just alittle.

They are a little more durable to day, but just a little.

Many vehicles today are in the bone yards because the heads warpped after overheating or running warm.

Both heads can be built up. Both heads work fine for horse power. Aliminum works better for speed, less weight. That is it!!!!!!

Now, only you can make the final decision, but when I get these vehicles with crack and/or warpped heads. I talk them into Cast Iron and they actually end up happy in the end.

I'm not running one down over the other. I'm just giving you the facts.  

i think what everyone is trying to say is that we all know you can get a pretty decent pair of chevy heads for cheap, and flow very well with a little effort.  but in the case of an oldsmobile, pontiac, or buick, porting a set of factory heads is the bigger bang for the buck,  a pair of oldsmobile Eddy heads cost about $1500 a set, put in some bigger valves and have the bowls blended and the AIR bump removed in the exhaust runner.  and you have a set that flows better then a set of aluminum heads that wont warp or melt if you blow a head gasket, and for about half the price  

i dont get the obsession with overheating i have been dealing with street cars my whole life and have only seen a car overheat once or twice.it has never happened to me personally,thats what my guages are for.you might as well say dont drive the car all together you might get hit by a train.  

Apparently some of the people here that drive. Have never driven a real race car in a real cruise, which means real traffic?

I ask this question? How many people drive their street rod, drag car, classic car, Etc... Only to the country picknic? If you have a big motor and really cruise to show it off? Which most people do! That's is the whole purpose of Streetable!! You can bet that there is more owners of cars thinking just like you and probably in the lane somewhere behind or in front of you.

You can bet they are thinking? My car is bad ass!!! Listen, the cows in the country don't care! Where do people show their Muscle usually? Around many people and many other cars. So now, now count on your alluminum Heads!!! I'm not saying Aluminum heads are all bad, never said that?

Unless you're the only one on the road and in the country with NO, NO traffic, then Aluminum heads will bite you in the wallet, sooner or later!!

If replacing a head or heads after of having your ride pushed to the side of the road to cool down is cool, then go with aluminum. Overheating can and will happen even with cast iron heads. Cast iron heads don't keep a car from over heating, they just stand up to it better.  

I hear people say they never over heated with aluminum heads, GREAT!!!! How much did you pay for all the fans, that bigggg radiator, special water pump, Etc.... Now tell me the aluminum heads are better and cheaper????

I hear people talk about watching gauges!!! Fine this is good and a must!!! Hope the gauges are accurate and operating all the time!!! Hope you never get caught in the lane that when the temp gauge starts to rise and pegs, even when you see it climbing (love the anxiety) before you can get off the road and gather all your inmbarrisent!!! Chances are with cast iron, it cools down you add coolant and on the road again. With aluminum you have your BAD ASS ride towed home. I love alumiinum heads? They make me look good, because the guy I'm trying to look better than, everyone is! Just blew his. Love them!!!

Anyone really want to prove me wrong??? I challenge you to drive your ride at the Woodward Dream Cruise in South East Michigan, Cruise between 12 and 15.5 mile roads on Saturday during the cruise, between the hours of noon and 5:00PM. This is the real proving grounds!!! I dare you!!! When you have done this?? When you have done this and not have your temp gauge rise. Then come tell me different???

Heck I can barely overheat a vehicle with a few drops in the radiator on a country road. This is not where most people show off their rides.

I'm really not one to argue anything about the automobile. I know what I know. I don't ask other people for advice, I don't need it! I'm one that get's asked for advice. So far I'm batting 100% with every one that followed it. Yes, even 100% with those that did not!!!

Don't take me wrong!! I'm not a know it all. I'm just good at what I do know. Happen to be proud of it!!

Automobiles, Live it, breath it, drive it, race it, built it! Have for over 48 years. I forgot more than most will know. Almost lived at Detroit Drag Way, when it was around. If some one asks for advice I give it. If the advice I give they don't like, that is fine?

I don't tell people things I thought of in my dreams. I tell them things I've lived and experienced. I don't give advice for me, I wasn't the one needing it. After all it is only advice? Take it or Leave it.

I bet this poor guy that asked the original question about heads, is confused as hell!

BOTTOM LINE: BOTH HEADS OVERHEAT! ALUMINUM CRACKS AND WORPS EASIER! THESE ARE THE REAL PROS AND CONS TO HEADS! ALUMINUM -V- CAST IRON.

Either can be exspencive or cheap. Depends on what is done to them? Whether they are new or used? Both work well for performance. Aluminum is lighter?

Here, this will get you guys fired??? I bet you all think that disc brakes are better too???? Yep, I thought so! Trend followers. I love this one! Anyone wish to challenge me on this? I'll start another forum or you can if you wish to learn a little bit. I'm not trying to be a smart ass. I just love to talk cars. I love a good intellegent conversation about them. Challenges are nice too. No roll bars, harness needed.  

Haha, Dude, I drove my ~450Hp Buick w/455 in 114*F stop and go traffic of Las Vegas this summer while towing a camp trailer no less, and the temp stayed right at 190*F where it should (and drive it regularly at 100+*F with out the trailer) If you build your car as a total package, aka pay some small attention to the cooling details, you won't have any issues.

As for your disc brake rant, your drum's might stop the same on the first stop, maybe the second, but by hard stop three, four and five, you'd be screwed regardless of trendiness.  
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The Silver Buick- '77 Skylark coupe w/ a Fuel Injected Buick 455&TKO-600, '72 Centurion Conv't - 455w/TH400, '67 T-bird 4Dr (suicide) w/428&C6. Needing to replace a '69 Firebird 400.

http://www.bangshift.com/forum/index.php?topic=6189.0

ya i live in flint and have been to the cruises i run a nice streetable smallblock not a big inch big block strip motor.the guy in the original post has a steet car.i have aluminum fastburns and can sit in drive on an 80 degree day with a stock radiator and water pump and not get over 185 EVER. race cars dont like to be driven on the street for long periods thats no secret.but a steet motor with aluminum heads is fine and wont overheat especially if you watch your guages  

finally some one with some reason right on silverbuick  

i have a stroked 350 with aluminum heads, factory style four-corre radiator and one 12" fan...daily driver...not in the boonies,never overheated

someone needs to read TheSilverBuick's 2 or 3 posts on this thread enough times to understand what he is saying...

if aluminum heads were so crappy, the manufacturers could not put them on all the cars they do and maintain engine warranties

look at all the little rice rockets with aluminum heads that have been on the road for decades, in california grid-lock traffic jams on a daily basis

someone who's a hero in his own mind needs to let go of the rotary dial phone and the points style distributor  
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the red-headed step-child of the mailing list

fuzzy dice, air shocks & N50's rule