Aluminum for casting engine block and heads

[carnage1]

I am considering building a prototype engine. I have the ability to sand cast aluminum. The engine will be a fairly small si gasoline or alcohol motor, id guess 1 liter (60 cu in) and designed for low speed operation (500 to 3000 rpm). the purpose would be to put in a small, but technically street legal 4 wheeled vehicle designed for two people. I plan on this being a water cooled engine, but it does not neccesiarily have to be.
I am wondering what types of aluminum are good candidates, and how much control I need over the rate of cooling, and anything that is about to blindside me if I decide to go this route?
also if i was to melt and recast something made out of the proper type of aluminum, would it work or would its properties be changed from the recasting process?

 

[kchan711]

Just a comment on remelting...

You can always remelt aluminum to be recasted. The only property you may lose is grain structure because of cooling techniques and working of the metal. It is quite common to remelt aluminum scraps at the beginning of the process because quality issues or simply because of excess material.

Good luck with the engine.

Kyle Chandler

http://www.KylesGuide.com

"To the Pessimist, the glass is half-empty. To the Optimist, the glass is half-full. To the Engineer, the glass is twice as large as it needs to be!"

 

[kmpillai]

Aluminium-Silicon alloy is good candidate

KMP

 

[NickE]

A356

Nick
I love materials science!