Edelbrock Vs. Holley carbs

**goingballistic** · 11-22-04, 01:33 PM

I'm torn between the Edelbrock and the Holley 750cfm carb for my build.

I'm installing an Edelbrock RPM AirGap intake ( 7501 ) I've read bad things about each one but more "negative" comments about the adjustment of the Holley as opposed to the ease of adjustment on the Edelbrock. Knowing many of you have takes on both sides of this can someone chime in with their experience with each manufacturer with such things as reliability, adjustment, installation, longevity etc.

thanks and much appreciated before I spend more cash.................I think my wife is gonna kill me with this build............I told her to just bury me in the vette BUT at least wait until I finish it

**titan81** · 11-22-04, 02:08 PM

I personally like the edlebrock for 1 reason.
Its easier to tune/fix ect.. You get fast customer service too.
Holleys out perform them so its really a matter of what you want lol.
And there are more specialties out there on the market for Holley.

Your running a 383 stroker correct? I'd put a Holley on it and perfect the tuning.
I think it will out do the edle, JMO

**81 Corvette** · 11-22-04, 04:22 PM

i'll toss in a third. Barry Grant. it can be a pita to adjust, but its the only carb i've ever tried to adjust, so maybe its just me.

BeaterShark · 11-22-04, 04:51 PM

I don't have any experience with either, but I like the metering rods of the Edel better than the power valve of the Holley.

Honestly, the carb you select will not make much of a difference, just be prepared to educate yourself on how it works and what the adjustments really do. They each have their advantages and disadvantages.

**goingballistic** · 11-22-04, 05:47 PM

I really appreciate the insight, exactly what I'm looking for. I really do not want to screw around with the carb which is why Edelbrock came into the equation in the first place, I heard they are easier to "play" with than the Holley. I was originally leaning very heavily to the Holley as I have some experience with them but overall was not happy with the monkeying around aspect of the carb.

Keep 'em coming.....god I love this forum.

**gary55r** · 11-22-04, 06:22 PM

I've had good experience with Edlebrook carbs and intakes. No leakage & no problems in 10 years.

57 Chev.
68 Mustang
68 Firebird

curtis · 11-22-04, 10:03 PM

My Edelbrock ran right out of the box. resetting idle mixture was allit needed. NO LEAKS like Holleys.

**norvalwilhelm** · 11-23-04, 12:06 PM

I am not a fan of Holleys. The quality control sucks and at 2 out of 3 have a problem. Of the last 3 that I bought 2 were total disasters.
They are also too rich out of the box and I do not mean main jetting.That is the last thing you should try leaning out. The idle circuit and the transfer slots are too rich.
That said I only use holleys because I know them. If I get a new carb I spend about 1 full day stripping it down, remachining the gasket surfaces and checking everything including leaning it out.
The edelbrock would be my choice if you don't want to spend alot of time getting the holley to work.
Done right they can give lean cruising with quick richening for power.
My 2 850 double pumpers give me 15 mpg.

**Tom B Hargrove** · 11-24-04, 05:54 PM

I've used both, and prefer the holley. It will out perfrom the edelbrock, and have not had any of the leak problems others talk about. Once you tune the holley to your engine, you should not have to keep fooling with it. Mine has
gone nearly 10,000 miles with no problems, and I haven't touched it again. The edelbrock will work nicley out of the box, and gave me better gas mileage, but I didn't build it for economy.

JWC · 11-25-04, 09:22 PM

Well sombody has to say it........ Q-Jet!!!

Properly re-worked is a good carb for a daily driver and they will Deliver performance without Fuel leaks or constant "tinkering"

Winter Cold starts, Summer rush hour traffic or 1/4 mile runs the Q-jet gets the job done!!!

**Buckskin7T7V** · 11-30-04, 12:02 AM

I agree, the Q-jet is the best all around carb. I had a Holley and they are a pain to work with. You will wind-up with many , many "kits" that you have to buy, when all you want is one item in the kit. The gasket replacement kits are grouped together and the prices are out of site for what you get.

I went back to a Q-Jet and I have NOT had to screw with it and my hands do not smell of gasoline.

**Bill75** · 11-30-04, 11:56 AM

I agree 100% on the Q-Jet, glad someone mentioned it! I've only had one Holley but it was nothing but trouble............I gave it away to get it out of my garage!

**yellow77** · 11-30-04, 12:00 PM

OK I know its too late to comment, but I have to defend holley, I had a 750 mechanical on my truck, and I have a street annihalator 670 vacuum secondaries on my Corvette, and they both perform flawlessly. I get 18 mpg on the highway and 13 around town which I consider pretty good for a carbed 350.

Richard

**SHADY80** · 11-30-04, 12:17 PM

I just replaced my carb on my 80 vett. This is a true story;At first I bought The Direct replacement HOLLEY carb;first of all;it wasn't exactly a direct replacement,some mods required;but anyway,got it on and had to fu-k with it for a long while,finally got the thing runnin and didn't like it one bit,SO I took it off, brought it back to where I bought it,and traded it for the Eldlebrock Quadrajet.It was a little more money,but I sware,I put it on(which took about an hour total)and the son-of-***** ran dead nuts right out of the box.A couple of tiny adjustments when it broke in and it runs like a clock.Couldn't be happier.Best investment I made so far on the car!!!!!

1stC3Vette · 11-30-04, 12:23 PM

Just used an Edelbrock to replace the pos thermoquad on a '74 Challenger. Mounted easily and the car ran perfect. Only had to set the lean / rich and adjust the idle. No problems at all. Holleys are fine also, you just need to know what you are doing. I didn't, so I bought the Edelbrock.

Good Luck.

Dino