Are Speedmaster Heads Good? I've Heard a Lot of Bad Press on Edelbrock 340 Heads Lately

harrisonm said

I have been thinking about getting some performance heads for a while. Maybe I should have bought some Edelbrock heads before the quality went downhill. I understand that since the company was sold, quality control has left the building. I have a few questions:
1. Where are Edelbrock heads made now?
2. Are the horror stories I have heard about the poor quality of their heads true?
3. I guess a lot of people here have purchased Speedmaster heads. How are they quality wise? And do they respond well to being massaged. I think I have read that @pittsburghracer has worked on them.
I have a 340 with stock iron heads that is built to about 375 HP.

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Edelbrock heads I’ve been told are still being cast in California. Edelbrock is famous for making an ugly “plunge cut” on their heads. Do not buy Edelbrock heads bare unless you are capable of fitting the valve guides. Both heads respond nicely to a nice racier valve job. Speedmaster heads come with 10 degree retainers and keepers while Edelbrock after all these years still come with crap 7 degree stuff. The Speedmaster castings are 10 times nicer as is the valve guide fit. The Speedmaster heads flow a few cfm better out of the box. I never check spring pressure out of the box as I always set them up after I’m done but from member spring pressure is on the low side.