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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Spike Morelli" data-source="post: 398972" data-attributes="member: 3194">It's all up to you, .......you and the thickness of your wallet really. The Cleveland engine platform responds well to mods, however, keep in mind the realistic perameters of how the car will be used/driven. Almost all modifications will generally only show benefits at more elevated RPMs. Street engines need only to be "warmed up" ( better intake, better exhaust, ignition updates, carb update ). As to an aluminum head swap, know that bigger valves and ports can hurt the lower RPM driving, so a gear change in the rear end may be needed......an extra cost not talked about much. If your stock 4v heads are replaced with aftermarket aluminum heads, you will be looking at aftermarket rockers, ( suprise hidden cost ), since the new heads will be fitted with guideplates, rather than the stock fulcrum guided rockers, This will require replacing the stock pushrods with case hardened pushrods, ( another hidden cost ), and the new heads may or may not require different length pushrods as well. Now that the stock 5/16th rocker hold down bolts are of no use, you will need to purchase, more than likely, a set of poly-locks for the screw-in studs, to hold your rockers down. More $$$$$. The stock valve covers likely won't fit over the new valve train, so you'll need to purchase aftermarket covers that will clear, along with new breathers most of the time, and fasteners to secure the covers. You shouldn't use stock un-washered bolts to hold down aluminum heads, add aftermarket head fasteners with washers. If your spark plug wires are tailored around the stock height valve covers, many times a new wire set is going to be in your game plan, and of course, a different set of spark plugs. And so it goes. Its all do-able, and my point is NOT to be a buzz-kill here, but simply to remind people of a thorough game plan when attempting modifications, and that cyl head "bolt-ons", rarely are.</blockquote>

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