Edelbrock is good quality and the RPM is not bad, but the AFR and TFS are known to be far superior. if cost is your only concern, the RPMs wont be bad compared to stock, but for a few hundred more dollars you can get better heads.

 

valve springs are near useless

 

This is the truth. After you upgrade the springs to something useable, you are at the price point of better heads.

 

I got a good deal on a used set last summer. I really like them, it runs Great!
Added a Novi 1000 to the mix last fall and now it really runs good with them.

They get a thumbs up from me.

 

Edelbrock heads will perform if prepared properly, but in stock configuration will be below afr185 & tw(pretty much any of them) in performance.

 

Any engine builder or mechanic will tell you to get the more expensive afr, dart, tfs stuff, but ive had nothing but good solid results from my rpm and victor heads.I wouldnt trade them for nothing,still goin strong after ten hard years of use and the bottle.ill go edelbrock over anything.

 

When I bought my Comp XE roller cam I compared Comp's recommend springs to what came on my RPMs. The Edelbrock springs actually measured more seat and over-the-nose pressure than Comp's springs. Granted it's not high rpm, the cam runs out of breath at 5800 rpm, but everything's been working fine for the past 8 or 9 years. All depends on what parts you're putting together.

 

The spring recommendation on comps website for their XE line has been proven to be borderline too weak for the XE lobes...why they have never come up with something better is beyond me

Are you sure its the cam, or is it the springs that are running out of breath at 5800?

The eddy heads come with big heavy 1.46 and/or 1.55 OD crap that has fairly low pressures for such a heavy spring package. As stated before, they're pretty much useless

Elderbrock FTL

 

The edelbrock head is a respectable piece. I've been running my 60259 head with an improved spring for 5 years now.

Also, regarding the valve springs, the ones that came on my AFR 185 heads had to be upgraded to the 8019 spring so I don't think changing springs is unique to edelbrock.

The latest AFR heads have nice smaller diameter valve stems for lighter valves.
So the serious, give me every last drop of horsepower guys..... can be happy.

Look at it this way.

$1400 for the edelbrock heads with better springs

Approx $1650 for the ready to go AFR head with upgraded springs

 

Good info guys! So would the AFR 185's that already cost a couple hundred over the Edelbrocks still need a valve-spring upgrade in most instances?

 

Twisted Wedge 190 11R Street port comes with awesome springs, 8mm valves and $1550 price tag. You can add the 8019 springs to AFRs for a small amount of money also. The 8017s on the base AFR185 is still a big upgrade from what is on the Edelbrocks.

 

Years ago (6 or 7?) I did a stock short block, Edelbrock RPM heads (1.90/1.60 valves), lunati 51014 cam, weiand stealth, holley 750 and shorty headers.

Went 12.00 at 113 at 3000lbs. At the time I got the heads for $949 for the pair from Keith Craft racing...with free shipping.

Not a bad deal if you ask me. Take it for what it's worth.