Does anyone on the forum currently have a running aluminum /6 in their car? Has anyone ever had a running one? My machinist told me to stay away from it. What are your experiences? Thanks in advance.

There are actually quite a few running around. The big thing is to look for corrosion around the top of the cylinders. If there is damage there the head gasket won't seal.

I personally would not use one for any kind of serious hot rod motor, but that's just me.

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I run one in my 62 Lancer. No problems to speak of, however I have taken the necessary precautions of grounding straps to almost every individual component to keep from using the aluminum block as a ground path, regular antifreeze changes, deionized water in the cooling system (easy for me since I also keep tropical fish, always have a cistern full of reverse osmosis filtered water).

It runs great and maybe it's just me, but it's a little quieter than my other slants....perhaps aluminum is a better dampening material than cast iron.

I would like to rebuild the head however the cost of the head gasket is a little prohibitive. I love mine.

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63 Valiant 200 Signet Convertible 170/
63 Dart, 225/
68 A100 Pick-up 225/
2006 Mitsu Raider Quad Cab (Dakota) Mopar 4.7L
1992 Dodge Stealth RT (My Mid-Lifer) 3.0L 24V

I've got the (original, rebuilt) aluminum 225 in my '62, and I ran one in my '65, and at one time I owned a total of five of them (now down to two...*snif*)

As long as the engine is in good condition, properly built using the correct parts and is maintained and treated properly, there is no reason to stay away from them. Your machinist may not be familiar with them, and may be thinking of the cruddy, short-lived, troublesome halfássed aluminum engines offered by GM in the Vega.

The aluminum engine is actually slightly louder than the iron; for aluminum is a poorer damper of sound. But, the aluminum engine comes up to operating temperature faster, for its coolant capacity is less.

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