aluminum torque plate, cast iron heads
 

I need to make a torque plate and aluminum is very easy to come up with. Is this a waste of time? Would steel be better? Is there a good way to come up with cast iron? This is a low budget project.
Thanks for the help.
Pete

Will be using studs if this makes any difference.

Re: aluminum torque plate, cast iron heads
 

I have both and so far seen no difference between the 2, as far as studs VS bolt there is a difference in distortion.

On OEM blocks even switching to gaskets with a different bore diameter makes a difference at the top of the cylinder . Stock blocks are pretty frail.