What's the appeal of an aluminum engine block?

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by fordracing65

Pond block $5695. BBM block $4800. Aluminum.

Is the price for a BBM cast iron block $3,500?

[olddog]

At first thought, I assumed the reason aluminum blocks made less power was thermal conductivity. Aluminum will transfer heat away at a much higher rate than cast iron. Then after thinking about it, these are sleeved engines and the cylinder wall is typically ductile iron or some other iron. So thermal conductivity is not it, but it does matter on heads.

Seal issues is what I have read. If true then a sleeved cast iron engine may have similar issues. I honestly do not understand why this may be, but I do not question the observation made by so wide a group of engine builders.

[ERANJ]

If I recall correctly the original question was in reference to obtaining and preparing an aluminum block for a basically trouble free life in that; the amount of additional preparation in getting an aluminum block to that level took a significant amount of time, $ and more of a liability for the engine builder or locating one with a good core to start from. Also stated a cast iron block alleviated some of that risk.

With that being said, the question was around what is the allure from the customer's perspective based knowing this? For me it all boiled down to preference based on the Cobra build desired, i.e., $, reliability and the ease at which the car can be assembled. In my 35 years of working on cars, foreign or domestic nothing fits together better than OEM…don't care what anyone says.

If I were building an all-aluminum "hot rodded" Kirkham I would not go with a cast-iron block. I'll never quite understand the attraction but again personal opinion. A Kirkham or CSX following the originality theme, e.g. like a David Wagner build I would not utilize an aluminum block personally. Again, for other Cobra builds if cost isn't an issue would go with aluminum and some I would not. I would not however spend thousands of dollars to save 100 plus pounds or bragging rights. IMO depending on the build “theme” will determine what brings a higher value long-term so I would not say aluminum or cast-iron brings higher resale value as blanket statement.

Very true that comparable data speaks for itself but there are always other variables to consider. Then again there is no substitute for experienced passionate engine builder’s perspective.

[olddog]

I think I have found the reason that Brent needs to consider. If he starts a trend and all engine builders finally say enough with the aluminum FE crap I quit, this will be a disaster.

First disclosure:
I would love to have an all aluminum 482 FE in a Kirkham. In fact I would trade being able to sleep with any super model I wanted every night the rest of my life, for one. Truth is I cannot afford either. After some reflection: I couldn't handle either of them, but I can dream.

2nd disclosure:
I set a bottle of beer at each chair at my dinning room table. Then I took turns changing chairs and arguing for which engine I would put in a Cobra. At one chair a 427 SO. Another was for a Stroked Windsor. I especially enjoyed the 428 Clevor chair. You get the picture. I ended up crawling to bed and never did come to a consensus.

But here is the reason the aluminum FE must live on at all costs. In every FE verse a small block argument thread, when the small block proponents point out the superior handling on paper that their lighter engine wins hands down, the FE boys always come back with "I can build and aluminum FE that is lighter than your puny small block." If the aluminum FE becomes extinct, some one may actually win one of these useless pi$$ing matches ending the entertainment for ever.

[Dimis]

For those looking... they're out there.

FORD FE 427 ALUMINUM SIDE OILER ENGINE BLOCK GALAXIE FAIRLANE COBRA ENGINE BLOCK | eBay

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Dimis

For those looking... they're out there.

Price -- US $5,700.00 (Approximately AU $7,630.52). You guys down below must be made of money.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Price -- US $5,700.00 (Approximately AU $7,630.52). You guys down below must be made of money.

There's no markup on Pond's price. If I were building a new FE right this moment, I'd snap it up. As Brent and Barry said, in 2016, there is/was a shortage of new FE blocks.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

There's no markup on Pond's price. If I were building a new FE right this moment, I'd snap it up. As Brent and Barry said, in 2016, there is/was a shortage of new FE blocks.

Do you get to choose between the US price and the Australian price?

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Do you get to choose between the US price and the Australian price?

Depends on which way you think the US dollar might go with the US "regime change."

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Price -- US $5,700.00 (Approximately AU $7,630.52). You guys down below must be made of money.

Ironic hey... your not so "federal reserve" printing money faster then they can cut down trees, your interest rates lower than ours, and US debt levels infinitely higher than ours, yet our dollar has dropped from over parity against yours.

On the flip side, we are coming into summer, good time for you boys to holiday.
We do have the worlds most liveable cities.
One state even runs by the fairly accurate slogan, "beautiful one day, perfect the next".

Maybe a good idea to get in before the USD turns into Mozambique money.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Dimis

On the flip side, we are coming into summer, good time for you boys to holiday.

Yes, this is my favorite Australian vacation site: The 10 most dangerous animals in Australia in 1 terrifying list

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Dimis

We do have the worlds most liveable cities.
One state even runs by the fairly accurate slogan, "beautiful one day, perfect the next".

Maybe a good idea to get in before the USD turns into Mozambique money.

So, I'm looking for suggestions on where to live for the next 4 years, hopefully, where there's a nice beach, warm weather, good sushi and excellent schools and universities.

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Yes, this is my favorite Australian vacation site: The 10 most dangerous animals in Australia in 1 terrifying list

Those little things? Hardly worth worrying about.
But I wouldn't bring Ellie unless you're prepared to take on a roo.
https://youtu.be/FIRT7lf8byw

Originally Posted by RodKnock

So, I'm looking for suggestions on where to live for the next 4 years, hopefully, where there's a nice beach, warm weather, good sushi and excellent schools and universities.

Hey RK,
Nice beach? - nah, great beaches -check
Warm weather? - check
Good sushi? - nah, great sushi - check.
Clean fresh air - check
Good schools and unis? - how does several unis in the world's top 100 sound? 2 right by your door? - check.
Sounds just like where we live.
Ps. I've been to CA, trust me, got it covered.

[Tim7139]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

So, I'm looking for suggestions on where to live for the next 4 years, hopefully, where there's a nice beach, warm weather, good sushi and excellent schools and universities.

Check out Detroit.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

So, I'm looking for suggestions on where to live for the next 4 years, hopefully, where there's a nice beach, warm weather, good sushi and excellent schools and universities.

Why don't you just exercise the "Hollywood Rule?" You know, you say your going to leave the country if such and such happens and then, when it does, you just blow it all off and stay where you are, and continue to bitc*, complain, etc.???

[Dimis]

Ps. We're not on a fault line either.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Dimis

Ps. We're not on a fault line either.

Fault line? Is that an earthquake joke? If you knew CA so well, then you would know that a big earthquake only comes around every 30-50 years.

Well, then you must believe that climate change is a hoax, because the rest of us think a bunch of those "islands" scattered around the world will disappear once the polar caps melt.