Making Aluminum Heads Legal for all SuperStockers

[dwydendorf]

Originally Posted by 69ss/rs

If we where to follow your thinking, then as the supply of heads and blocks for the older combos runs out; we al will just put in the newer motor combos in the older body cars. But wait! don't they do that now and call them GT class. What happens to the older combos, we just forget about them and hope they just go away; or if they want to continue to race then they will have to put in the newer motor combo or sell the car.

What I should have said was that the aluminum heads should be replaced on an indivudal basis for each engine combo, the way it is now, not to replace the older heads across the board, as was suggested in the title of this post. There should also be more incentive to use the older heads(i.e. more horsepower, maybe more than is in place now) so the racers that choose to use the older heads are not at a disadvantage. I do not feel that making aluminum heads legal will save the racers any money because head porters will still port the new castings thin like the oem castings in a search for even more horsepower and everyone will be back where they started.

[Stephen & Horace Johnson]

Originally Posted by dwydendorf

What I should have said was that the aluminum heads should be replaced on an indivudal basis for each engine combo, the way it is now, not to replace the older heads across the board, as was suggested in the title of this post. There should also be more incentive to use the older heads(i.e. more horsepower, maybe more than is in place now) so the racers that choose to use the older heads are not at a disadvantage. I do not feel that making aluminum heads legal will save the racers any money because head porters will still port the new castings thin like the oem castings in a search for even more horsepower and everyone will be back where they started.

one of the biggest advantages of alum heads is that they are easier to fix than cast iron. If you try to weld up cast iron, you're goin to develop a crack somewhere else.. You should try looking for a set of 427 Ford heads, good luck!! They are all torn and busted up!!the price of an alum 427 head is a whole lot cheaper than a cast iron head. I dont think they deserve a 10HP increase though, but thats my .02!!


Stephen Johnson #2162
Horace Johnson #2167
SS/D 427 Ford Fairlane NHRA-IHRA

[69ss/rs]

Originally Posted by dwydendorf

What I should have said was that the aluminum heads should be replaced on an indivudal basis for each engine combo, the way it is now, not to replace the older heads across the board, as was suggested in the title of this post. There should also be more incentive to use the older heads(i.e. more horsepower, maybe more than is in place now) so the racers that choose to use the older heads are not at a disadvantage. I do not feel that making aluminum heads legal will save the racers any money because head porters will still port the new castings thin like the oem castings in a search for even more horsepower and everyone will be back where they started.

Dwydendorf; the new casting have thicker deck surfaces and are made of better material, also they are new, not 30 or 40 years old. There is an incentive to running the older heads; its' called HP . There is HP placed on all motors that have replacement heads. With the newer heads the head porters have more than enough material to work with because the heads are cast with the purpose of being ported. As far as the expense; like I said before the aluminum heads cost more to start with, but you will save money in the long run on repairs and up keep. As I stated I have one of each so believe me when I say I know what the cost of both are.

[69ss/rs]

Originally Posted by Al Kuehl

Very good post . I agree with you 100% . I really do feel that if a replacement head is avalible in cast iron that should be good enough . But not every combination has a cast iron head avaliable . If there are no iron head's avalible then Aluminum would be ok as long as the valve size's are stock the combustion chamber meet's spec's and the In and Ex port's meet spec's . The head porter's are still going to be taking it to the limit that is part of the game . We are all trying to find a way to go faster that is part of the thrill of doing what we do .
Al

Al, I should have known there was a reason we are getting all this rain at the Dutch classics, when I saw you say that aluminum would be OK. If you are familiar with what NHRA did with the big block chevy head, then you know what I mean when I say that you can make one head fit multiple applications, without getting too far from the original piece. Like I said before, the main reason that I am pushing the aluminum heads is that most of the approved replacement heads now are aluminum. Also it would make for a more level playing field when NHRA starts to apply HP and weight adjustments. Another 10 or so posts and I will have you. HA! HA!

[69ss/rs]

Originally Posted by Al Kuehl

You are the one that need's to start paying attention ! I said only if a cast iron head was not avalible . Then only if there was a H.P. adjustment . When the head porter's get ahold of the Aluminum head's they will just keep going until we have the same problem's with leaking that we do now . Everybody will just keep pushing thing's to the limit . Just an example a well know engine builder from the midwest told me
that Ron's porting service had some secret concoction that he coated the inside of his Aluminum head's with to stop them from leaking That is why we race Stock & Super Stock if we didn't want go faster we would be like the 90's racer's build a big motor and slow it down . There are a lot of us with good iron head's that can't afford to change . I can't afford to throw a good set of iron head's away and get some Aluminum head's . There are 2 thing's that will never be on my car Aluminum head's and a diaper . Every time there is a rule change all it doe's is raise the cost of racing . Even if it make's sense to start with NHRA will find a way to scew it up .
Al

Al, and to anybody else; I never said that you had to run aluminum heads, all I am saying is that they should be and option for those whom want to go that route. There will always be some people like yourself that will always try to run the iron heads. I don't know what engine combo you run, but unless you are a chevy or ford , the availability of replacement iron isn't going to be that good, but your options in aluminum are alot better. Like I said before just look at the Edelbrock catalog. Also know matter what you say, aluminum will always be easier to repair than iron. You don't have to heat the whole head in an oven, therefore lossing all the seats, epoxy and valve guide trouble that often happens. So show me the up side of the iron head, be it a replacement or original. If the problem is that when you raise the hood you don't want to see aluminum, then paint the head the same color as the motor. Also the after market is more likely to want to produce replacement heads from aluminum rather than steel. And lets' face it they are going to be the ones producing the heads, not the manufacturers. As far as your argument about the cost, I already said that I have one of each, and besides the initial cost of the head the aluminum was cheaper. Nobody said that you had to run out and build an aluminum head motor tomorrow, but when those iron heads start to fall apart, which they will soon enough than you have another option when you have to do a new set.