Cast Iron vs Aluminum heads

I've heard comments pro and con for aluminum vs cast iron heads. I'm sure some of you have opinions based on actual use as to which is really better. How about aluminmum/iron heads that have the same flow numbers, compression ratio ect. Is there really a benefit to alumimun over iron? How about longevity? Do iron heads last longer, present fewer problems down the road than aluminum, or are they equal in that respect?

I posed a similiar question not too long ago: http://www.fordmuscle.com/phpBB/view...66&forum=1
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Sorry for the duplicate thread - thanks for the info.

i was going to use alum on my 408, but a speed shop owner in my town who builds engines for dirt track racers and he doesnt like alum heads on fords, not enough head bolts,also something about heat in the combustion chamber and surrounding areas will absorb heat with cast iron heads,more explosion in the chamber makes more power, alum doesnt retain heat, he gave me a good 2hour session on alum and cast iron for street driven cars, also if you live in cold area it takes longer to warm up and builds up more carbon on the pistons because of alum disapates heat more,to rich of mixture coming in not good where i live, or just dont drive it in winter, i might of missed out a few things he said but he knew what he was saying, he even drew me pictures of the pictures of the whole thing, im going with a set of roush heads 58cc fully ported for my 408 to keep it safe for daily driving, im sure its a 50\50 thing with cast and alum heads, just the weight of the cast iron heads makes you want alum ones,your own call.

try to find an iron head that will make the same performance as an Aluminum Yates-style head. If it was available (I'm sure it is, somewhere) it'd probably cost more because iron is a PITA to machine compared to Aluminum alloy.

yates style heads?(great heads) not for street though.....we must try to compare apples and apples when giving our opinons in these forums

You can run more compression with the aluminum heads and it allows you to run with a better camshaft. You just put on an aluminum head with a smaller combustion chamber and now take the weight into consideration, it's more than a wash.