600 HP FE $18k VS 600 HP 460/514 $13k ?

[machoneman]

I'm with Falcon. A all iron 351W weighs 510, a number generally accepted by many.  Aluminum heads, intake and w/pump gets you approx. 460 lbs. It looks just like the original 289 based Cobra engine to boot.

Heck, even some of the driving greats of the era preferred the 289 version over the 427FE. But....they were racing these things on twisty tracks here and on European F.I.A. tracks where cornering speed and balance were more important than pure hp.

Btw, it's rare to see the many Cobra replicas here in Chi-town that don't have an FE.  I'd rather have an FE too as who beats on their street driven Cobra that hard? 

[Drew Pojedinec]

Btw, it's rare to see the many Cobra replicas here in Chi-town that don't have an FE.  I'd rather have an FE too as who beats on their street driven Cobra that hard?

I'm in the "stroker 390 or high strung 289" crowd.  Judging by previous posts when the original poster, he is somewhat fixated on the 600+hp number..... so that is what that is.

[427HISS]

Put a small block Chevy in it or LS Chevy in it if yer worried about dollars to horse power , otherwise build a FE , 600 hp is pretty easy to achieve

DREW !  lol....
Sorry, brain fart.

No Chevy bud.

But, the link to the website has some nice engines, the Cobra is just one, and it's an FE.  Which is what I'd prefer, 2nd a 385 series.
Cobra Kit Car 427 FE SPECIAL
Actual 430"  stroker 390 - 4.070" bore x 4.125" stroke
  425 to 580 horsepower; depending upon camshaft, pistons & intake selected
 - includes:
 1. Production FE 360 / 390 block;  cleaned, checked for cracks and machined
 2. SCAT 4.125" stroker crankshaft
 3. Forged 4340 steel rods;  6.700" length
 4. Race-Tech custom FORGED pistons; 10.8/1 or 9.9/1 compression
 5. Edelbrock (or equivilent) Aluminum cylinder heads
 6. Aluminum high-rise Edelbrock 2-plane or single plane intake manifold
 7. Canton or Milodon 7 quart oil pan
 8. Melling HV oil pump
 9.  Sheet Metal * Valve Covers
10. Ductile Iron (not cast iron) dampner
11. CUSTOM, (per application), Hydraulic Lifter Camshaft**
$ 7,495.00 + shipping
THIS price requires using your good block & front cover as core prices will vary but, we can supply them if you wish.
* Different Valve Covers Available at additional charge, Upon Request
** Hydraulic roller camshaft & valve train available at additional charge

[cjshaker]

If the goal is over 500 horsepower, forget a small block. Unless you go with an aftermarket block, they simply won't hold up. Blocks start splitting at 500hp, although I think you can squeeze a bit more out of the Windsor for the simple fact that there are more available cubes. If you start talking about aftermarket blocks, then the "budget" goes out the window.

The biggest bang for the buck is probably the 385 series engine, but I'd rather have a stroked 390 than the 460 based. The Lima engine fits the cars heritage about as well as a big block chevy engine. It's just 'wrong' in my book, and they don't look right in the car. But it's your car, and if budget is a big concern and you just want to enjoy the car, maybe a Lima based engine is your best choice. Just don't open the hood for anyone

I'll forgive Ross and Mr. Philpott for the LS comment....this time

[427HISS]

Put it this way.  I have a 427W Dart aluminum shortblock in my garage awaiting heads , and at 71 years young, I can pick up the shortblock off a dolly and sit it on a cart by myself.  If I were to use an aluminum inline head like the AFR 225, Super Victor, and my Aviad aluminum oil pan, it is going to weigh less than a 289 from the time period.  However, in a Cobra, the FE just looks right and with anything else but a SOHC, or Boss 429, most folks will just walk on by.  Joe-JDC

I do agree, and almost everywhere I go, people ask if the engine is a 427 or 428, and they always say something great.
There are some wicked,....351 based engines being built, like the 427 putting out over 500 HP, but I like the big blocks.
I built my first car at 17 years old. 76' Pro-Street (remember those years) with a 468 RATT, 13:1 compression ran Av Gas, Muncie Rock Crusher, Ford 9" etc.

If I had the money in hand, I'd get the 427 side oiler block and  heads from BBM. Their an absolute work of art. 

Do you have any vids of your 427w ?

Theres one vid of a Cobra that some say, the motor is a 358 NASCAR engine. It may or may not, but it sounds nasty.

[427HISS]

I'm with Falcon. A all iron 351W weighs 510, a number generally accepted by many.  Aluminum heads, intake and w/pump gets you approx. 460 lbs. It looks just like the original 289 based Cobra engine to boot.

Heck, even some of the driving greats of the era preferred the 289 version over the 427FE. But....they were racing these things on twisty tracks here and on European F.I.A. tracks where cornering speed and balance were more important than pure hp.

Btw, it's rare to see the many Cobra replicas here in Chi-town that don't have an FE.  I'd rather have an FE too as who beats on their street driven Cobra that hard?

I
"I'd rather have an FE too as who beats on their street driven Cobra that hard?"
"

Gotta tell ya bud, being a 360/410 retired dirt winged sprint car racer, I have speed and hell power in my blood, so I'm always,....on the throttle in my
Cobra !  Thats what their for. I never,...trailer mine either, like a lot do.

The Kirkham "slabside" ,...webbers on top of the 289 is awesome !   

[427HISS]

Here's some vids. First is two friends of mine driving my Cobra home from the GoogGuys Show in Kansas. I felt too bad to drive.
It's where I won Best Ford Muscle.

Sorry, I did not edit the length of these......

First time out after winter. Lashed the valves, add new fuel and out for the last drive after selling the engine.   

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=h3XsqHrtTPY

These were made for the buyer in New York, of my 428FE I sold to pay medical bills.  Wanted to make sure he knew what he was getting.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7NtshzoeV6M

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TVT7eP8H6rw

A slow ramp up to 125mph.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WZAK4ddf1x4

[427HISS]

If the goal is over 500 horsepower, forget a small block. Unless you go with an aftermarket block, they simply won't hold up. Blocks start splitting at 500hp, although I think you can squeeze a bit more out of the Windsor for the simple fact that there are more available cubes. If you start talking about aftermarket blocks, then the "budget" goes out the window.

The biggest bang for the buck is probably the 385 series engine, but I'd rather have a stroked 390 than the 460 based. The Lima engine fits the cars heritage about as well as a big block chevy engine. It's just 'wrong' in my book, and they don't look right in the car. But it's your car, and if budget is a big concern and you just want to enjoy the car, maybe a Lima based engine is your best choice. Just don't open the hood for anyone

I'll forgive Ross and Mr. Philpott for the LS comment....this time

Yes, and the big cube mouse engines have to work real hard for power, vs a big cube big block.

Right,...LS boyz,.....

[Barry_R]

Just spectating...

But need to make note that the "427" 4.125 stroker 390 referenced will not make 580 HP in anybody's dreams.

Unless somebody starts in on carving up & porting those heads you'll be closer to 450 - maybe 475

[427HISS]

Hi Barry, those numbers won't do.

Here' where I pasted it from.

http://www.rmcompetition.com/ford-.html

[Barry_R]

Randall knows better than that...

[427HISS]

Can you post a link to your price's of complete and short block FE's ?

[Barry_R]

Those discussions are best held in private emails or PMs out of respect to the other builders who participate in this forum.

[427HISS]

Agreed. Mail sent.

[My427stang]

I'll forgive Ross and Mr. Philpott for the LS comment....this time

LOL, I got much less of a response than I expected!  It was mostly tongue in cheek, but they do run well.

As far as the original question, if it's big block or nothing, 600 out of a 385 series is about as easy as falling out of bed.   I do agree though, if on a budget, and depending on how much of the car is still set up for an FE, it could as cheap and real fast with a 445.  Heck my noisy 445 hauls my 4x4 like its a hot rod, It'd be real happy 1700 lbs less behind it!