compression or flow?
The W2 and W5 share a few parts, but a W5 is nowhere close to a square port W5. I own both. Exhaust ports and exhaust bolt patterns are different, intake port floor is raised and ports are rectangle. Very different heads that share a few parts.
That being said if OP has a ported set of W2's and all the parts I would run them everyday before I bolted eddies on.
I own both as well and while you’re right I was trying to make it a simple thing.
I guess I’ll be the outlier here……..
Mild stock stroke street motor with cast pistons, small-ish cam, 3.55 gears?
I’ll take the Ede heads.
I’m starting to lean this way myself.
How come? I mean if the hard part of W2s is obtaining all of the rocker gear, valves, etc,
It’s not. I used Milodon .100+ Chevy valves on both sides. I just moved away from the 3/8. But the valves are available in 3/8.
Rocker gear is available through Harland Sharp, Jesel, TD.
Springs and seal are easy as any other head.
and he has all of that, why wouldn’t you choose them over the Eddie’s?
The Edelbrock head is a very good street head and the W2 was more so designed as a race head. The ports really pick up good flow rates as the valve is lifters higher. Excellent street power can be made with a box stock Edelbrock head which will also use cheaper rocker gear. An OOTB heads valves springs would work excellent with the cam mentioned.
If he went with a W2, (and maybe this is just me?) but I would have the set up very much so on a heavy hitter side. It’s nearly impossible to find a dual plane (which I believe is counter productive on this ported head) and he has a single plane intake. The single plane will shine nicely with cams of 250 or 255@050 & larger with (IMO) lifts of better than .550.
With this type of induction and camshaft size, 3.55’s will kill the engines performance. A small tire will help the engine but traction will be an issue. Full throttle will be and it and spin.
It’s more of a balancing act of not just a well put together engine combo but also the rest of the drivetrain and car.
Now if the OP said I’m not using my 3.55’s but I’m sure ok with 4.10’s and up…. 500hp, I’d suggest the W2 heads and probably a camshaft that would work well with the single plane and use 4.30-4.56 gears.