Quote:
Originally Posted by moore_rb
But Brent's original points are very valid- aluminum makes perfect performance sense for cylinder heads... but not engine blocks; unless weight is the most important factor to you
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fordracing65
Not true. Brent does not like FE blocks because of the consistency in casting them. Every other aluminum block is fine. OEM blocks go over 100,000 miles easy with no problems. 90 percent of daily drivers use them. It's the quality of the FE blocks.
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I agree- This thread was started to discuss casting issues with FE blocks specifically.
However- to your statement about "every other" OEM block being just fine in aluminum; well, I also agree- They are "just fine" in OEM applications... But they are not
better than iron for high cylinder pressure/high torque applications.... None of them.
So, nothing I originally stated was "not true"
Example: the 2017 Corvette Z06. Comes with 650HP from an all aluminum engine, whose design has been rigorously tested to go 100k+ miles. It runs about 10.5psi of boost from the factory.
BUT- The moment you take that same Corvette to Lingenfelter Engineering, and say "I want to make 1500+HP" The
first thing Lingenfelter is going to do, is try to talk you into upgrading to one of their iron truck blocks, before they even start adding boost.
I stand by what I stated: From a strength and durability standpoint, aluminum is not superior to iron for
any high pressure/high performance engine block. Aluminum's
only advantage is weight...
EDIT: WAIT! - I am calling BS on myself - There is indeed
another advantage (besides weight) to aluminum, versus iron: Repairability- a cracked aluminum block can usually (but maybe not always) be welded, re-machined, re-sleeved, and re-used, while a cracked iron block is junk 99% of the time.