The Ford Barn

robert dick · 03-22-2013, 07:16 PM

just putting the finishing touches on a new 258 , and am undecided which heads to use, Offy or Edelbrock, any suggestions?

lonewolf · 03-24-2013, 09:03 AM

Ive run both of them i don't think there is a noticeable difference in performance..i think the edelbrocks are better made and look better.

Rock Hornbuckle · 03-24-2013, 09:45 AM

Both very reputable companies with time proven quality. Pick the compression you want, then the one that looks the best to you. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

47 flatbed · 03-24-2013, 01:33 PM

New edelbrocks are garbage. Couldnt get a headgasket to seal, machined flat tried again and heads warped. Also had to machine for washer for bolts. Put offys on no problems.

flatjack9 · 03-24-2013, 05:48 PM

Hmmm. The last two engines I just got done with both had Edelbrock heads. Out of the box, they both measured .050 over the piston and the contour of the chamber exactly mirrored the piston dome. The hard washers also fit perfectly. Couldn't have been happier with the heads.

dude · 03-24-2013, 07:36 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Edelbrock 1126 block letter are pretty sweet. good clearance above valves. good material in the plug thread area.

lonewolf · 03-25-2013, 08:34 AM

Efelbrocks are made in the USA......I think offys are made elsware

19Fordy · 03-25-2013, 09:31 AM

Motor City Flathead heads have worked for me. Here's the vendor.
I bought this pair in 1999. Engine is an 8BA with early style heads. There are no holes to mount the stock oil canister on the block. Also, they do not use a thermostat as the restrictor is cast into the water inlet design. Give Phil a call with the particulars you need for the engine you are building.
http://www.gollershotrods.com/prtdtl.aspx?prtid=83

flatjack9 · 03-25-2013, 05:34 PM

No thermostats? Not good.

fortyfords · 03-25-2013, 08:21 PM

I like the Navarro heads

19Fordy · 03-25-2013, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flatjack9

No thermostats? Not good.

Gee, it runs 180 all the time with no problems. Inside the head, just below the water inlet there is a reduced water opening so no thermo is needed in FL.

flatjack9 · 03-26-2013, 12:25 AM

Key word, in Florida. I drive mine in outside temps anywhere from 45 deg to 95 deg. I don't think that one size opening would be ideal for such a temperature range. At the lower temps, I don't think the engine would get up to 180 deg.

19Fordy · 03-27-2013, 09:34 AM

It would be interesting to see if Mark Kirby has any problems with them in MI.

Tim Ayers · 03-27-2013, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lonewolf

Efelbrocks are made in the USA......I think offys are made elsware

Offy is still made in the USA.

Straightpipes · 03-27-2013, 07:35 PM

I've got a 258 with EAB heads on it.

Henry/Kokomo · 03-27-2013, 10:04 PM

Like Straightpipes, I have a 276 (probably the same bore as his 258) with EAB heads. I did some research and concluded if you wanted to run the engine, shall we say, "enthusiastically", the iron heads should give less trouble than the aluminum ones. Fewer corrosion problems and since both the block and the heads are iron, they should expand at the same or similar rate resulting in less potential water leak issues. Time will tell if I made the right choice. FWIW

Ol' Ron · 03-27-2013, 10:26 PM

Use the 81a heads for higher CR, check for valve clearance and mill for .050" piston to head clearance. The 258 is my favorite engine and they run very good,no need for a 4" crank on a short track.

Straightpipes · 03-27-2013, 10:32 PM

My 258 with EAB heads has an L-100 cam with dual 97s and a Bubba Chevy Dist. Been running that way for around 5 years and I drive the hell out of it.

03-22-2013, 07:16 PM	#1
robert dick Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: massachusetts Posts: 317	which heads just putting the finishing touches on a new 258 , and am undecided which heads to use, Offy or Edelbrock, any suggestions?

03-24-2013, 09:03 AM	#2
lonewolf Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 464	Re: which heads Ive run both of them i don't think there is a noticeable difference in performance..i think the edelbrocks are better made and look better.

03-24-2013, 09:45 AM	#3
Rock Hornbuckle Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Noxon Montana Posts: 532	Re: which heads Both very reputable companies with time proven quality. Pick the compression you want, then the one that looks the best to you. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. __________________ '31 Fordor Deluxe 2W Briggs 170-B / blackwalls '41 Fordor Deluxe / 2-duece flattie '66 1/2 Dodge Charger '14 100th Anniversary Challenger Limited Edition. Semper Fidelis

03-24-2013, 01:33 PM	#4
47 flatbed Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 419	Re: which heads New edelbrocks are garbage. Couldnt get a headgasket to seal, machined flat tried again and heads warped. Also had to machine for washer for bolts. Put offys on no problems.

03-24-2013, 05:48 PM	#5
flatjack9 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oshkosh, Wi Posts: 4,527	Re: which heads Hmmm. The last two engines I just got done with both had Edelbrock heads. Out of the box, they both measured .050 over the piston and the contour of the chamber exactly mirrored the piston dome. The hard washers also fit perfectly. Couldn't have been happier with the heads.

03-24-2013, 07:36 PM	#6
dude Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kansas Posts: 334	Re: which heads Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Edelbrock 1126 block letter are pretty sweet. good clearance above valves. good material in the plug thread area. __________________ [QUO[/QUOTE]no matter where you are,or where you're at, there you are...

03-25-2013, 08:34 AM	#7
lonewolf Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 464	Re: which heads Efelbrocks are made in the USA......I think offys are made elsware

03-25-2013, 05:34 PM	#9
flatjack9 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oshkosh, Wi Posts: 4,527	Re: which heads No thermostats? Not good.

03-25-2013, 08:21 PM	#10
fortyfords Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: faucett, mo Posts: 419	Re: which heads I like the Navarro heads

03-26-2013, 12:25 AM	#12
flatjack9 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oshkosh, Wi Posts: 4,527	Re: which heads Key word, in Florida. I drive mine in outside temps anywhere from 45 deg to 95 deg. I don't think that one size opening would be ideal for such a temperature range. At the lower temps, I don't think the engine would get up to 180 deg.

03-27-2013, 09:34 AM	#13
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,967	Re: which heads It would be interesting to see if Mark Kirby has any problems with them in MI.

03-27-2013, 07:35 PM	#15
Straightpipes Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ballston Spa, NY Posts: 789	Re: which heads I've got a 258 with EAB heads on it.

03-27-2013, 10:04 PM	#16
Henry/Kokomo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kokomo, Indiana Posts: 1,731	Re: which heads Like Straightpipes, I have a 276 (probably the same bore as his 258) with EAB heads. I did some research and concluded if you wanted to run the engine, shall we say, "enthusiastically", the iron heads should give less trouble than the aluminum ones. Fewer corrosion problems and since both the block and the heads are iron, they should expand at the same or similar rate resulting in less potential water leak issues. Time will tell if I made the right choice. FWIW __________________ Henry

03-27-2013, 10:26 PM	#17
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,875	Re: which heads Use the 81a heads for higher CR, check for valve clearance and mill for .050" piston to head clearance. The 258 is my favorite engine and they run very good,no need for a 4" crank on a short track.

03-27-2013, 10:32 PM	#18
Straightpipes Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ballston Spa, NY Posts: 789	Re: which heads My 258 with EAB heads has an L-100 cam with dual 97s and a Bubba Chevy Dist. Been running that way for around 5 years and I drive the hell out of it.