Aluminum heads

[Flatie46]

Was there ever any 230's that came stock with an aluminum head or anything that would fit a 230 that came stock aluminum head?

[claybill]

stock...i dont know. i am using one on my 218. same head fits my 230.. runs nice

i have heard that using a 1940, 201 head gives the same result as a high compression aluminum head..for use on a 218/230

bill

[Fluid drive]

Flatie:

Yes Chrysler used an aluminum head option on almost of their vehicles including the straight 8's. It was a higher compression "red head" .. Be careful if you decide to use one of those because they require different studs or capscrews than the cast iron heads.

Yes the use of a smaller displacement head like the 201.3 on a 230 will raise the compression. Don't forget to use some copper plus sealant when you are repalcing that head!

Evan

[Don Coatney]

Flatie:

Yes Chrysler used an aluminum head option on almost of their vehicles including the straight 8's. It was a higher compression "red head" ..

I do not recall ever seeing a factory option aluminum head. Can you post more details?

[Fluid drive]

DOn:

The factory part # for the aluminum head is 868456, cast iron is 859224 for 1941 -1942 plymouth. That same head will of course fit 1935-'59 dodge and plymouth engines. As I had mentioned earlier different cap screws and /or studs must be used but, after I started to use my dusty & cobweb covered memory, they used a different gasket too. As I am sure you know the expansion rate of aluminum is much greater than iron too. The old service manuals always instructed us to check torque after they cooled completely off. I think the iron heads ran from 6.25 to 1 up to 6.7 to 1 and the aluminum heads were 7 to 1. The old aluminum heads that were available for the '34 plymouth I used to drive used spark plugs with a greater thread lenght as well because the shorter length threads on the plugs for iron heads stripped out the threads in the aluminum heads.

I remember hearing about a Chrysler dealer in the Detroit area in about '33 who sold a new chrysler to a wealthy guy . Seems this new Chrysler owner liked to race his new straight 8 against the local "hot"cars which were Franklins then. He was really showing those Franklins his exhaust but when the dealer found out he hadn't properly run in the new engine he talked the man into driving the car up to the factory where either Fred Zeder's or Owen Skelton's men ( don't quote me ! it's been too long!) had the engineering dept. install an aluminum head and supertune the engine. Then they put the car on the dynamometer and ran it in before they would let the customer have it back - all free of charge in those days.

Once again those aluminum heads were available as a special order option.

[Don Coatney]

Interesting story. I would like to hear more.

[Flatie46]

Is compression the only performance gain here in using the 201 or the aluminum head or is there anthor benifit. I know aluminum is lighter and dissapates heat faster, what I'm gettin at is will I get the same performance if I shave a little off my head or do these heads have some extra trick to them.

[claybill]

good question FLATTIE. wondered myself. lighter..who ares. iron was longer lasting for sure....i think the aluminum heads ran a bit cooler. the fins!! and heat dissipation.

those chrysler 6 and 8 option heads would be for the 25 in motor, right?

i had one of those 251 motors with factory dual carbs etc...had an iron head.

bill

[Flatie46]

I heard, read or dreamed that for some reason the '59 head would kick it up a notch but again that may just be the compression.

[No Bux Rod]

For the record, if you are looking for compression on a 230" motor your best starting point is a '57-'59 (Dodge or Plymouth) head with 8.0:1 CR. For '55-'56 Dodge is 7.4:1 while the '55 Ply and '54 Dodge are 7.25:1.

218" motors will have about 5% lower CRs with the same head.

I think a milled is a lot lower cost than a cast alum head. So search around for a late '50s head for $100-$150 and your on your way.

N B R

[Niel Hoback]

How can we tell a 57-59 head from earlier ones? Is there a number to look for?

[MoparMontana]

Is compression the only performance gain here in using the 201 or the aluminum head or is there anthor benifit. I know aluminum is lighter and dissapates heat faster, what I'm gettin at is will I get the same performance if I shave a little off my head or do these heads have some extra trick to them.

The main benefit of aluminum is that it dissipates heat six times faster than iron, resulting in less risk of detonation.

[blueskies]

For the record, if you are looking for compression on a 230" motor your best starting point is a '57-'59 (Dodge or Plymouth) head with 8.0:1 CR. For '55-'56 Dodge is 7.4:1 while the '55 Ply and '54 Dodge are 7.25:1.

For what it's worth, the EDGY head has 9:1 compression on the 230...

Pete

[Flatie46]

From what I've read you can't do much for the flathead head as far as performance. You can mill the head a little and get a little more compression and more compression does make more power but the need for higher octane also increases but if you mill too much you'll impead flow.I'm building my car to be a daily driver. I don't need it to be a hot rod, just efficent. I know a stock 230 will do the job but the way people drive these days I want to make sure I can get out of their way.I knew if there were any tricks to kick it up a notch somebody here would know. Thanks for the input if I learn anything I'll pass it on.