Aluminum head choice

After recently blowing up my 455, I'm going to upgrade some areas on the rebuild. I've definitely decided to go with aluminum heads on this. The question is, does anyone have any opinions on any pros/cons between the 2 choices we have (T/A - Edelbrock) Frankly, I'm quite strongly leaning towards the T/A.. I already have the roller rockers, so I wouldn't need to buy the SBC ones for the Edelbrock heads, although that's not a deal-breaker. ...just curious what some of you have had for experience with either/or ...or potential things that I'm not aware of that should be considered with either choice. Thanks!

 

Do a search, you'll find all your answers and then some. I don't mean to come off abrasive, its just been covered many times nd is the same song and dance. But since we're here, here's this black sheep's 2 cents worth which combined with $1.48 will get you a cup of coffee.

98% here will tell you to go t/a, and if you already have bbb rockers I'd recommend it too. Both heads make good power for a street engine. Many here bash the edelbrock, I've caught plenty of crap and eye rolls for having them. I can't give first hand experience on the t/a heads other than playing with a loose set, and they are very nicely manufactured. I can comment on the outcast.... I mean edelbrocks.

Here's my input on the Eddy's (since that's what's on my car currently) before the overwhelming influx of bashers show up, then I'll be run off here (again) most likely. They make good power at a budget price, but either way get porting as it's the best money you'll spend. The allure of the eddy's for many (myself included) was I got a smoking deal, and with sbc roller rockers and porting I was in them for barely over what a set of out of the box complete ta's cost (no porting or roller rockers). That was my deal breaker as I was scraping together funds to make it happen. Gessler ported mine and did a fine job, he also checked them out for any possible valve seat/guide issues which is recommended as there was a bad run at one time.

My only serious gripe with the eddy's is the valve train is a bit noisy. It has to do with the geometry of the pushrods and guide plates. It can be remedied with adjustable guide plates, which I plan to do eventually, but since it's not been found to be a reliability issue so much as a minor annoyance in sound, I haven't made it a priority. But I reiterate, they are pretty darn noisy. I was concerned at first to be honest, until I found out it's normal. Now I don't notice it much, and no one else seems to really catch it, but it is there.

All in all I'm happy with my Eddy heads and for the money spent I feel I got value out of it. That said, if i already had a set of bbb roller rockers, id spring for ta's and have them ported, absolutely no doubt about it. Performance wise on the street youd see little difference, but if you're going wild I think the ta's have potential to go a bit further.

Also, if you buy eddy's you're a Benedict Arnold to the Buick community, you don't support the right people and just want to watch the world burn. You may or may not be threatened by the Buick mafia, black unmarked helicopters will hover outside your house at night, and its possible you may be deported to Antarctica. We have no idea how you sleep at night you traitor, may God have mercy on your soul. (Shawn said sarcastically and tongue in cheek, obviously)

But seriously, buy the ta's and save yourself the noise from the heads (and a lot of the guys on this forum). Now, let the usual posts commence!!!

 

Since you have the roller rockers for the TA set up I would use the TA heads imho. I decided to use the ede heads for mine because of overall price.

 

Wow, you're way better at summarizing than I am, remind me to take a page from your book next time! Haha.

 

Best post I Have seen in a long time !!!! Haha! I am also a closet eddy head user........ditto on what was said.

 

I'd say it all depends on what you are looking to accomplish power-wise. If you are looking to make serious horsepower, the initial cost of the T/As is worth it for their potential. You have to spend more $$$ on the Edelbrocks to get near the gains of the T/As. If you just want to cruise and only run at the track occasionally, just bolt on the Edelbrocks.
I'm running ported T/As (Finishline) on my Skylark and I'm very happy with them. Quality pieces.
My 410" SBC had Edelbrocks. I had them, and my intake, worked over by Visner. Valve springs were replaced as well. If I were to start from scratch, I'd have started with different heads.

 

I've got Edelbrocks because I was talked out of a set of TA Stage 2 heads. If you don't have the heads already and have the roller rockers, consider going TA Stage 2 if you don't mind buying a set of headers to match. It will make more power and have more potential from the get go and you won't have to upgrade later if the "more power" bug bites you.

 

Go with the TA heads. The Eddy's are pretty much a stock replacement for a mild street-strip engine. They are a good choice for a low buck mild build. The TA's will give you the option to build more power later. I'm all about options, and the TA heads will give you more options.

I have a set of TA Stage 2 TE heads, and love them. The only regret I have is not buying them 10 years ago.

 

The one contingency not mentioned is I just sent my headers out to be refinished, so I was planning/hoping to use them...which sticks me back in the Stage 1 T/A head category.

 

Gets some ta stage 1 se's, get em ported, and don't look back. I promise you'll be happy. Ported aluminum heads really make these engines. There's no way I'd be as happy as I am with my setup without ported aluminum heads. No regrets.

 

I was initially against the E head, but after having built 4 or 5 motors with them now, I think that if your just getting in it and have to buy everything new, then for up to 600 HP with a reasonable idle quality and on pump gas, a set of full port Edelbrocks will work just fine for you. I have made upper 500's on several motors with them now, 645HP on a pump gas motor with a wilder cam, meant for drag racing.

If you HP goals are less, then you can do with less porting, and save a few bucks..

As has been mentioned, the roller rocker issue is the biggest deal, you can get a very nice set of steel Comp cams rockers for around $400 that will handle any spring pressure you will ever run on the street. Adjustable guideplates from Isky allow you to center the rockers properly and really quiet the valvetrain down. (add another $80)

The last hyd roller motor I built with that setup, and cast valve covers was silent in the valvetrain.

All that being said when you compare just the heads, the cost is nearly the same. A full port E head goes around 320/225 cfm, or about the same as a set of TA SE heads with just a bowl and chamber job, and very minor port cleanup. Either set of heads, ready to go, will be around $3K.

And again, although I have said this many times.. you need to get out of your head that you have to have roller rockers. The vast majority of street builds don't require them, certainly anything with a street type hydraulic flat tappet cam.

As proof, let's consider the motor I dynoed last week.

Specs are pretty basic:


TSP 470 rotating assembly
11-1 compression (for high altitude use)
TA SE STG 2 heads, (bare castings from TA)- TSP valve install and porting package (315/225 at .500)
Edelbrock Performer with TSP port match only
TSP built 76 adjustable ATP Q-jet, no spacers
TSP special low lift, long duration hyd roller cam
Johnson Lifters
TSP built TA timing cover, repo oil pan ect ect..
Tested with TA 1.6 ration roller rockers and 3/8 pushrods, and
TA HD rocker shafts and recondtioned 70-71 stock rockers- 5/16 pushrods.

I have built similar motors several times in the past, but not with this cam profile. This one really surprised me.

I expected about 550 HP with around 560 Torque.

It was a little better than that..

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wIepeolu1RI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I wanted to flush out the whole power issues with Holley's vs Q-jets and roller rockers HD pushrods vs stock rockers and 5/16 pushrods.

So we did the tests.

This is the 4th checkout pull.. just set the timing at 34* and plopped the shop 950 HP on it.. it also has the roller rockers on it here..



This wide lobe center cam idles nice, and really spreads the power out. It's 25-30 numbers better than I expected.

Then we tested with the Q-jet, and since it was built and jetted for this combo, the A/F ratio was better, which allowed the Q-jet to best my 950. Sure, I could have started swapping jets with my 950, and bested it by a couple HP, but it's only a couple HP.



That is the most power I have ever made, with a relatively stock dual plane intake, and a Q-jet. Before this cam profile this was a 550 HP combo.

And finally, we bolted on the reconditioned Stock 70-71 aluminum rockers.. which ride on the TA 1317-2 HD shafts, and are retained with Roller rocker studs and hold downs (total rocker related cost is less than $300)



And we lost about 7 numbers on average.. torque and HP.

7 numbers for about $600... not a bad trade.

So don't get too caught up in the "have to have roller rocker" fever, and let that totally sway your thinking.

This post is not designed to be an argument for either head, just more information to make the right choice each individual..

But for Bob, I agree with everyone else.. you got the rockers, go with the TA heads.

 

I had a problem with a defective part from Edelbrock afew years back. After two phone calls that got me lip service, I mailed...both email and a package by snail mail with 8x11 color photo's and a narrative summary of my problem and complaint. I got no response whatsoever!!!! I hope this storey helps in your decision process. I have a set of early eddy finned buick valve covers on my 36 Ford and I damn near took a grinder to their script on those covers I was so pissed. Still am. TA Performance provides SERVICE, advice and support to the Buick community. They have done that for 30+ years. Edelbrock is not owned by Vic or his family and is not operated by hot rodders anymore. Go ahead, send your money to an investor syndication that is only profit driven. That's my 2 cents.....