Iron Heads
Iron Heads So I bought a 96 LT1 Caprice engine, anyway what I was wondering are there any advantages to running the iron heads over the aluminum heads on theses LT1 blocks?
Stock for stock I would not swap either for the other.
You might consider installing the engine with the iron heads so you have the aluminums sitting as spares on a shelf till you are ready to have them ported.
You might consider installing the engine with the iron heads so you have the aluminums sitting as spares on a shelf till you are ready to have them ported.
Whatever weight disadvantage that the iron heads deliver is likely offset by their additional flow capacity in stock form. Stock for stock, they flow marginally better than their aluminum counterparts.
I always read they used the iron heads for more resistance to detonation, to use regular unleaded gas (do they not have a few more cc of combustion chamber size?) for the cop n fleet service cars and they are cheaper for replacement reasons. I've held both, they probably weight 20 more each and on the fullsize cars who really cares about that right?
I believe the weight difference is actually more like 23lbs EACH but I agree 45lbs on a street car is not that big a deal.
They have a 62-64cc chamber so they are lower compression.
They are less fragile when overheated and FAR FAR less prone to head gasket problems than the aluminums. Not that the aluminums have frequent head gasket toubles but they are more prone to it than the iron.
They were delivered tuned for 87 octane fuel.
They have a 62-64cc chamber so they are lower compression.
They are less fragile when overheated and FAR FAR less prone to head gasket problems than the aluminums. Not that the aluminums have frequent head gasket toubles but they are more prone to it than the iron.
They were delivered tuned for 87 octane fuel.
