Aluminum or magnesium case?

Can't decide which case to buy.
I've read a lot of negatives on various forums for both type cases.

Any thoughts?

If, god forbid, something happens and something catches on fire in the engine bay and starts the case aflame, you can kiss the car goodbye. It'll still be smouldering three days later.

Chris, I assume that's a vote for the aluminum case?

In the 60's and 70's while on the Vol. Fire Dept, if a vehicle fire had mag wheels we "let er' burn" ....quite entertaining with a brilliant light but best not to stare at it too long.

Magnesium is really cool. Its strong and light - great for performance cars. It's actually rather difficult to catch on fire, but once it does - oh boy! It will burn underwater. If you catch a magnesium case on fire (admittedly difficult but possible) you are probably not going to be able to put it out. Further it will also burn a hole into the pavement that you will be liable for repairing.

The real question to ask is what advantages as for strength and porosity, cost, availability and compatibility with other parts over the aluminum case? angela

I had the same anxiety while deciding on parts for my new 2110. I had the build paid for with a new AS41 CB super-case (mag), but ended up changing my mind and going with a CB (Auto-Linea) AL case. The AL case is beefier and heavier, for all the good and bad that that brings.

I think what you choose really depends on what you are building. If the engine has a stock stroke, I'd probably do the mag case. If it's a stroker, then I'd go AL.

Mag for street, aluminum for race . . . . I think . . .

Our aluminum case has been reworked many times, which can't effectively or cheaply be done with a mag case. We had the gussets improved and strengthened, the top was shattered because of the stroker crank, so the "roof" was raised up and the hole filled. The #3 piston/barrel surround had material put in, etc., etc.

The aluminum cases can be porous if they come from the "wrong" sources, weak in some areas, and all that, but they're kind of "raw material" which can be rebuilt and adjusted to your needs WAY better than a mag case.

If you're just looking for a healthy street engine with a long trouble free life, go with the usual mag case. If you want to "do the mess around", aluminum is the way for the price and ease of working with.

Luck,

TC

From what I have heard, and this doesn't count for much, The first generation Al case had there issues. They seemed to have been worked out in the second generation Al cases.

There is now a Pent High roof Al case which has all the tricks done to it already, like clearce for an 86 stroke, suffle pin, thick behind number three, very beefy and a lot heavier.

If I wasn't in the Renn Kafer series, I would have bought a new aluminum case.

Now there are still people who like the Mag case and I think that may be only experience.

Aluminum case is one of the big selling features of using the TIV engine. A big advancement over the T1 engine -- oil filter and starting displacemnt of 1.7-20L added benefits!

Yep.. BUT don't confuse "Aluminum cases" from the factory with those from the aftermarket..

The VW case made from aluminum was a DIE CASTING, it has a beautiful finish and no porosity at all. The ONLY cases that are die cast aluminum are the Type IV, the wasser and the 911. These cases have a feaure that the factory felt was a necessity with the aluminum case and that is a set of "through bolts" that hold the case halves together. The magnesium TI case as well as this "New" case do NOT have these and I feel thats a huge fault in their design alone.

The "New" cases are sandcast, porous and by far not my favorite. The TI case weighs MORE than a Type IV case when its made from a sandcasting.

I tried ONE new aluminum case. After I remachined nearly every surface on the thing it cracked before it ever left my dyno. I know that CB has their own version of this case and has done testing with it so theirs is probably the "Best" one on the market....

No more for me.. I believe in doing the most with the beautiful piece of art that the factory gave us with the stock aluminum case....

I'd rather have a 35 year old worn out mag case if I was building a TI over the "new and improved case"... But thats just me.

We originated the aftermarket aluminum case from Auto linea that is being sold today. It started about 6 years ago and before it was tested, it was allready being sold around us. To be honest, the first ones were horrible. Porosity, bad machining, etc. Suppliers were more interested in the buck than qaulity. This is what gave the case a bad rap. We kept working on the case, refusing to sell it to the open market. I trully believe the case we have today is a nice piece. I have built many engines with them with NO PROBLEMS. Oil pressure is better than a mag case. Strength is better. Our case has six shuffle pins, can be ordered with 8mm or 10mm head studs. The case also has four different deck height surfaces, so you do not need barrel spacers or longer head studs for long stroke engines. I am building my own engine with one of our cases. I gaurantee you if I did not like it, it would not go into my car. If you would like to discuss the case in more detail, feel free to give me a call at CB. 559-733-8222. Pat Downs/CB Performance

My 2 cents... the CB aluminum case is probably your best option for a street stroker type 1 engine. There is also the more expensive TF-1 (type 1 from Precision Alloy) aluminum case which uses through bolts just like a type IV but sells for about $1,400. Either of these can be machined for type IV main bearings and use a type 1 crank with type IV main journals.

I chose the new CB AL Super case. Pat's and Henry's assurance and recommendations were all I needed to hear.

Thanks for posting Pat.

George shoot me a note with some good times to call. I'll be at IM the next few days.

Thanks to all who responded, I appreciate your input.

I feel a lot more comfortable after hearing Pat's explanation.
I also spoke with John Steele today - he said they've had nothing but good experiences with the new CB aluminum case.
George, I checked out the TF-1 case, it looks great, but out of my price range.

Thanks again,

Dave