edelbrock performer plus cam for 390

[Jarred Hodges]

I am going to put a new cam and lifters into my truck. It has a basically stock 390 except for headers and a 4bbl carb. I have found the edelbrock performer plus and I am thinking of getting it. I am looking for opinions on it. Here is the link
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-2106/

[Brokenarrow]

That seems like a pretty mild cam to me. Really it just depends on what your're doing with the truck, where you want the "power band" . I'm building a 390 real similar to yours, .060 over, headers, edelbrock intake etc. and I'm going to run a cam with .484/.510 lift, 270/280 duration, and I thought IT was a little mild. FWIW here's a link with factory FE cam specs.

http://www.mercurystuff.com/fe-camshaft-specs.html

[TNIceWolf]

Jarred

That cam is essentially a pulling and towing cam. It is made to produce low to mid range torque to break a heavy load loose at low rpm and accelerate it thru the mid range. Its not high end performance really but it will really perk the engine up in the low to mid rpm response range.........it's the same set i am using in my 360. Be advised to go with the valve spring set recommended for the cam set as well.

[Jarred Hodges]

I don't plan on winding my engine a lot. I rarely go over 3500 rpm so it should be great

[convincor]

you can alway's do better than a Edelbrock IMO.
Look at CompCams and download there cam selector- http://www.compcams.com/CAMQUEST/
There #'s may be a bit exaggerated for HP and torque but it'll give you and idea.
Otherwise http://www.oregoncamshaft.com/ will grind a nice cam for you. and there not much more than a "off the shelf".
Or call Barry at http://www.survivalmotorsports.com/index.html He won't steer you wrong.

[70_F100]

Convincor, what do you think of the CompCams 268H?

[convincor]

I've got a XE274 in my car and I'll tell ya, you know it's there and louder than the Crane 941 I ran before.
Using the CamQuest-
268H comes up with 345hp @4500 and 436ft.lbs @ 3500
XE262 comes in at 349hp @ 4500 and 442ft.lbs @ 2500
XE256 comes in at 345hp @ 4500 and 453ft.lbs @ 2500

I wouldn't hold Comp to these #'s but It just shows bigger isn't alway's better.
If it were mine, I'd probably look at the XE262. not to crazy but you'd hear it.

[70_F100]

I bought a 268H off ebay a couple of months ago at a steal.

I wanted something that would give me a noticeable idle, but not rock the engine out of the frame.

It's going to be a 390 with about 10:1, Edelbrock Performer RPM (almost stole that, too, with only a couple thousand miles on it), Holley or Edelbrock 600 CFM carb, headers and a C-6.

Whatcha think?

[70_F100]

Aren't the Edelbrocks just repros of the old Carter AFB's? Those were SWEET back in the day when Carter built them. I had a Carter AFB Competition Series on a 66 Impala, and it brought that engine to life!!!

If the 1850 is the 600 with the small metering block, I totally agree. They're "OK" when they are new, but put a few miles on them, they go to crap. Try to rebuild one, and it's NEVER right after that. Had one cause a major engine fire on a 75 F350 with a 460 that I used to drive as a service truck.

The one you pointed out is one of the better Holley units. I didn't know they still made them with two "full" metering blocks. I had a couple of those back in the early 70's, and they were sweet as h@!!.

Good suggestion, my friend!!

[convincor]

Yea, kind of. But there Edelbrocks, not the old Carters... they worked good on Chebbies.

[70_F100]

Gotcha.

Edelbrock must have bought the patent from Carter, since they look almost identical.

Those carbs were the "$#!+" in their day!!!

[george worley]

I agree that the Holley 1850 600 usually doesn't work well after being rebuilt, I used genuine Holley rebilt kit amd still couldn't get it to run right. I have a Holley 780 that has two metering blocks that I bought back in the mid 80's on my truck that has been rebilt several times and still works fine. I guess Holley calls that carb a 750 when it has a secondary metering plate. I don't under stand why the different CFM rate. I know that 780 CFM is on the large side for my 390 but it has Vac. secondaries and works out good. It is a non emission carb. The primary side is basically a 500 CFM two barrell.

[70_F100]

The 780's I remember were single-pumper, side-hung float carbs with vacuum secondaries.

The 750's flowed just a little less air, but had mechanical secondaries, center-hung floats and dual pumps.

[convincor]

I ran a 3310 750 on the 72 C/S I had last year. The truck came with a Edelbrock on it but lacked power.. Tried the 750 and it was night and day. I agree it's big for the stock 390 but it ran better than the Edelbrock.
This is why I keep it around for a spare...