Wedge Holley or Edelbrock for a TR8?

[chrisc]

Great forum, love the information.

Looking for opinions and or real-world experience/advice.

I'm looking to take my stock Strombergs off and do the 4-barrel upgrade for my TR8.

Several strong schools of through on which carb/manifold to use. Looks like most use Holley. If you read the conversion sites from the U.K., Edelbrock (weber) is the carb of choice.

I want as close to bolt it in and forget it as I can get. What's the preferred choice? Looks like Woody offers the Holley, Looks like TSI offers either...

Thanks,
Chris

 

[PATR8]

my 8 came with a Offy intake and a Holley 390 carb. I had the car for over 2 years and never was able to satisifacrily tune the 390. I am sure I could have had some one do it for me but I eventually sold the Holley 390 on ebay over the winter and made enough to buy a new eldebrock and have money left over. I have never had even one bit of trouble with the eldebrock in the past 6 years (Please do not let be a challenge to Lord Lucas to make it stop working).

My suggestion, Every like teh Holley so go that way if you can tune a fickle Holley, if you are carb stupid like me, go Eldebrock

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Hey, Chris -

I don't really have a dog in the fight, but bought my Holley 390 and Edelbrock manifold from Woody. Truly "plug and play", but only after Woody set it up for me. Also bought a mild cam from him. I'm very happy with the performance and mileage (25 on a recent drive out in the country).

 

[Brosky]

I've been told that most stock engines adapt very well to the 390CFM model Holley. Anything bigger may require engine mods.

Contact Woody at the Wedge Shop. He'll tell you what to use based on what you are starting with and he'll also tell which way to go or NOT to go if you're planning to do more to the car.

Tell him that I told you to call. He'll give you the best advice you'll ever get for a TR8.

https://www.thewedgeshop.com/

 

[JFS]

I bought my TR8 with the John Wolfe Racing (JWR) Offenhouser manifold and Edelbrock 4bbl installed. The previous owner said he originally tried the Holley but could not get it to perform well, but had little trouble with the Edelbrock. It also has a cam upgrade and ss headers. I have been very pleased with the setup.
I am also very pleased with my dealings with Woody, and would not hesitate to go with the Holley if he jets it for you and tells you it is a bolt on and run setup.
Good luck. I know you'll love a properly set up 4bbl!

 

[PATR8]

Basically what we are saying is if "woody says it will work, it will". I guess Woody is to Lord Lucas what Luke Skywalker is to Darth Vader.

 

[chrisc]

Thanks for the comments so far,

Based on what I've read about Woody if the carb comes with the correct jetting and is properly set-up, sounds like it should be ok. From what I've ready, the Holley can be a challenge if not properly set-up on a dyno...(seems to be confirmed here. No doubt Woody has sold/advised hundreds of conversions over time.

I'm going to do the whole shebang, carb, headers and cam. I'm debating whether to have the engine pulled first to fix the various oil leaks that have developed through years of neglect and/or seals drying out.

Chris

 

[PATR8]

How could you tell it was a Triumph if it did not have various leaks from all the various fluids. They are like dogs, they just need to mark their territories

 

[tr8todd]

I am not a big fan of the 390 althou that is what I have on my street 3.5 liter. The 600 is alot cheaper and tuned properly, it works well on a hopped up Rover V8. Had an Edelbrock once. I'll never own one again. I've also had a Barry Grant and now have an AED modified to 680CFM racing version of the Holley 600 on the race 4.0. That carb will run somewhere north of $750 but at least the fuel doesn't slosh in the corners. As far as intakes go, the Edelbrock is far better than the Offy dual plane. Top of the line would be a Huffaker or the one from England that Woody sells.(name escapes me now) That intake is around $600 or so.

 

[Cheapsnake]

I put a 390 into my 8 when I first got and spent a month trying to get it right. Finally dropped an Edelbrock 50 in and it simply ran immediately. I'm sure somebody that knows what they're doing could tweak it, but as it is, I'm happy with it.

Tom

 

[YankeeTR]

While the 390 Holley is probably the correct cfm for the 215 v8, I prefer a small Edelbrock...they are pretty much bullet proof. But the 215 doesn't need much for cfm's so I'd get a 500...too much carb on a stock engine is overkill and will suck more fuel...IMHO