This comes at the right time. Edelbrock has introduced its E-Street cylinder heads, a new line of lower-priced stuff to combat the knock-offs and the legit competitors that use Chinese castings. The E-Street heads are cast and assembled at Edelbrock facilities in California, USA, and are currently available for small-block Chevys and Fords. We asked if Mopar versions were coming soon: negatory.
The E-Street line is marketed for applications under 400 hp and 5,500 rpm. The heads appear to us to use Edelbrock's Performer RPM castings but without all the finish work and hand-blending used in the higher-cost heads. Less costly valvetrain components are used, though features such as Helicoiled rocker-stud bosses are retained. The main things limiting the rpm potential are the valvesprings, which are intended for small, flat-tappet cams; they're 1.250 in diameter and cannot handle more than 0.550-inch lift (in fact, we'd keep it closer to 0.520). Machining would be required to install larger-diameter springs. The E-Street heads are not smog-legal, as the Performer heads are.
At press time, Summit Racing's nonsale price for a pair of fully assembled E-Street heads for a small Chevy was $949.95 and the Fords were $973.95. That makes them $170 to $239 less than a set of Edelbrock Performer heads.
To test the Chevy version of the E-Street heads, we compared them against GM's Vortec heads, which we consider the all-time kings of small-block bang for the buck.
E-Street vs. Vortec Price Comparo
Complete, assembled, un-modified Vortec heads (PN 12558060) are sold by Summit Racing for $299.95 each. However, those heads tend to be limited to between 0.420- and 0.470-inch lift depending on whom you ask and what head you're holding. The problem is that the valvespring retainer contacts the top of the valve seal at high lifts. Some say Vortec heads can go to 0.500 lift just by changing to umbrella-type seals, but if you are also upgrading the springs, then the easiest, most affordable option is the premodified heads from Scoggin-Dickey Performance Center for $389.95 each (PN SD8060A2). Those have machined valveguides and so-called Z28 springs good for 0.525-inch lift, and they're $170 cheaper than the E-Streets.
While it probably won't matter with cam profiles under 0.500 lift, the downside could be that the Scoggin-Dickey modified Vortecs described above still have press-in rocker studs, while the E-Streets are screw-in. Likewise, the E-Street heads come with pushrod guideplates, while the Vortecs require guided rocker arms. However, for Vortec heads with the valve-spring upgrade and also the screw-in studs with guideplates, Scoggin-Dickey charges $424.95 per complete head (PN SD8060AGP2). A pair of these modified Vortecs with guideplates is just $100.05 cheaper than the E-Street heads.
However, there are other costs to consider. If you do not opt for guideplates on your Vortec heads, you'll need self-aligning rocker arms. You could use junkyard stamped-steel parts or buy GM's set of 16 stock arms for $55.95 (PN 12495490). If you want roller rockers, shop carefully: Some self-aligning versions are more expensive than the standard versions, others are about the same. On the other hand, if you do use guideplates, then you'll need hardened pushrods, which are $50 to $100 more than standard ones. (See the captions for a tip on how we removed the guideplates and used cheaper standard pushrods and guided rockers with our E-Street heads.)
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