Considering a pair of aluminum heads for my 455. I'd like to know are they worth it? Which ones work the best? Where is the best place to buy? Or stick with stock heads grind the crap out of them?

 

What’s the application, stock, performance, race?

 

Performance with the odd run down the strip half dozen times a year

 

All depends.
Not sure any out of the box stock aluminum head will do much for you.
If you buy a set from a builder who will port them...then you'll notice some gains.

 

Not true. The new Edelbrocks out of the box flow significantly more than any stock iron head.

 

Oh? Do you have a model or part number?

 

I refuse to buy Speedmaster Ding How knockoffs, especially after they copied that dude's logo on his billet valve bodies.
Edelbrock all the way, unless you can afford PDD or Kellen billets.

 

Apologies...I actually forgot about these new offerings.
Are they available straight from Summit now? Just through you Mark?
Any A&B tests done on a stock to mild build yet?

​​​​​​​Glad there's something better out there.

 

They’ve always been available from the mail order houses. I never had an exclusive at any point. My focus has always been to make parts like these available to the masses.
Last back to back I did was on a mild 455 with big valve E’s. They made 37hp more than the irons.

 

Probably a lot of weight savings here too.
I'm guessing that a 455 with aluminum heads and intake wouldn't weigh much more than an all iron small block Chevy ( 540 LBS ).
Does anybody know what a 455 weighs with aluminum heads and intake?

 

Aluminum heads and intake save about 58 pounds off an iron engine weight of about 620 = 562 pounds. Maybe not perfect, but a good approximation.

 

OK, about 22 pounds more than an iron SBC.
That 58 pounds, especially on the front end, ought to make at least some difference in ET.

 

513 lbs.

The 605 lb factory Olds 455 loses 92 lbs. 42 lbs saved from the intake swap and 50 lbs saved from swapping heads.

Thanks to Oldsragger and TripDeuces. https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...weights-90666/

http://www.carnut.com/specs/engdim.html

 

Even better.
That 92 pounds should make some difference in ET's.