Best Aluminum Heads for Street Small Block Chevy?

[80' bu]

those patriot heads are really cheap for aluminum. They performed about the same as vortec heads in a fairly recent carcraft article.

Isn't your bumper support already aluminum? I'm pretty sure mine is

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Naah, mine is all steel.... as evidenced by the surface rust all over it.

 

[Silent viewer]

am i actually hearing good things about vortec heads?!?!?!!?!? wow, most people talk down on them when in all reality they are a great option in my opinion

 

[80' bu]

no doubt vortec heads are great for the money, they need to be machined to accept larger valve springs but just about every mag has proven them to make great hp for iron. They actually made better power than the patriots in that CC article

 

[andrewmp6]

get you a set of these http://www.araoengineering.com/ vortec are the best oem heads out there id use them or go aftermarket for some big ports and runners.

 

[behemoth1]

Another advantage of aluminum is the ability run higher compression without detonation while running pump gas.

 

[Chevyman85]

Another advantage of aluminum is the ability run higher compression without detonation while running pump gas.

I've never heard that before? I've always thought compression ratio is the same, and that determines what fuel you have to run. Why would aluminum heads reduce detonation?

 

[behemoth1]

I think it is because of greater thermal efficiency. An aluminum head conducts (transfers) heat more efficiently than a cast iron head. The rule of thumb I have read is iron at about 10 to 1 ratio and aluminum at about 11 to 1.

 

[Chevyman85]

I think it is because of greater thermal efficiency. An aluminum head conducts (transfers) heat more efficiently than a cast iron head. The rule of thumb I have read is iron at about 10 to 1 ratio and aluminum at about 11 to 1.

Alright will I buy that; that does make sense. I know of aircraft they use aluminum around engine components for the same reason. But I wouldn't think it would make a huge difference. Granted, aluminum conducts heat better but it's still not going to allow you to run 13:1 on pump gas :shock:

 

[behemoth1]

If the heads are identical, the irons will produce more power for the same reason.