Quote:
Originally Posted by 1G6
3.9 is a combo aluminum head/iron block. I'm ridding my fleet of aluminum-engined cars.
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Good luck doing that AND purchasing new cars in the future.
Aluminum is better for NVH, it is lighter to help shave weight, it is surperior in transferring heat, and is almost the same cost. Plus the durability is pretty darned good (some would argue better then Iron, I would be one of them), as good as 3800's were, Gen III and Gen IV LS motors are easily matching their reliability with none of the intake manifold issues seen in the 3800. IIRC the only V8 that GM makes that still uses an Iron block is the 6.0 in SOME of the trucks, and maybe the 4.8. The 5.3 DOD, 6.2, and some 6.0 have moved to aluminum foundations.
Now if your argument is based on iron block w/ aluminum head, get something called an MLS (multi-layered steel) head gaskets. Never seen an issue on an engine that had good parts. Hell, my Olds Alero w. a 2.4 twin-cam just rolled past 200k miles on original everything, except clutch, plugs, and filter... Runs just as good as Day one...