Edelbrock vs. Holley
10-19-2011, 10:19 PM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Member Since: Sep 2011
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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....
10-19-2011, 11:27 PM
#2
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.
10-20-2011, 08:49 AM
#4
Race Director
Member Since: Oct 2004
Location: Cape Cod, Mass.
Posts: 18,763
Received 4,553 Likes
on
2,160 Posts
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C8 of the Year Finalist Unmodified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
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.
They make nice intake manifolds but for carbs I would go with the Holley. Easier to work on, superior performance and reliability.
10-20-2011, 12:05 PM
#5
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.
10-20-2011, 01:44 PM
#9
Melting Slicks
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.
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.
10-20-2011, 05:13 PM
#10
Safety Car
10-20-2011, 05:16 PM
#11
Intermediate
Member Since: Aug 2010
Location: blairstown nj
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
10-20-2011, 05:45 PM
#12
Race Director
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.
10-20-2011, 05:57 PM
#13
Safety Car
How can a person agree and disagree with your answer so much is indescribable!!!
10-20-2011, 06:36 PM
#14
Melting Slicks
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.
10-20-2011, 07:23 PM
#16
Melting Slicks
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.
10-20-2011, 08:08 PM
#17
Drifting
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.
10-20-2011, 10:09 PM
#19
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Mar 2006
Location: Piedmont Va
Posts: 3,456
Received 100 Likes
on
85 Posts
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13,'19-'20
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!
10-20-2011, 10:25 PM
#20
Drifting
Member Since: Jul 2006
Location: Sault Ste. Marie Ontario
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes
on
6 Posts
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!
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!