I'm the idiot that historically speaking, puts a $8,000 engine in a $1,000 truck.
If any of us were sane, we'd all be driving prius's like the rest of the soulless masses. If power was the issue, we'd all be stroking 460's into the stratosphere like everyone else. So yes, I think we are all nuts/idiotic, we chose to take the harder path. My reason for loving Fe's is "cuz they sound cool"
My comments are more self deprecating than anything else.... I always point a finger home first.... not my fault ya'll are standing too close :-)
(puts on bumper sticker that says "ThunderBucket" and parks way too close to Mmason)
I smell a good thread hijack here. Why do we love our FEs? As Drew says, if we were chasing the most HP and wanted to save money and stay Ford, we'd be building 460s. My reasons are:
1. They came in the coolest production cars ever (427 Cobras, 67-70 Mustangs, 66-69 Fairlanes/Torinos, 64-69 Galaxies, etc.)
2. They have a great racing pedigree (GT-40, 427 Cobra, Thunderbolts, LW Galaxies, CJ Mustangs, M/T 69 Mustang funny cars, etc.)
3. They are an attractive engine, with options like the pentroof valve covers, factory 2X4 setups, etc.
4. No engine sounds better than a solid lifter FE with open headers.
A 460 can't make any of those claims. They are attractive from a power and cost standpoint, but the FE's history gives it a soul that a 385 series engine can't match. What do you guys think?