Cast vs. Aluminum heads and bang for buck..
bang for the buck, I think for most the reality is aluminum, unless there is other factors being considered, then those looking run across threads like this. When I built the 351w I have currently have I started out trying to find a good shop to rework the heads and engine, after finding out costs and how backlogged the shop I decided on was I started spending time looking at what other options there were. I eventually went with some aluminum edlebrocks, it worked out a little cheaper actually because they were complete and the weight difference which wasn't an initial thought turned out better for me where the 351 eventually ended up. Most of us have budgets and goals that change along the way and even with the best research and patience you still could end up with issues either from custom work or off the shelf stuff. As with all things we learn from what we did previously and go from there, if I were to buy another set of aluminum, instead of scoffing at the procomps like I did on the 351 I would take a harder look at something like them. When I do research on quality of things, another thing about peoples comments and reviews, most that have had issues seem to get their comments out there, those with good results seem to move on with life.