Name brands... Are the worth the money? Heads, intakes, etc.

[Hazieview]

Hey guys I was planning on going over the top end of my sb400 for my truck. I am thinking about getting some edelbrock heads, edelbrock air gap intake, and possibley a new carb as well. Really though is it worth the money or could I spend a lot less on something without the name that works just as good or better?


Thanks!

[Rob73-87]

well, you`ll find some "no-name" products as well, - in fact they will work as fine, because very often they were manufactured by a name brand.

BUT I would suggest if possible better support the original brands !!!

That`s the only way to make sure you saved some jobs in the american industry ! That is very important - I hope we all won`t see the day, when all those great speedpart Manufactureres are gone because of any financial crisis....
just my opinion...

greetings Rob

[bigblock73]

I love Edelbrock parts, and buy from them every chance I get based on their product, customer service...and because they are made here in the USA.

[85Bowtie]

I have Edelbrock RPM cylinder heads on a 440, they're excellent quality. value, and perform awesome. But it has a Holley 870 street avenger that I LOVE, but it's because of the nature of the car.

I also have the RPM Air-Gap intake on my old cop car and it runs pretty damn good with that intake and a 1406 carb.

I am putting the same engine in my truck as what you're working with.

I plan on using the "double hump" steel heads Summit has and an Edelbrock performer intake and 1406 carb. But I'm not looking to make a tire frier out of this truck either, somewhere around 325 HP or so.

Lunati Voodoo cams work really well too.

[rfmaster]

A quick look through E-bay listings yields a load full of cheap China made copies. IMHO, if you chose to go with these knock offs you are basically undermining the R&D time and money of the original maker.

There are, however, private label products made by reputable manufacturers, but without knowing which one is which it can be hard to tell. From the quality stand point of view you are taking a huge gamble -

It is not all 100 percent bad - as there are quality products made in Asia, provided that manufacturing processes are under strict control. Even though in my line of work I find a lot of products shipped by our qualified subs with hidden defects or performance deficiencies.



//RF

[stepside454]

Keep in mind, youll here some people say they bought the "cheaper " version & just love it, or works great.
but its kinda like buying knock-off anything, they might get it right 4 out of 10 times,where as the original, or name brand well get it right 8-10 out of 10 times.

[84 400]

I like supporting American companies and Eddy has some great parts. I often go used because of a lack of money. The air gap is a hard intake to beat. Weiland and offy also make some good ones


If you got the cash the edelbrok package is hard to beat.

[Cherub]

with all that work id throw a cam in it while your at it.

[Damien]

What are your goals for the engine? I think you will get a more direct answer to your question. Are you looking for huge power numbers or are you looking for a healthy daily driver?
I myself plan on using a set of vortec heads on my truck and everything else will come from reputable companies. Reputable doesn't mean the most expensive, but they will not be no names from ebay just because they were $50 cheaper and offered free shipping. You are going to spend a good amount of money on an engine build, so make sure it will last.

[billnorman]

Don't forget swap meets and Craiglist. A treasure trove at good prices. You can still get name brands.

[BusinessProfessor]

I have always used Edelbrock and Hedman or anything that I can get that is made here in USA.

[Hazieview]

Originally Posted by Damien

What are your goals for the engine? I think you will get a more direct answer to your question. Are you looking for huge power numbers or are you looking for a healthy daily driver?
I myself plan on using a set of vortec heads on my truck and everything else will come from reputable companies. Reputable doesn't mean the most expensive, but they will not be no names from ebay just because they were $50 cheaper and offered free shipping. You are going to spend a good amount of money on an engine build, so make sure it will last.

Well that is kind of a hard question to answer. I am kind of looking for both. I want to get in my truck and go. However when I want to reach back and get down I want it to be there for me. I have an everyday driver but I dont want to worry about my truck when I hop in it and take off. I love edelbrock. I dont know why but I do. There carbs haven't really impressed me to much do to a few float problems I've had but, I'm sure that has something to do with mass production.

Right now I have basically stock heads, performer edelbrock intake, edelbrock carb, and an rv cam. I want a little bit more power.

So if I invest in an edelbrock air gap and new heads would that give me that extra bump I'm looking for?

[SBTork]

Originally Posted by Hazieview

Well that is kind of a hard question to answer. I am kind of looking for both. I want to get in my truck and go. However when I want to reach back and get down I want it to be there for me. I have an everyday driver but I dont want to worry about my truck when I hop in it and take off. I love edelbrock. I dont know why but I do. There carbs haven't really impressed me to much do to a few float problems I've had but, I'm sure that has something to do with mass production.

Right now I have basically stock heads, performer edelbrock intake, edelbrock carb, and an rv cam. I want a little bit more power.

So if I invest in an edelbrock air gap and new heads would that give me that extra bump I'm looking for?

add a good cam and a stall(if your running an auto trans) and you'll feel the difference for sure.

[mongoose]

i'd say some brands are worth it... saying that.

I hate edlejunk, only thing i'd touch is the intakes... but heads are overpriced, carbs.. an expensive carter, don't care for their mufflers.. etc.

i'd rather have either, brodix/dart/afr for heads, and a holley/quick fuel on top.. some of the better bang for buck parts

[Tom]

Brand names are worth the money when it comes to heads, cams and blocks. Intakes and exhausts don't really matter as they aren't very mechanical.
Nobody does intake manifolds better then edelbrock though. Edelbrock dosen't do better then anyone else when it comes to heads and cams, in fact they are worse then alot of em.
If you want to re-do your top end look at either AFR or trickflow for aluminum heads, edelbrock for intake manifolds, and holley for carbs. Just my .02

[Hazieview]

Originally Posted by Tom

Brand names are worth the money when it comes to heads, cams and blocks. Intakes and exhausts don't really matter as they aren't very mechanical.
Nobody does intake manifolds better then edelbrock though. Edelbrock dosen't do better then anyone else when it comes to heads and cams, in fact they are worse then alot of em.
If you want to re-do your top end look at either AFR or trickflow for aluminum heads, edelbrock for intake manifolds, and holley for carbs. Just my .02

Right on Tom! That is the info I was looking for! Okay so I've settled on the air gap intake by edelbrock. I'll look into the heads and carb you suggested. Thanks!