Best Cobra engine?

[xlr8tr]

My thought would be if you are going "non-purist", (i.e. non-FE) go all the way with big inches, 521+. I'm just getting used to mine (only been driving it a week) and its a blast. Rev lmiter is 6000 and it seems pretty happy at that number! Idle is about 1,000 and rough, but I like it.

I would like to put this pig on a diet, so an aluminum block option would be good.

My 460 is all iron, and I'm sure there's 200 lbs+ to lose off the front end with aluminum heads and aluminum block, right?

[cobrashoch]

545? - Done this. Some notes in my experience:
Crank - w/a 4.5 stroke the longest rod I could use was a 6.7 rod w/flattop pistons and rings at the top of the piston, w/a D1VE block. However it's done all the time but you have to scratch your head and take lots of measurements dependent on the various block castings you use. A 4.3 stroke gives you much more flexibility. (read-less $$$$$$$) BTW - I'm in the school that the less you have to bore a block, the better.
Rods - Stock rods are good to about 450hp. Changing the big end bolt takes them to about 480hp., and this is only good for short bursts such as occasional drag racing, not any kind of endurance stuff. Next step up in cost is the Chevy rod/stroked combo stuff. Stock replacement Ford aftermarket rods cost slightly more than Chevy rods. My vote so far, 4.3 stroke Chevy cast crank w/aftermarket rods.
Cam- For about two million reasons a hydro roller of .6 to .63 lift is where you want to be on the street, no more lift! If you need more performance just add some duration on the cam and open up the overlap a couple of degrees. Lifts over .65 require constant maintenance and rocker/lifter rebuilds. Speaking of which, does Comp Cams still make steel rockers? I'd look there on your quest.
Heads - Hard to look past P51's for anything around .30 over bore blocks, given the costs. Some cost less, some more, but on the high side the gains are only marginal, and on the low side you can get much less for only marginally cheaper heads. so P51's get my vote.
Intakes - I wouldn't put a intake manifold on your engine, instead I would offer a port match at about 1-1/2 the cost of the manifold per your customers request. I like the Weiand Stealth for carbs, no more than 850cfms. For Dominator street carbs I like the Blue Thunder 180 degree intake.
My vote, hope ya make a million dollars, good luck.

xir8tr - Most 385 aluminum alloy blocks weigh in at roughly the same weight as a D1VE/D0VE blocks. This is due to the extra "racing" ribbing those blocks get to give them strength for drag racing. If it's a lightweight 385 block you want, you might look at a late truck long bore block, or a Dominator "gas poured" sportsman block. I took 35lbs. out of my D1VE block using a judicious grinder together with various machining steps. My long block weighed 545lbs. sans pulleys and supercharger. The Blue Thunder heads I used were only marginally lighter than the stock heads, and I had a steel main girdle. So I wouldn't put much "weight" in all the talk I hear in these parts about lighter engines. Most FE428 stock Iron engines weigh in at roughly 500lbs,
(with aluminum heads) about 100lbs. less if you use a Shelby or Pond Block. BTW - Taking weight off the front of the car can be done by taking weight out of the car itself, not just the engine. Just a friendly reminder of the obvious.
cobrashoch

[mdross1]

I have been thinking about a roller cam for my 460 for quite a while,just have had too many projects going lately to consider tearing into the motor.Next year will be the year provided our Government hasn't robbed us blind by then.Been hearing some scary stuff.
Just picked up a V8 bike with a huge roller .700 lift Comp cam 406",560 dynoed hp.This thing revs instantly and sounds incredible.Our Cobra sits in the shop next to the bike which helps in keeping the juices flowing.Also thought about a mechanical roller just for the sound they make.If it were not for the hassle to pull the valve covers for tappet adjustment would do it.
Any of you running a big roller in your 385 blocks? Would love to hear from you.

[FUNFER2]

I had one in my 428 and loved it. I eased the pressure off the springs & valves for winter storage then lashed the valves in spring and checked them mid-summer. Most the time the lash was fine, but always checked. The same will apply with my 527 side oiler. It's really not a pain in the ass as a lot of people think. The only times I would check them again is after racing it, either the drag strip or road racing.