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Edelbrock vs. Holley

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Old Oct 19, 2011 | 10:19 PM
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Default Edelbrock vs. Holley

Gonna change the intake manifold to a polished or endurashine job, and want to now if anybody is using edelbrock 1406 carb or should I stay with the tried and true holley squirter. Gonna stay in the 600 cfm range single feed. Gimmie some input....
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Old Oct 19, 2011 | 11:27 PM
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I have owned both over the years and you will get tons of responses from each camp. For pure performance nothing beats a Holley with manual secondaries but no matter how good its tuned an Edelbrock will usually get better mileage. However a Holley seems easier to work on. So it depends on what you want out of a carb. Both are great carbs, if you got with the Edelbrock just make sure you don't turn your fuel pressure too high as they are not forgiving past their recommended max pressure.
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Old Oct 20, 2011 | 02:11 AM
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I currently run a 600 double pumper, runs excellent.
I know many hotrodders and not one of them like an Edelbrock.
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Old Oct 20, 2011 | 08:49 AM
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Forget the Edelbrock carbs They make nice intake manifolds but for carbs I would go with the Holley. Easier to work on, superior performance and reliability.
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Old Oct 20, 2011 | 12:05 PM
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I aggree Edelbrock intake, Holley carb.
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Old Oct 20, 2011 | 12:09 PM
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Holley
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Old Oct 20, 2011 | 12:21 PM
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Originally Posted by MelWff
I aggree Edelbrock intake, Holley carb.
Although I must admit to a preference to the dual feed Holleys. All Holley carbs are not the same quality. They make cheap carbs for that part of the market too.

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Old Oct 20, 2011 | 01:41 PM
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ok, I'll be the first to say Edlebrock over Holley.
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Old Oct 20, 2011 | 01:44 PM
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Vic Edelbrock is a guy who regularily attends Watkins Glen Vintage events. While I know from experience that Holley carbs work, I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss Edelbrock carbs FWIW.
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Old Oct 20, 2011 | 05:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Jay-Dog
ok, I'll be the first to say Edlebrock over Holley.
You dog!!!
I notice sometimes people say they like their new Edelbrock carb but then you see the Holley they just tried and its uncle Billy Bobs off the combine thats been running in the field since 1975!!!
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Old Oct 20, 2011 | 05:16 PM
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Big block c3 vettes used either qjet or holley, with holley on the performance versions, never edelbrock (carter afb). Plus i just like the way the holley looks.
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Old Oct 20, 2011 | 05:45 PM
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The Holley is by far the better carb. The best engine for the 1406 is a Chevy 350, but I would definitely choose a Holley over an Edelbrock carb. I prefer a Quadrajet over both, but you didn't list that as an option.
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Old Oct 20, 2011 | 05:57 PM
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Originally Posted by rcread
The Holley is by far the better carb. The best engine for the 1406 is a Chevy 350, but I would definitely choose a Holley over an Edelbrock carb. I prefer a Quadrajet over both, but you didn't list that as an option.
How can a person agree and disagree with your answer so much is indescribable!!!
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Old Oct 20, 2011 | 06:36 PM
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Originally Posted by TWINRAY
Vic Edelbrock is a guy who regularily attends Watkins Glen Vintage events. While I know from experience that Holley carbs work, I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss Edelbrock carbs FWIW.
If you could get Vic to pull the airboxes off the motors of that fleet of Mustangs,Corvettes, and Camaros that he brings to the races you would see Holley carbs sitting atop each motor....ESPECIALLY at the racetrack Holleys' ease of tuning vs. any other carburetor makes them the obvious choice.
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Old Oct 20, 2011 | 07:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Tim H
How can a person agree and disagree with your answer so much is indescribable!!!
Say what?
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Old Oct 20, 2011 | 07:23 PM
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Holley carbs are IMO a much better carb for many reasons. They are easy to work on, and if you purchase the right parts for them can be fine tuned without taking anything apart or dripping a single drop of gas.
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Old Oct 20, 2011 | 08:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Gitiup
Gonna change the intake manifold to a polished or endurashine job, and want to now if anybody is using edelbrock 1406 carb or should I stay with the tried and true holley squirter. Gonna stay in the 600 cfm range single feed. Gimmie some input....
Well it depends on what you want out of your engine. Holley's are rather simple, easy to work on, deliver good performance, and are easy to tune to meet your needs. Some say they don't stay in tune very well so being easy to work on is a plus. I have one that looks like the one pictured above. May be a good carb but was horrible on my car.

Elderbrock are more complicated (to me), but maybe just as easy to work on, and seem (to me) to give rather good performance. I have been told that changing jets and rods don't yield as much change in performance as you might expect. I replaced my Holley with the 1411 and don't regret it at all. It ran right out of the box with about 1/8 turn on the idle jets. The 1411 is drastically more efficient, if a 427 with a Muncie 4spd can be considered efficient.

The Edelbrock seems more user friendly to the daily driver, but to the racer or hot rodder the Holley is probably the #1 choice. Might have to buy another Holley.
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To Edelbrock vs. Holley

Old Oct 20, 2011 | 09:42 PM
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Thanks for all the replies, looks like the Holley gets the nod and I will still get the Edelbrock intake.
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Old Oct 20, 2011 | 10:09 PM
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One word of warning, if you get a edel intake and holley DP, be ready to play vacuum routing games. The pump on the rear float bowl blocks the vacuum port on the edelbrocks! Vac secs give more clearance. If it's a single feed carb there should be no concerns. Good Luck!
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Old Oct 20, 2011 | 10:25 PM
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FWIW, I found the Endurashine stains with gas or antifreeze over time and cannot be cleaned.
My next intake will have a polished finish so it can be cleaned and repolished later in life.



BTW, I got $75 at a swap meet for my Edelbrock carb!
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