Re: IML: Aluminum Heads on an Imperial 413/440

["sjak brak" <imperial1973@xxxxxxxxx>]

What are your goals with the engine, in terms of performance?

For mild performance, the stock head are pretty good actually. But if these need to be rebuilt, you might as well spend the money on alu heads in my opinion. But without flowing and porting the heads, and other performance mods (more camlift + duration), you wont really get the true potential from alu heads, although they are better than the stock ones. But alu heads hae a definite weight advantage.

If you're only concerned about cooling issues, invest firts in your cooling system, e.g. a new radiator/waterpump/etc...

Regarding the valve seats, you can have hardened exhaust seats machined into any stock head as well.

On 10/19/07, Joe Strickland <jwstrick426@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Has anyone had experience with using aluminum heads on their Imperial
with a 413 or 440?  I have read that the aluminum heads run cooler than
the cast iron heads and help prevent pre-ignition knock at 10:1
compression ratios.  Some sites mention that their aluminum heads
eliminate the heat crossover passage too.  The new ones would have
improved valve seats to accommodate no-lead fuel too.  Any ideas?

Joe