Which carb would be best, a Holley Truck Avenger 770 or an Edelbrock 1407 750. This is going in a 87 f250 with the 460. ZF tranny 4x4. I will soon be installing a Edelbrock Performer intake, Thorley headers and rebuilding the motor. Port on the heads and a mild rv cam. The truck is mostly for work but I want it to perform well offroad on the weekends. Any help greatly appreciated.

 

I'd go with the 1407 with offroad springs and seats. Edelbrocks are simple, plug & play right out of the box and generaly trouble free. I can't say that about my Holleys.

 

I would also try to find a better intake. You are not gaining anything by going to the preformer. Except losing a few pounds.

Either carb will be just fine, its just which one you prefer or price if it comes down to that. Doing head work, cam, headers you will want to set up either carb, since neither will probably be right straight out of the box.

 

HOLLEYS FOREVER, I have a mechanic friend and he and I are always going at each other over carbs. He has a big block CHEVY, and I have a better big block FORD. I run either a 4180 Holley with minor mods, or a 4160 High Performance out of the box. Since I put the 4160 on this summer he has rebuilt an Edelbrock, that didn't work so he rebuilt a Q-Jet telling me this is the answer, well last week he came by to say he bought the off-road Edelbrock and this was the one. I haven't offered to build him a Holley I'm saving that. The bottom line is we can go back and forth on what is the best carb. they both are great, both are easy to work on Holley gets a bad rap because people who really know Holleys are race people. Most Mechanics I worked with didn't care for Holleys because they didn't know them. Most peole still think you can BLOW-OUT a POWER VALVE with a back fire. Holley started to install protection against that in 1992. BUY WHAT YOU FEEL YOU CAN WORK WITH BECAUSE YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE MINOR ADJ. AND IF YOU WANT MAX PERFORMANCE AND MILEAGE both will require you going into them.

 

Ditto on that. I've got a TA on one of my engines it does great.

 

Thanks for the replies. I knew I would get people from both camps and that's what I wanted, to hear people opinions and experiances with both.

 

Be sure to talk with a factory rep for either brand before you buy, and listen to what they tell you. You might find that they recommend a different carb than the one on sale or the one your buddy runs on his truck. Im my experience the reps know their product. They want what you want, a rig that runs and is trouble free. Neither want to have you as an unhappy customer. Both Edelbrock and Holley are stand up companies and make quality products. I second kermmydog's comments. Good luck

 

I have been extremely happy with my Holley 750 on a Stealth on my 1987 460 that I just swapped into my van. It purrs when it's supposed to and absolutely roars when I want it to. I can tow 16,000 pounds up near any grade at 65 mph now.

 

I just installed a Holley 770 Street Avenger on my 460 along with an Edelbrock RPM Performer and a 2" swirl spacer. The difference in power is unbelievable. Other than the idle there were no adjustments necessary for this carb.

I don't have any experience with Edelbrock carbs but I can tell you I was extremely impressed with this combination.

Ivan

 

Y'all are gonna say I am undercarbed but I am running a Holly 650 and It works good for me. Then again I built my engine so it makes all it's torque down low and hasn't seen any higher than 4000 RPM.

I am also playing with a Q-jet. I haven't gotten that right yet.

JYS

 

Here is my best load so far. Who needs top end when you can grunt around 21,700 combined load of van and plywood with a Stealth topped by a 750 Holley. This set up just does it all as far as I'm concerned. No only will it pull from idle it will stomp most stock street cars that have tried me.

 

In hot rod mag. there is talk about 460 that they were playing with and they found that the domanater carb. add about 100 hp to the motor as it sits. I 'll will see if I can find it and post it.