Going 4brl, any favorites?

[Darrman]

Ok, I have had it with this damn 2brl, I had it pro rebuilt, worked for awhile, then didnt. Took it back to the shop this morning, guy looks it over, finds nothing wrong with it, (which may be true) so I take it back home, start putting it back in, get to the fuel filter part and I hand spin it 3/4 way in before it starts tightening then use the right 15/16 to tighten it down, well it instantly rips all the threads out of the carb.

I am done with this thing. .

So I am looking at 4brl, thinking I will get the Edelbrock Performer manifold, and a Holley 600 with single inlet. However for the same price basicly I can get a 750 Holley with duel inlets.
Any body have any insights to which I should get? I want a kickdown so that kinda limits my options.
Specs: 390 FE/.30 bore/headers/points (that will change soon)/ automatic trans
Thanks!

[Redcap]

I wouldn't run a Holley even if it was free.

[BobbyFord]

Holley is a good carb. The 750 is too large for a 390 (IMO). 600-625 should be fine. 1850 Holley carbs run good on 390's, I believe there is a kickdown linkage kit available for carbs not already equipped with Ford kickdown.
I have a 625cfm AFB with a Ford kick-down on my 63 and it runs great.

[convincor]

ran a #3310 750 on the CS only because I had. It was that or the Edeljunk it came with when I bought it.. And that ran great!
If I were buying new, I would go http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HLY-0-80783C/
the 1850's in my opinion are crap.

[sideoilerfe]

I'd get a factory S intake over the Edelbrock performer. The ports on the Edelbrock are small. If you want a manual choke Holley than the 1850 is ok. The electric choke version is an 80457. I prefer Holleys because I understand how they work and how to dial them in. JMO.

[hotrod ford]

i have used both. on my 70 a holley 670 and on my 68 a edelbrock 600. both worked really good. i think it's what people use them for and how they adjust them that give them issues. the edel 600 is good for a daily driver/work truck and the holley is good for fooling around and havinf fun in my opinion.

[papabug71]

Holley makes some of the best carbs on the planet. Edelbrock carbs are a junk version of the old Carter carbs. Built with poor tolerances.

If your going 4bbl, Holley is the way to go.

I agree with BobbyFord, a 600 CFM would be ample for a mostly stock 390.

Good luck!!

[convincor]

i'd agree on the S-code intake over a performer. I actually just sold i performer that I basicly got for free and bought just a regular factory 4v intake. only downfall is haveing to use a hoist to put it on.

[JMcTurnan]

Holleys aren't bad, but dont let them sit over a week other wise youll never get it to work . Autolite are good, never used a edel.

[Doug Comer]

I've had good luck with Holleys. Not so much with the Edelbrocks.

Good Luck

Doug

[fomocoguy]

Most people that complain about Holleys started out with a worn out hand me down carb and didn't have the best results when they couldn't tune it in and get it to run right. A new or properly rebuilt and adjusted Holley will work great, with a 600 being all you will need. That being said, I've had good luck with Edelbrock carbs too. If you are buying a brand new carb either one will work fine. I've had both (first a 600 Holley, then a 600 Edelbrock) on the exact same engine and I can tell you that the Edelbrock will get better mileage and require less adjustment. However, there is a clear performance gain with the Holley. If you are only getting 10-12mpg anyways I would probably just get a Holley, unless it's your daily driver and you would benefit from 1-2 more mpg (only if you can keep your foot out of it, that is...)

[sideoilerfe]

Holleys aren't bad, but dont let them sit over a week other wise youll never get it to work ...

I disagree.
I've let my truck sit for 5-6 weeks before and I TAP the pedal once just far enough to engage the choke and it fires right up. I never have to pump it.

[cdeal28078]

Holleys aren't bad, but dont let them sit over a week other wise youll never get it to work ...

I disagree.
I've let my truck sit for 5-6 weeks before and I TAP the pedal once just far enough to engage the choke and it fires right up. I never have to pump it.

Mine will do that every time also and I don't even run a choke. Just don't need one on it. I even have the cross-over in the intake blocked off.
There was a picture working around the net a while back of one of Edelbrocks dragster and it had 2 Holleys on it.
I have run an Edelbrock and it worked OK. I think they are more aggravating to tune correctly and take more money to tune having to buy a complete kit or a bunch of parts to tune it. I find most people that use an Edelbrock just put them on and run them.
Most people in my opinion that run a Holley usually tune them. Once I get my Holleys tuned I never have to touch them again.
I figure the people that have to re-tune them every week have (like said) a worn out hand me down carb and are fighting a loosing battle. Then they buy a new Edelbrock and it runs great so then they hate Holleys the rest of their life.
This topic comes up all of the time and will never be decided. Somebody will get mad and the topic will probably be locked. . It is like Do you like red heads or blonds? Beer or whiskey? Ford or Chevy?
clint

[george worley]

i have used Holley carbs for years and they all worked great . The most I have ever had to do was change the main jets up or down a size or two. Holley makes a kit that is for the Ford auto. kickdown. I used it on a #1850 600 and it worked good.What has been said about buying a used Holley is correct. I bought one and I never could get it to work right. I have a #3310 750 on my 390 with a iron "S" code manifold off of a 1966 Fairlane GT 390. I had to jet it down two sizes on the primary side and it runs real good. It comes with the kickdown lever and a hand choke already on. My 390 is a little stronger than stock mildly modified. I used it because it was brand new and I got it from a buddy at a good price.

[ToughOldFord]

I don't like Holl*ys myself, bad design and too sensitive. That being said, I'm not one to boycott anything to the point that I inconvenience myself. I do have a 4160 600CFM on my 390 that does the job.
I've never owned or repaired an Edelbrock so I have no input there.

That filter problem you have is exactly the reason I will not ever run one of those screw in filters. One of the first things I do when I buy a Ford is remove that filter if its present and replace it with a brass fuel line fitting never to be removed again.
Pump filters and/or inline filters are all you need.