So my intro is that I'm "only" 41 but I grew up with FE's. My dad always had strong running FE's. Through pics here;
That 55 Merc we found in WV. A guy had dropped a 428 PI in it. It ran great. I was going to put the engine in my 69 Q-code Mach (that's me, age 15, with all my junk). I got the insurance estimate and due to the VIN, not even my dad could afford the insurance. Heart broken, I sold it all and hopped in a Mustang Pace Car, 4cyl turbo. I went on to race and build 351, 302 and 460 stuff as parts were more available. I worked inside Ford (supplier to chassis and fuel system division for 15 years, Mech Engr.) I have a pump-gas, street driven 5.0L Mustang, best effort 10.69@127.
Dad's pulling truck was a terror in Super Stock where smaller tires were mandatory. 427 side oiler, steel crank, LeMans Rods, 13:1, 427 LR heads and a Holley 950 3 barrel. As pictured it had a 452 ci HR set up for the Mod class. He was nuts and would rev these things over 8,000. Spit out a lot of driveline parts.
The 69 Cobras; red he bought new, Drag Pak 3.91 4spd, ran 13.2@104 pure stock. Green was a CJ 4spd belonging to his brother.
The 66 Fairlane pic from 1968 "avatar" had a 427 MR with domed pistons, big cam. Broke the rear 13 times. I am told by the most jaded critic (my uncle) that car's power was impressive.