Aluminum head advantage?

keithfullmeryahoocom

I'm at the beginning of the process of rebuilding my splasher eight for my '50 Commodore.   I have an older pal who will sell me a good aluminum head for this engine.   My question is, other than the obvious "bling bling" factor of the polished head, is there any real advantage to this engine that will be for a driver?...k

[Deleted User]

My personal opinion is the only place for an aluminum head is hanging on the wall.. It will "grow" to your headbolts, sparkplug threads strip or gauld easily, always seeps at the head gasket and water neck gasket.

Ol racer

FYI

I like aluminum Heads and have one on every Hudson 6 Cyl. Not only look 'Kool', they are usually a half Point higher compression which results in a little more Power.. (I dont have an 8 cyl Though) Almost every new vehilce on the road today have Aluminum heads.....

Here is what I recommend If want to install an Aluminum Head...1st, since its old check the Water Holes are in decent shape and not eroded or enlarged...Aluminum was excellent back then but Anti freeze was poor)
 Head must be perfectly flat, if not, have it refaced a few thousandths. The block has to be cleaned perfectly then use Brake Kleen to wipe again.
 I dont think BEST Proform makes an 8 Gasket so I would buy a Name Brand Gasket then spray both sides with K W CopperTack (Best) or Permatex Copper Spray, then hang up and let get 'Tacky' before installing. If using head bolts ensureThreads are absoluty clean (Preferrably switch to Studs) then Permatex the threads & shank.

 Additionally, use Grade 8 Washers under the bolt head (Lowes) with Chassis Grease on 'both sides' of the washers.(This allows more True Torque when tightening the Bolts and I suggest coating the 'shanks' so yrs from now if ever want to remove the bolts they will unscrew ez'r)).

Warm up the Motor then retorque the Head. Let cool then retorque again Cold. (Aluminum heads need torqued cold) Drive a little then retorque Hot & cold again. Follow Torque Pattern and Dont exceed Max.

Occassionally i wipe with Wenol or Mothers to enhance the appearance. Suggest buy a Set of Chrome Acorn Nuts at a Truck Stop or  www.iowa80.com

allan

Aluminum Heads were better at transfering heat from the top end - very important for these engines as they will burn valves.

Allan

50C8DAN

I have an aluminum head on my 8 and it has been there since did the reassembly in 2005.  I had the head check for flatness and as Ol racer notes, shaved a few thou to get it there.  I had all of the spark plug holes redone with stainless steel inserts.  Not had any problems and it weighs about 1/3rd that of a cast iron head.

Park_W

And if you're going to have the engine look as original, the head is painted aluminum like the rest of the engine anyway!

Ol racer

FYI

Like I said never had an 8 but notice from Park's Picture that they already have 'Studs' which is even better  securement for an aluminum Head. I would still coat the Stud shanks with Permatex or never-seeze. Its rare these days to find an 8 cyl Head.

ArkieJazz

I agree with RD

hudsontech

Telll y'all about an experience I know about regarding aluminum heads.  Chief (E-7) Engineman I was stationed with in the Coast Guard took on an engine overhaul on a 1938 or 1939 Lincoln V-12 fitted with aluminum heads.
First they removed all the head bolts - and couldn't budge the heads.  So they put all the bolts back in, but left them loosed about 2 turns and drove it around for a few days - that didn't work either.  End of story they finally had to beat the heads off destroying them in the process.  They were, literally, welded to the block. They figured that those heads had been on the car since new - which at that time was about 35 years or so.

Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN

Geoff

My Dad had a 1936 Graham Crusader which had an alloy head.  We got it off in four pieces!  Put a Dodge motor in it.  Trouble is nobody bothered to put grease around the studs, nor inhibitor in the water back in those days.  Also the alloy was of inferior quality compared to the stuff they make engines out of these days.  Pot metal (die-cast) is also terrible stuff.  Marvel carburetors were made out of the lowest grade metal they could use, probably the cheapest also. 

Browniepetersen

I have an aluminum head on my 8 and a steel on my 6. I rebuilt a 308 to race on the Salt Flats and found a near perfect aluminum head for the car. We lapped the head to get it flat and put in studs. first time I started the engine it blew a hole in the head. We pulled the head and went steel, with some minor modifications. Not a big fan of aluminum heads.