Originally Posted by Volfandt
In developing an aluminum head could it be designed to increase it's efficiency while still maintaining reuse of as much of the existing hardware?

I'm pretty sure it would be possible to improve the breathing of the stovebolt head with some redesigning, but I'm wondering if something similar to the Chevy Vega might crop up. When the Cosworth twin cam head got added to the basic Vega engine, the lower ends started coming apart. The head was capable of developing more power than the bottom end could stand. A stovebolt engine has a relatively heavy crankshaft and only four main bearings, plus long, fairly flimsy connecting rods. That's not a good starting point for hotrodding, especially with something as expensive as a custom-cast cylinder head. I think more conventional modifications might give more bang for the buck.
Jerry

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