Many items combined result in cylinder head performance.
1. Weight
2. Thermal efficiency
3. Velocity
4. Flow at "X" rpm
5. Combustion chamber shape
6. Spark plug location
I do not have flow numbers and should not have generalized without the
facts. But, I do know that the aluminum head is significantly lighter than
a cast iron head. I know that they run cooler than a cast iron head, and
can tolerate a higher compression ratio. And out of the box, they flow
better than an out of the box STOCK head.
As for marketing claims, Mini mania will sell you cast, turbo, stock,
ported, aluminum cast iron, polymer, glass, whatever! (ok just kidding on a
couple of those) They are a reseller, and they keep their sources to
themselves, but I'd bet a buck that every single aluminum head out their
right now for an A-series engine comes from the same place, I'm guessing
Pierce, but it's just a guess. I picked mine up for $500 bare. that's
within spitting distance of the stock cast head, and I'm sure the assembly
costs of aluminum vs. cast iron are equal.
Wife is telling me I have to go, I'm sure there's more discussion to follow.
David Riker
Ford Torino with 347 stroker motor with Edelbrock RPM Aluminum Heads
69 MG Midget with .060 & Aluminum Head
Both quick & Happy.
davriker@pacbell.net
http://home.pacbell.net/davriker/
http://community.webshots.com/user/fool4mg
----- Original Message -----
From "Robert Duquette" <robertduquette at sympatico.ca>
To: <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2005 8:29 AM
Subject: Re: RE: tips and advice
> This is a point of contention, isn't it?
>
> Some say as you you do ( Daniel Stapleton ) while others ( David Anton (
> or is it Vizard? ) ) prefer to not use the aluminum heads due to poor
> 'flow'. Hopefully, I've got that right. For my part, I'm ignorant, but
> hope to learn. ( Don't all pipe up to agree, okay? )
>
> For me though, the aluminum is out because of the cost. :(
snip... and Crash wrote:
Let's see Mini Mania sells aluminum heads, APT sells heads they prep. Both
claim theirs are better. So it comes down to which one you believe, from my
past dealings with both my vote goes to APT. At least they have never flat
out lied to me before.
Crash
Mini Mania's marketing claims don't really tell you much about the flow
test, and therefore it is impossible to refute. What test pressure was
used? What valve, and at what lift? Did it perform 30 % better over the
entire flow curve, or just at one data point?.
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