edelbrock or crane cam?

both cams are a bit dated, but otherwise excellent cams. pick one that matches the rpm range you want. the wider the better.

If you decide to go with the Edelbrock cam, save some dough and buy it without the Edelbrock label.
TRW makes the Edelbrock cams.
You can buy it as a TRW cam cheaper, or better yet, Summit sells the TRW cams under their 'house' brand even cheaper.
Same cams, made by TRW, different labels on the boxes.
Don't pay for a label.
Dave

ratio411 said:

If you decide to go with the Edelbrock cam, save some dough and buy it without the Edelbrock label.
TRW makes the Edelbrock cams.
You can buy it as a TRW cam cheaper, or better yet, Summit sells the TRW cams under their 'house' brand even cheaper.
Same cams, made by TRW, different labels on the boxes.
Don't pay for a label.
Dave

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will have a used performer (300 miles) for sale soon, pm if interested!! intake also!!

I bought "Summit" cam for a 78 400M. this was the 204/214 .484/.512 lift. Best cam I found for the money. Really woke that 400 up. Crane's Energizer series is also a good value. Bought one for the 68 Merc 390 a few years ago. (272 degree cam) Also turned out to be an excellant choice for the money.

pazur said:

I did not know edelbrock makes summit cams...

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Edelbrock doesn't make any cams!

TRW makes the cams for Edelbrock and Summit...

Don't ask me if they are made by TRW in the US or elsewhere.
I have no idea.
I just know that the E'brock cams are expensive because they are a middleman.
Get them from TRW, or a discount source like Summit, and they are cheaper.

pazur said:

Personally I would go with lunati if it was better priced...

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If you are wanting US made, then Lunati or Comp are your best bets.
They are made right in Memphis TN.
I know there are others made here, but those 2 are tops in my book.
I run a Lunati in my current SBF.
Back in the early 90s, they weren't just a Holley division... They were a full service machine shop. I had my engines machined there. They did great work.
Now that they are not owned by the Lunati family, they are still located in the same place and have the same employees... They are not just a wing of some giant Holley complex somewhere, like folks try to portray.

pazur said:

Cam of these characteristics surely wakes any engine up, but the problem may be for how long. I did not know edelbrock makes summit cams and expected that summit are made of cheaper chinese steel and made to less strict tolerances, that's why they are maybe 50% cheaper than the rest of low-buck brands (at least at summit store). If you all are saying it is NOT like that, my choices are much easier because summit cams have very good specs. Crane has very narrow rpm range and symetrical lobes, edelbrock have suspitiously high rpm range to its valve lift. Personally I would go with lunati if it was better priced.

So again, are the numbers on rpm range trustworthy; ie not overstated at some brands?

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As far as todays cams and the problems the ALL had recently, if it survives the first hour's run time, it's a pretty good bet it'll last as long as you'd expect one to. I sold the truck with the 400 a few months after I installed the cam but it was fine at that time. The Merc I had for 3-4 years after the install (and the first cam lasted 30 minutes, also a Crane 272 Energizer) In today's world, you never know WHO actually made a part you bought, price tells you nothing here. I've had two cam failures in the last 5 years, one was the Crane I mentioned already, the other was a Comp Cams 280H. I've got several theorys as to what caused both but the actual thing that caused them will never be known. Both wiped a single lobe and lifter and that I attributed to the lifter not being spun by the cam lobe at first fireup. The cause could have been bad lifters, too much assembly lube, too cold temps at startup (on the Crane Energizer) or last, not enough zinc in the oil, but that I seriously doubt with only a single lobe being involved on each.