Welding Aluminum Heads

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I've been welding for about 12 years now but just recently tried my hand at aluminum ( about 6 months ). I would like to know if anybody has had first hand experience welding aluminum heads. If so, any tricks of the trade would be helpful. I've read to preheat at 350 degrees for about an hour and V out the crack. Does that sound correct? What would be the best filler rod to use( Tig )? Would gas welding be any better or is Tig the best choice? What would be the best amperage to get good penetration but not burn through? Any help woud be appreciated. ThanksBruce
Reply:i would agree with heating them up....maybe to 500* and beveling the crack..... 4043 filler of 6061.... tig  i would think would be better then gas...depending on the size of the tig machine... remember that aluminum is porus and you have to get all of that crap out of the weld zone....do a search on hobarts board....b-
Reply:I've had to weld up a cracked and pitted head for a customer.  I just used a skill saw because it won't leave any inpurities in the aluminum.  I never bothered to preheat it because I wanted to keep the warpage to a minimal.  I still had to walk over the original metal with the torch to boil out the casting inpurities.Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
Reply:A good friend of mine has a prop shop and does lots of small side jobs, all alum. related. I have taken several heads to him that have had a crack and all he does is v it out, and weld it . no preheat, nothing. all of the heads that he has done are still on the cars and working fine. I guess it would depend on where the crack is and  the type of head. We here have had good luck so far.  He has a large miller with a water cooler on the torch., but then he does props all day long.one good deed is worth a thousand good intentions
Reply:Tig should work great.  Just don't try the damn aluminum welding rods for stick.  It welds like bubble gum.  Maybe it's just me, but I've had bad luck with that stuff...Bobcat