Question on something in the Altered section

[longm1958]

I was reading in the altered section something about poured blocks with aluminum heads and "no"water causing issues with something collapsing.
SBF with hardblock and trickflow heads. I was planning not to run water in the engine. I am asking for more info since Iwasn't.

Can someone elaborate and tell me what to do now ?

[dreracecar]

Small block Chevys have the center exhaust valves next to each other and no cooling between them so that area gets real hot and after awhile that area turns to mush and lifts off the gasket and you get cross fire between the cylinders. If your Ford has seperation I-E-I-E and so on then there will be no issues

[longm1958]

Dreracecar, Thanks for the response. I was thinking the issue was aluminum heads and never thought about valve orientation.

[Frontenginedragsters]

Hello longm1958 :
 Dry heads have been used in many places....all with different results.
Water castings will run dry. I'm doing it myself. Big block Ford with Blue Thunder heads.
But its only good if your towing up thru the staging lanes and tow back. Also it wont work with gasoline.
Keep the idle a little rich with alcohol and you should be OK.
I have run water in the motor and used a couple of -4AN lines with a 4lb. check valve in line going to a small puke tank.
It worked great but its more stuff on the motor so I took it off.
Lets talk S.B.Chevy specific. Bruce Dyda mentioned two exhaust valves together as potential problem.
YES its the first place a S.B.C. starts to loose compression. The valve job goes straight to HECK as soon as that area gets hot.
Then the head gasket fails in the middle. Thats another reason to run a HEMI or a FORD
See if you can run water in the motor with a 4-5 lb check valve to a catch can.
Anything you can do to keep the exhaust side from getting to hot will help.

Matt