302 Aluminum Head weight

kert0307 · 03-29-2010, 05:11 PM

How much weight will I save if I switch to aluminum heads on a marine 302, as opposed to the stock cast steel/iron ones?

**Dannyboy** · 03-29-2010, 08:53 PM

I don't think the reason to swap heads is for weight saving but that is a byproduct of making that change. This tread on OO has some good information but guys are talking of swapping at 700hp and up

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/g...num-heads.html

usually then I fall back on my philosophy that someone always will be bigger, faster and louder and stick with the basics lol.

**Turdle** · 03-29-2010, 10:13 PM

About 100 lbs will be shaved

kert0307 · 03-30-2010, 08:36 AM

I'm thinking of this strictly from a weight standpoint. I'm going from an inline 4cyl to a 302 in a 16ft boat. If I can switch to aluminum intake and heads and make some other modifications on the exhaust side I can probably shave at least 150-200 lbs off the weight of the engine. The "stock" 180hp from the 302 is plenty for the size of boat this is going in.

**Dannyboy** · 03-30-2010, 07:43 PM

right on, the weight difference from a new 3.0 to a 302 is 300 lbs so shaving that back off will get it close to stock.

kert0307 · 04-01-2010, 02:19 PM

Ok, what I'm finding is that bare stock heads weigh about 50lbs each and bare aluminum are around 20lbs each. So If I swap them out I'll shave about 60lbs. SO the big question is, is $600 for new heads worth 60lbs...

I think for right now I'll stick with switching the intake manifold and exhaust over and see how it goes once it's on the water. $600 right now could really go towards getting this thing on the water a lot faster this summer. I can always upgrade later.

**Dannyboy** · 04-02-2010, 10:18 AM

I don't think so...but then again I pump water into the boats I run

60 lbs isn't that much weight

it's 2 cases of beer, 10 lbs of ice and a cooler

it's 8 1/2 gallons of gas

it's not something I'd spend 600 on unless I was racing.

I think you may lose capacity for 1 person with your new engine vs. your old one but I wouldn't spend the bank trying to shave the weight.

03-29-2010, 05:11 PM	#1
kert0307 Wannabe Elite Explorer Pella, Iowa '00 Sport and '89 B2 Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 2,506 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	302 Aluminum Head weight How much weight will I save if I switch to aluminum heads on a marine 302, as opposed to the stock cast steel/iron ones? __________________ ____________________ 89' B2 -Sold 00' Explorer Sport - Sold 05' F250 Crew Cab 4x4 Diesel Clicky tow rig/DD 2011 Ford Edge - Wife's DD 1978 Glastron CVX16 Project Boat

03-29-2010, 08:53 PM	#2
Dannyboy Other Make & Models Mod 43°48′48″N 91°13′59″W 91 4 do' Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 5,407 Vehicle Specs	I don't think the reason to swap heads is for weight saving but that is a byproduct of making that change. This tread on OO has some good information but guys are talking of swapping at 700hp and up http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/g...num-heads.html usually then I fall back on my philosophy that someone always will be bigger, faster and louder and stick with the basics lol. __________________ In chatrooms I'm a 14 year old girl 91 long travel 4x4 94 Limited The Diva 2007 cadillac escalade

03-29-2010, 10:13 PM	#3
Turdle Old and in the way Humboldt, Kansas 2000 Mounty Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 23,740 Vehicle Specs	About 100 lbs will be shaved __________________ Jon 2000 Mountaineer Turdle-gone Vitamin D Wagon Sold also

03-30-2010, 08:36 AM	#4
kert0307 Wannabe Elite Explorer Pella, Iowa '00 Sport and '89 B2 Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 2,506 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	I'm thinking of this strictly from a weight standpoint. I'm going from an inline 4cyl to a 302 in a 16ft boat. If I can switch to aluminum intake and heads and make some other modifications on the exhaust side I can probably shave at least 150-200 lbs off the weight of the engine. The "stock" 180hp from the 302 is plenty for the size of boat this is going in. __________________ ____________________ 89' B2 -Sold 00' Explorer Sport - Sold 05' F250 Crew Cab 4x4 Diesel Clicky tow rig/DD 2011 Ford Edge - Wife's DD 1978 Glastron CVX16 Project Boat

03-30-2010, 07:43 PM	#5
Dannyboy Other Make & Models Mod 43°48′48″N 91°13′59″W 91 4 do' Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 5,407 Vehicle Specs	right on, the weight difference from a new 3.0 to a 302 is 300 lbs so shaving that back off will get it close to stock. __________________ In chatrooms I'm a 14 year old girl 91 long travel 4x4 94 Limited The Diva 2007 cadillac escalade

04-01-2010, 02:19 PM	#6
kert0307 Wannabe Elite Explorer Pella, Iowa '00 Sport and '89 B2 Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 2,506 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Ok, what I'm finding is that bare stock heads weigh about 50lbs each and bare aluminum are around 20lbs each. So If I swap them out I'll shave about 60lbs. SO the big question is, is $600 for new heads worth 60lbs... I think for right now I'll stick with switching the intake manifold and exhaust over and see how it goes once it's on the water. $600 right now could really go towards getting this thing on the water a lot faster this summer. I can always upgrade later. __________________ ____________________ 89' B2 -Sold 00' Explorer Sport - Sold 05' F250 Crew Cab 4x4 Diesel Clicky tow rig/DD 2011 Ford Edge - Wife's DD 1978 Glastron CVX16 Project Boat

04-02-2010, 10:18 AM	#7
Dannyboy Other Make & Models Mod 43°48′48″N 91°13′59″W 91 4 do' Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 5,407 Vehicle Specs	I don't think so...but then again I pump water into the boats I run 60 lbs isn't that much weight it's 2 cases of beer, 10 lbs of ice and a cooler it's 8 1/2 gallons of gas it's not something I'd spend 600 on unless I was racing. I think you may lose capacity for 1 person with your new engine vs. your old one but I wouldn't spend the bank trying to shave the weight. __________________ In chatrooms I'm a 14 year old girl 91 long travel 4x4 94 Limited The Diva 2007 cadillac escalade