Reply to "aluminum heads"

Engines are a work in progress; unless you park it in a museum. You can run the same thing and fix the same thing if you are happy with everything as is but few of us here came here for that. If we were happy with as is we would be happy with a 100hp v6 Delorean.

Some one close to me has 3 460's. Each with different parts all cycling through the same car. He put 30K on a stroker with no measurable wear anyhere. He is now venturing into higher rpm's and more Hp. He is testing lifters in one engine, testing heads, comprsssion ratios, cams, etc. He is flipping 3 engines through the car to find the combination and durability he wants. The rpm is killing his durability and he is finding ways around them and the whole thing is a...Work in progress....He wouldn't have it any other way.

The heads and intake on my 434 are probably more then the cam needs. Just the same this combo gives easy power at low rpm. The power is stretched over a wide rpm band. It is ready to go at 2500rpm and it is still going strong at 5000rpm vs an rpm engine that strugles until you get the rpm's up, then you need a gear change.

The lower rpm will help durability issues from one end to the other...at least that's my theory...and I am not just preaching that theory, I am $$ that theory. I also think the advantage of more reliability in a Pantera is important in that the valves and lifters are a PITA to get to. Where as a lifter change on the Cobra was an easy afternoon task.

My philosophy with this engine is low rpm=durability and wide powerbands. Having more HP doesn't mean you have more power. Often more HP means a more narrow rpm band. If you can use the HP longer, even if less it can be equal or better then higher HP at a shorter rpm randge.

To each his own though. People get in this hobby because they do what they love. If they like the high rev's no one needs to explain it. If it's what you love...It IS!