Offenhouser or Edelbrock Heads

I am wanting some opinions on what brand of head to put on my 8BA flathead. The motor runs fine and is all stock. I want to pep it up a little for now and add a Offy two carb intake and finned heads. What brand would would you choose?

 

I have Offy .425's on my Merc. Been happy with them

 

Me too! Call Eric at Streamline to get the hook-up! Tell him your from the HAMB.

 

Depends what you like. Both will improve performance... do you like the looks of the Edelbrock or the Offy better?

I don't stock these heads, and when I have to order them it can be 3 months lead time... I'd check around and make sure they are available first.

 

I have Offy on my flatty,,,personal choice! HRP

 

I thought I should add that you should probably do a little research before you order. You suggest that you are going to add two carbs but nothing about a cam change. The number on the Offy heads is the amount of maximum cam lift for the valves. Offy also makes other numbers that start at .325 then go to .350, .375, .400 & .425. As the number decreases the compression ratio increases. Tables list the .325 at a 10.6:1 and the .425 at 7.9:1. Stock heads are around 7.2:1 and I don't know what the max lift may be. In general an increase in compression ratio will increase power. In any case if you think you may want to install a cam later that should be one of your considerations as well as higher compression ratios require higher octane fuel.

 

I have the Offenhauser heads in stock.Give me a call.
1-800-426-5911
ERIC
mention the HAMB all make ya a deal

 

If you go with the Edelbrock heads, you're going to have a hard time finding a '49-'53 style intake to match. For 8BA motors (and later Mercs), I think the Offy heads look better. And as mentioned above, you have more CR options with the Offys. You also get to choose from 2x2 regular, 2x2 super or 3x2 late-style Offy intakes.

 

or go sharp and put a set of early centre water neck heads on it, cooler look.

 

Hey - I'd buy the Cyclone's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Especially since you're a dealer for them & you have them in stock as well.

 

Thanks for the info. I have been leaning towards a standard two carb Offy intake and Offy heads (400). I have read in one of AV8's threads on flatheads that the Offys are not exactly what is stampted on the heads. Does anyone find that to be the case and have to have them machined right out of the box?

Thanks again for all the help, John (flashback)

 

Hey Man,

I went with offy 400's in the early style on my 8ba. i love the look and i got an awesom price through Flat Oz. Thanks mate!

Danny

 

I know from personal experience, rat bastad had a pair of offy 400's with a 365 lift cam that were touching when he just sat the gasket and heads on the block.

and I bought a set of 425's in for a mate that had a pin hole in one of the valve pockets.

alot of the flathead forums over the last 12 months have been talking about quality issues with offy flathead heads, not sure if this is still valid or not. but they are two ones that I know of. Not to say that, those issues cant happen with other brands. but if is says 400 on the box there should be 400 in the head.

 

plug a coupla water return holes in the deck and use EARLY style Baron or Navarro.................

 

Offy 400. Their like a new Harley, can make them in to anything you want further down the road. Looks good and some meat to work with.

 

Hey Kevin, is there a plan to make a 8ba set of heads for the 49-53 flatty?

i love your heads, jsut dont have the early motor.

 

Dakota,
1st off thanks for the compliment, now check out below.
It doesn't matter if you have the late motor, you can still use the "better" looking early heads, read up a couple of posts re: blocking off a couple of front water passages, very easy thing to do, Tap some threads,add plugs.
If there was enough interest, we'd maybe look into doing the later heads, but Cook never made em, because by that time he saw the writing on the wall & he wanted to make money. Alot of competition back then, just as there is now.
Email or PM me & I give you more info on the early head to late block swap.
Kevin

 

Flatoz is right ...I have an L100 cam with .375" lift (less .015" lash=net .350" lift) and 1.6"/1.5" valves and had no clearance even with a .055 gasket. The kicker is that theyre supposed to clear a .400" lift cam. Well they wouldnt even clear a .350" lift and proceeded to lift the head off the deck WITH the gasket. Not good enough Offy !!

The chambers were all over the place and to add insult to injury, the plugs were WAY too shrouded to allow decent flame travel.

So I unshrouded the valves halfway around their circumference for flow and clearance and sloped the transfer area slightly as well as unshrouded the plugs.

A lot of work to do for a head thats supposed to clear .400" net lift.....

My 2 pesos...

Rat

 

As a matter of fact ,these engines vary in valve angle ,between left and right banks of cylinders .Edelbrock is the only outfit in the states that allowes for this in their castings .offy does not ! Vics heads ,when cc d will reflect this difference .pony up and get the real deal ,OR .......... ?

 

Yep..my vote is new Edelbrock block letter early heads with an Edelbrock manifold. I think you'll find that heads and headers will be the most noticable change.