Metal casting shipments in automobiles have remained relatively constant over the last several years, but technological developments in engine cylinder blocks and heads have come along rapidly. It was early in the 20th century when automobile designers first discovered that the performance they wanted came mainly from an engine's cylinder head and, to some extent, the block. So cast iron production - as the only show in town - began to see the benefits. And for a long while, the castability and strength of iron kept the metal in the driver's seat for the production of engine parts. However, because of today's Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards, iron has become a weighty burden to many engine makers and is being pushed to the back seat.
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