Why do alum. heads .........?
#1
Why do alum. heads .........?
I asked this question on another members thread about alum. heads but no one ponied up. So, from all the pics I've seen it looks like both Edelb. and Procomp heads stick out over both ends of the cyl. block by about 1/2" -3/4" ......... Why? Is it because they are in fact aluminum and just need a little extra meat for strength or what? My 455 didn't have heads on it, do the stockers stick out the same way? Thanks, Dave
#2
The stock iron heads do not really hang over the block deck surfaces at all, except for the accessory bosses that stick out a bit from the rest of the head casting and the deck.
I think part of the reason why the Edelbrock heads are cast "wider" and hang out over the block deck surface is that they made the ends of the heads flat where the accessory bosses would have been compared to iron heads, instead being only threaded holes in the overly-thick ends of the heads. It is stronger to thread into a flat end of a large aluminum casting than a small boss that sticks up. The Procomp heads are pretty much a copy of the Edelbrocks from what I have seen/read.
The cast aluminum aftermarket heads for Olds engines will work fine with a Big Block and a mechanical fuel pump without any mods.
Hope this helps!
I think part of the reason why the Edelbrock heads are cast "wider" and hang out over the block deck surface is that they made the ends of the heads flat where the accessory bosses would have been compared to iron heads, instead being only threaded holes in the overly-thick ends of the heads. It is stronger to thread into a flat end of a large aluminum casting than a small boss that sticks up. The Procomp heads are pretty much a copy of the Edelbrocks from what I have seen/read.
The cast aluminum aftermarket heads for Olds engines will work fine with a Big Block and a mechanical fuel pump without any mods.
Hope this helps!
Last edited by Battenrunner; August 29th, 2018 at 06:26 AM.
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