Customs Holley vs. Edelbrock

I’m building a 347 stroker with 10.2 compression, TFS Twisted Wedge Heads, max rpm will be around 6200ish with a roller cam (don’t have the size yet). Rear end is 3.70. About 425 HP, I’m guessing. I’m indecisive about the carb (it will be on top of a Performer RPM manifold). The guy that’s machining the short block says a Holley 4150 HP 650. Edelbrock recommends a Thunder Series AVS 800. That’s a pretty big difference! The Holley has mechanical secondaries (with no choke – drivability?), and the Edelbrock has vacuum secondaries. I need to call upon the voices of experience. What would you all do?

 

On the street I'd go Edelbrock in this case. Choke is good. Vacuum secondaries are good.

 

Thanks! I leaning that way, but I thought I'd see what ya'll had to say. Thanks again!

 

If you want dependable go with Edelbrock .If you are after power and tuning go with the Holley I personally run Barry Grant Demons If you have any problems with the tuning you can call and they will walk threw the issue with you .

 

Why Demons? They seem pretty similar to the 4150 HPs.

 

get a good ol fashion 750 double pumper that all you need.

 

Edelbrock carbs are VERY easy to set up and tune. Even if it's running rich you can use their step up spring kit without using smaller jets to get the desired setup. You just put in shorter springs and you can move the accel. punp linkage down for a shorter pump stroke. I love em. just my .02

 

Thanks... I've always used Edelbrock too and really like them, but there's a lot of people that swear by Holley (I guess it's like the "Ford vs. Chevy" argument, Ha). I'm kinda confused about the CFM difference though... 650 vs. 800. Edelbrock said their carb "flows" differently than Holley. I have no idea what that's supposed to mean.

 

I'd go with the E-brock due to the choke and the vac secondaries. Yer in IL. so a little cool weather and you'll need the choke. I'd also consider keeping the heat into the manifold as well. I'ts a bitch when yer car doesn't run right until you get to your destination.
Vac sec. improves fuel economy with little or no loss of performance.
A little tip on the E-brocks: Don't pump any fuel into them unless it's thru a high quality filter first. My buddy built a rod and had some small fiberous crap in the tank. There are real small fine mesh screens under the float seats and even with a filter they plugged up and not just once.

 

Thanks, I know what you mean about the choke... nothing more embarrassing than sputtering and backfiring down the road until it heats up.

 

I like the elc. choke. No worries about running rich and washing oil off the cylinder walls.

 

dont run the edelbrock never get it set up right on a ford motor nothing against them they work great on chevys but go with the holley on a ford motor learned the hard way my old time ford engine builder tried to warn me but i went against him and got the edelbrock first on a healthy 289 never could get the damm thing set up right dropped a holley on ran like a top !

 

first off get some punctuation. second, there is absolutely no difference in getting an Edelbrock to run on a Ford than a Chevy. Wtf even makes you think there's a difference? LOL, I guess to each his own, I guess if you can't tune a carb you can't tune a carb wether it's on a Ford or a Chevy.

 

setting up a carb is setting up a carb period no matter if it's Holley or Edelbrock. The differance is spending alittle time to become familiar with whichever one. The Edelbrock imo and from experience with both, is by far better for the street and for ease of setup. Knowing what to do is what makes the differance. Also there are no gaskets below the fuel line and no power valves to blow.

 

just my opionion and that of a 70 year old ford mechanic that has built and raced every thing under the sun didnt mean to offend anyone i just feel the holley is a better carb choice !

 

It seems the holley is a better race carb but the edelbrock seems more reliable on the street. Holley's like to leak. Race mechanics are great but some will tell you to do away with vacuum advance.




Ago

 

Holley "used" to be the best street performance carb alot of years ago. They still are a good carb but for everyday street use the Edelbrock serves better once it's set up. Again, no power valves and no way to leak because there are no gaskets below the fuel level. I loved Holleys growing up after you fixed the secondairies to mechanically open . Problem was after quite awhile they would need a rebuild due to leaking bowls or rods or something.That can't happen with the Edelbrock. All said there are a shitload of Edelbrocks being used today because , basically the Holley is not as good as it once was and now not the only choice

 

Typically with the 347 stuff we will use 650's with downleg boosters or 750 with annulars depending upon the application. In regards to mechanical vs. vacuum secondary depends upon transmission choice for the most part. If it is a manual trans or an auto with a converter 3000 and up we go with the mechanical version while with an auto and converter under 3000 use the vacuum secondary.

 

Another vote for Edelbrock here, I've had a bunch and I like 'em, especially for the street. I put a mechanical choke 750 (I forget the number) on a well built 396 roller engine that puts out 430 hp 440 tq so that carb will work well for your horsepower range.

 

I agree, I have been running an Edlebrock 650cfm on my 351w for about 5 years now. Its my daily driver and its a die hard. I ran it in the dead of winter in kansas and the electric choke works like a champ. It is easy to adjust and you just bolt on and go. The only complaint I have is that I am constantly readjusting my jets because of the tension on the springs. I am usually running rich. Other than that its been a great street perfomer.

 

I am running a c4 behind mine and I get good response with the vaccum secondary.

 

In my opinion Demonds are more refined better parts .They took a old Holley model and upgraded it .My 2 cents

 

wash those cylinders ! o wait how many of you are runing ford motors and building them excuse my punctuation eek ! fng sorry i blew up !

 

I run an Edelbrock AVS on my 302 roller.....just remember 425hp will require at least 3/8 fuel line and Edelbrock carbs are all picky about fuel pump presure their techs say to keep it around 4 psi.
The AVS carbs are great as you can adjust the secondarys.

 

I am running AFB Carters on both the Falcon and the Altered and they work great ( same as an Edelbrock ) and we just put on a Carter 750 AVS unit on a 289 in a Comet gasser and picked up a .10 and 2 m.p.h. We were runnung a Holley 650 d.p. and I tried my Barry Grant 750 d.p. but it was to much. I had the old Carter and cleaned it up and put a new pump in it and with very little set up it was going good.
I have run Holley's and I like them to, but I like how easy the Carters are to set up for hot or cold weather racing with just a rod change.

Jon

 

Thanks guys, I'll go with the E-brock 800 (which is what the tech rep at E-brock recommended for 400HP and above
Thanks again to all of you!!

Terry

 

Thanks guys, I'll go with the Edelbrock!

Terry

Oops, sorry for the double post.

 

I have an Edelbrock on my 289 Falcon - runs great. I've got two on my 302 in the 32, runs awesome. The 351W in the 41 coupe has an Edelbrock, runs like a champ. Ran one on my buddies 29 RPU with an aluminum head 302, couldn't ask more out of a carb.
I could go on but my point is they working Freakin Awesome on Fords and I will never use a Holley on a street motor again. JMHO

 

Ya kinda lost me here.

Swapping jets because of too much tension on the metering rod springs?

Perhaps a metering rod spring swap?

Running a big cam?

That will require a metering rod swap.

Or are you adjusting the idle mixture screws to compensate for an overly rich mixture?

 

I'm always surprised to see folks do away with vacuum advance.
Specially so on the street and it doesn't hurt anything at the track.

Full throttle means the vacuum advance is going to back off all the way anyway.

May as well have your cake and eat it too.