I have a 1976 2wd f150 with a 1969 429 and the owner before me put 1971 460 heads on it, anyway I am looking at putting on a edelbrock top end kit new heads, cam, ect. Anyone ever used this kit before? Is it worth the 3500 ish ?

Thank you

 

Unless ya wanna push more than 450 hp, the stock heads with a lil porting, a cam upgrade, Weiand intake, and a 750 cfm carb would be good for around 400 hp. Excluding the intake and carb, a nice rebuild will only run around $2000 to $2500.

 

I'd like to make as much torque and hp as possible, this truck is for fun not work, but then again I don't have 10 grand to spend, I was talking to summit and they recommended this kit, and in utah, machine work for a motor is about 2000, the last motor I built was a Buick 403 for a 79 firebird in 1990. So I just want something fun and have always loved ford trucks, I've had them my whole life, this is my first 385 series motor and I was hoping to hear from anyone who has used the edelbrock top end kit

Thank you

 

Aluminum heads are pretty. But all things being equal iron heads make more power typically. And take the savings from buying aluminum heads and you have more $$ to put into other go fast parts. The main thing aluminum does is save weight.

 

Aluminum heads also dissipate heat faster and are better for high compression engines.

As much HP as possible? That's too open ended... I think the approach should be how much HP is possible with a $Xxxx budget.... Then search out various engine combinations that can get the engine to that level. I'd take a look at Jon Kaase's engine combos.

 

Jon kaase make the best heads for the 460/429 engine with the redesigned valves and what not, but out of my pay grade, I'm looking for a kit with all the kinks worked out, and edelbrock has the only one I've seen, so I was hoping to have found someone that has used it.

 

First thing you need to do is to check to see what rods you have, If you have the football bolt head rods you are good to go, chances are you do. If you have the square shoulder bolt rods you need to change them out they should not be used in any kind or performance application at all. At 400 HP it is not a question of if they will fail but when they will fail. It may be at 5K miles or 80K miles but they will eventually fail.


Also what are you looking for, bottom end mid range or top end power.
Personally the 385's are all about torque and chances are you are hardly ever going to spin the motor above 5500 RPM. If it is going to regularly see above that new rods should be considered.




The stock heads are easily good for 400HP I would save the money of the Edelbrock kit and spend half as much on the top end.


You do not want to exceed 10.5:1 compression and still be able to run good quality regular fuel.


Personally I would go with the Weiand Stealth intake and a 750 CFM vacuum secondary Holley. I have run this combo in the past and had no complaints.


Cam selection is going to depend on what you want. Do you want stump pulling off idle torque, Mid range power or top end Lumpy idle or smooth factory idle. The Cam in the Edelbrock kit is rather mild.


The cost of putting together a package is going to cost less than a third of the of the $3500 Edelbrock kit.


Spend the money saved on the stock heads, they are easily good for 500hp with some exhaust porting work. have the machine shop do some porting on the exhaust side (intake is fine) up grade the springs and keepers, machine the seats (If needed depending on cam choice) , machine for positive type valve seals. And use ARP bolts through out, You will save your self over grand and end up with an engine that is better than the Edelbrock package.

 

I take it that you've already been to a competent machine shop and gotten a report on the health of the block, crank, etc. If not, you'll want to do that before developing your plan for max HP and torque within your budget.
Is the block in good shape and does it need to be bored and, if so, what are your overbore options based on current bore and sonic testing?
Is the crankshaft going to be reusable with modest resurfacing (less than .030" under, preferably .010 under).
Too bad you don't have a good pair pf the '69 heads. They were designed for performance whereas the later models were designed to lessen smog. For aluminum heads I don't think that the Edelbrock units are as highly regarded as those from Jojn Kassee Racing, Trick Flow, AFR and Ford Racing. Kasse even makes a Boss 429 type head which is impressive in both appearance and performance.
It may well be worth your while to spend some time on the 460 Ford. com web site.
This 2009 post presents a handy chart organized by horsepower output.

 

Dang it, flowney! You beat me to the punch again!

I agree with flowney and matthewq4b....do your homework after making sure the block, etc, are in good shape. My opinion, for what it's worth, is that Edelbrock is over - rated.