Edelbrock Power Package Any Good?

[70cudaFun]

Hi guys,

I'm taking a look at some engine rebuilding options and came across the Edelbrock Power Package Top End Kit for my 440.  It's coming in at around $2500 and includes the following:

Performer RPM intake manifold
Performer RPM camshaft and lifter kit
Performer RPM 84cc cylinder heads
Performer-Link timing chain and gear set
Head bolt set
Intake bolt set
Gaskets
Edelbrock Carburator (Any Performer Series or Thunder Series AVS)

I believe the only thing missing from this top end kit is the rocker arms, rocker arm studs, rocker arm nuts, and guideplates but I'm not 100% sure.  Here is a link to the package on Summit.  https://www.summitracing.com/parts/edl-2087/overview/make/dodge

So my question is if this setup is any good or is it not worth the money?  Anyone tried this setup on their 440 and happy with it?  I know there are better options of parts out there from brands like Comp Cams, Lunati, etc but I'm trying to see if this is going to be the best bang for the buck as far as a top end kit goes.  I considering leaving my bottom end alone and bolting this setup since my cylinder walls, pistons and crank seem to look good.  The added benefit is I can bolt up the power kit and don't need to involve a machine shop.   Or the other option is tearing apart the whole engine and going with the 505 or 512 Stroker kit.  Price difference is approximately 3k vs 10k (Top End Kit vs 505 Stroker Kit with all the bells and whistles) and the power difference will be big as well I'm sure.

I would love to hear from folks who have been down this road so I can learn from their experience.

Thanks!

[jhaag]

Since no one has responded I will throw this out there. There will be few people on here that will tell you not to use them. My experience with there stuff was great. While it was not a Mopar, (a 468 big block Chevrolet,) I found their stuff to be very good quality, and delivered as advertised. I built my short block using the same pistons they had used, so the compression was the same. I used a Holley carb. Advertised as a little over 500hp, and I would say it was accurate, as the street driven Nova the motor was in ran 11.6 at 112 mph. Guessing the car weighed around 3500 lbs. Anyway I figured that they had tested this combo, matched the cam to the heads and intake flow. Makes perfect sense to me. No need to mix and match cams, heads, and intake. They have done it for you. 

[cudabob496]

I think they are too expensive, and mixing parts
should not be a problem, if done with some attention to detail.

[70cudaFun]

Since no one has responded I will throw this out there. There will be few people on here that will tell you not to use them. My experience with there stuff was great. While it was not a Mopar, (a 468 big block Chevrolet,) I found their stuff to be very good quality, and delivered as advertised. I built my short block using the same pistons they had used, so the compression was the same. I used a Holley carb. Advertised as a little over 500hp, and I would say it was accurate, as the street driven Nova the motor was in ran 11.6 at 112 mph. Guessing the car weighed around 3500 lbs. Anyway I figured that they had tested this combo, matched the cam to the heads and intake flow. Makes perfect sense to me. No need to mix and match cams, heads, and intake. They have done it for you. 

Thank you for the response.  The Edelbrock team stated this performance power upgrade makes 460 to 480 hp on a stock 440 block.  That sounded high to me but very impressive if true.  I do like the idea of all the parts being tested together and working well with no guesswork.  But then again, I'm sure the same could be achieved with a mix and match brand approach with a little homework.

[70cudaFun]

I think they are too expensive, and mixing parts
should not be a problem, if done with some attention to detail.

Well, the setup they offer is pretty hard to beat when you piece out the parts and compare them to other brands like comp cams, Lunati, etc unless I'm missing something.  So this pack seems like the most cost effective but what I think you are saying is one doesn't get the best parts for $2500 versus a little more spent like $3500 for the better brands?

[cudabob496]

I'm sure they'll be fine. When I built my car in 2000, I selected all the known best parts.
But it wasn't cheap. And, they did not have all the packages they have now.

I would use a Holley carb, and a roller cam.

[burdar]

I believe the only thing missing from this top end kit is the rocker arms, rocker arm studs, rocker arm nuts, and guideplates but I'm not 100% sure.

I'm not an "engine guy" so make sure to verify with others however...

I'm pretty sure you can still use the factory rockers with the Edelbrock heads.  The factory uses shafts and bolts to hold the assembly to the heads.  There are no studs, nuts or guide plates.  From everything I've read, it seems adjustable roller rockers are more of a pain then they are worth.(especially aluminum rockers)  I don't think there is a significant power increase with them anyway.  There are times when you don't have any other choice but to use them but for a street engine, I think they are a waist of money.  If you can run the stock setup, I think it's best to do that.     I'm sure others will have a different opinion though.

For under $200 I got a brand new set of stock shafts and rocker arms from Summit that should last for a long time.  Roller rockers are very expensive and aren't needed on a mild build. 

[70cudaFun]

I'm not an "engine guy" so make sure to verify with others however...

I'm pretty sure you can still use the factory rockers with the Edelbrock heads.  The factory uses shafts and bolts to hold the assembly to the heads.  There are no studs, nuts or guide plates.  From everything I've read, it seems adjustable roller rockers are more of a pain then they are worth.(especially aluminum rockers)  I don't think there is a significant power increase with them anyway.  There are times when you don't have any other choice but to use them but for a street engine, I think they are a waist of money.  If you can run the stock setup, I think it's best to do that.     I'm sure others will have a different opinion though.

For under $200 I got a brand new set of stock shafts and rocker arms from Summit that should last for a long time.  Roller rockers are very expensive and aren't needed on a mild build. 

Good info, thanks.  I will keep weighing my options and see which direction I head.

[barnett468]

their cams and carbs are totally lame . if you buy the eddy stuff get a cam from a different mfg and get a quick fuel carb . its that simple.

[70cudaFun]

their cams and carbs are totally lame . if you buy the eddy stuff get a cam from a different mfg and get a quick fuel carb . its that simple.

Yeah, I'm going to lose the Eddy Performer Cam & Carb and go with the Lunati Hydrolic Cam and the Fitech EFI.  I may ditch the Eddy stuff all together but we shall see when I cross that road.  Really depends on how much the rest of the car eats up 

[70cudaFun]

I thought I would share the comparison between the Eddy Performer RPM Package I have been looking at and the Trick Flow Top End Engine Kits I came across today in case anyone else is looking at these.  Well, I actually saw the Trick Flow setup before but kind of passed on it since it was $3900 versus the $2400 option with the Eddy kit.  My curiosity got me and I called up Trick Flow to find out what the difference was and why their kit was almost 4k.  The gentleman I spoke to, great guy and company by the way, took his time to explain the head differences, cam differences and basically the whole package difference between the Trick Flow setup versus others.  For one, the Trick Flow heads come with a beautiful CNC ported and polished setup and absolutely rock apparently.  This is where they are making significantly more power than the Eddy setup which makes sense.  What I find very interesting was the HP numbers that the Trick Flow Top End Engine kits are producing.  Trick Flow is claiming around the 580hp arena on a stock 440 bottom end.  580hp on a stock bottom end?!  The Eddy kit is claiming 460 to 480hp with their kit.  Anyone ever tried these Trick Flow heads and could attest to these numbers?  It sounds pretty solid for a Top End Kit but would love to hear from others if they have any experiences they could share.

[Chryco Psycho]

Might be great for a Chevy 
 No way I would do a 440 with it . Far better cams & heads for similar or better pricing
 Lunati cams & Trick flow heads fro example , use a 440 source stroker & you will have a lot more power

[Rolling_Thunder]

I was never a fan of the Edelbrock camshafts...     I used them a couple times (Performer and Performer RPM) for customer cars and they were decent...     I always preferred spec-ing out an Engle cam - The intake, carb, and even the heads are proven pieces...    maybe not the best available but they are still good economical upgrades and would make a decent street engine...