Aluminum Head Fuelie

[Terry D.]

Re: Aluminum Head Fuelie

Then by all means Peter you should go down there and buy it!

[Ray K.]

Re: Aluminum Head Fuelie

As I worked for a Chev dealer in Denver when news was released about the new aluminum cylinder heads for the 315HP engines. We submitted numerous orders - as I recall a dozen or more - to the GM parts operations trying to obtain a set of those heads. We thought a pair might slip through the system and actually get shipped to us. It never happened, all we received were the cast iron version #461 - a great head.

Ray

[Joe L.]

Re: Aluminum Head Fuelie

All------


Jack Podell has/had a set of these early aluminum heads for sale for a VERY long time (and may still). He wants/wanted something like $50,000 for them so I suppose it would be a hard sell.

[Jim L.]

Re: Aluminum Head Fuelie

True 30 years ago. Still true today:




Jim

[Jim L.]

Re: Aluminum Head Fuelie

All------


Jack Podell has/had a set of these early aluminum heads for sale for a VERY long time (and may still). He wants/wanted something like $50,000 for them so I suppose it would be a hard sell.

Joe,

As I recall the 50 Large would take home his aluminum 283 block. I think the heads were only 10 Large.

Last pair of heads that changed hands that I know about went for about three thou.

Jim

[Bob J.]

Re: Aluminum Head Fuelie

True 30 years ago. Still true today:




Jim

Dr Ed Gurdjian, what a great researcher (and brain surgeon) !

[Terry M.]

Re: Aluminum Head Fuelie

One of the first events I attended was an Illinois Chapter meet in Naperville at which Dr Ed was the tech session leader. He drove to the event from Pennsylvania with one of those aluminum heads in the trunk of his C1 (a 1962, I think -- but don't hold me to that.). I wish now I had paid more attention to what he said, but I was driving my 1970 and it was just a used car back then. That C1 stuff was way over my head.

The one thing I do remember Dr Ed saying: "Every Corvette has a story. Your job as a judge is to determine that story." I am thinking this was the early 1980s and I know the matrix judging system was just a dream. Dr Ed's words are as true today as they were back then.

[Bill M.]

Re: Aluminum Head Fuelie

One of the first events I attended was an Illinois Chapter meet in Naperville at which Dr Ed was the tech session leader. He drove to the event from Pennsylvania with one of those aluminum heads in the trunk of his C1 (a 1962, I think -- but don't hold me to that.). I wish now I had paid more attention to what he said, but I was driving my 1970 and it was just a used car back then. That C1 stuff was way over my head.

My guess is his silver '60 (CZ appropriate). He reproduced an owner's card for my '59.

[Rick G.]

Re: Aluminum Head Fuelie

I recall at a very early Reno Hot August Nights swap meet there was a vendor, could have been Jack Podell, who had an aluminum block for sale at $3000. It had a Chevrolet casting number and a date of C-19-59. First and only one I have ever seen.

[Al R.]

Re: Aluminum Head Fuelie

I have a set of the aluminum heads that I removed from a 60 vette back in the late 80s or early 90s. The man I purchased the vette from said they had been used on an Indy car, (don't remember whose Indy car). They have been heavily ported and polished with all threaded holes having heli-coils and have screw-in rocker studs with double valve springs. I'd have to look to see if they have valve seat inserts, I'm almost sure they do. I ran them on the vette for a short time until I did a frame-off on the car. They did OK, no problems that I rember.

[Joe L.]

Re: Aluminum Head Fuelie

I have a set of the aluminum heads that I removed from a 60 vette back in the late 80s or early 90s. The man I purchased the vette from said they had been used on an Indy car, (don't remember whose Indy car). They have been heavily ported and polished with all threaded holes having heli-coils and have screw-in rocker studs with double valve springs. I'd have to look to see if they have valve seat inserts, I'm almost sure they do. I ran them on the vette for a short time until I did a frame-off on the car. They did OK, no problems that I rember.

Al------


I'd say it's a certainty they have valve seat inserts. Without them an aluminum head would have a VERY SHORT life.

The use of valve seat inserts was a very well-known technology in the 50's. Many MD/HD truck engines used cast iron heads with "Stellite" exhaust valve seat inserts.