Big block or small block?

krkucin · #1 (**permalink**) 12-23-2011, 09:07 PM

Still shopping for a Cobra Replica. I think I have narrowed down the manufacturer, but still having trouble deciding on a motor. My initial thought was to go with a 427 or 428 FE motor to stay close to original. Superformance recommends going with a 351 for weight distribution reasons. Help! Any advice from current owners is much appreciated.

fordracing65 · #2 (**permalink**) 12-23-2011, 09:28 PM

FE cost more and get less mpg than a windsor, windors make gobs of power if built right, so do FE. Or you could buy mine, problem solved.

patrickt · #3 (**permalink**) 12-24-2011, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krkucin

Still shopping for a Cobra Replica. I think I have narrowed down the manufacturer, but still having trouble deciding on a motor. My initial thought was to go with a 427 or 428 FE motor to stay close to original. Superformance recommends going with a 351 for weight distribution reasons. Help! Any advice from current owners is much appreciated.

Yes, you can get just as much usable power from a SB. Yes, the SB will be cheaper. Yes, the SB will be lighter. BUT, with aluminum heads, intake, water pump, etc. you can get your iron block FE down to within 50 lbs. of an original SB, but more importantly, the fact that you've even thought about the accuracy of an FE in your Cobra tells me you will never truly be satisfied with a SB. It's only a question of time before you're parked somewhere with your hood up and a kid walks up to it all excited and then says "Awww man, it's got a small block in it" and then walks away shaking his head.... You'll be kicking yourself when that happens.

AL427SBF · #4 (**permalink**) 12-24-2011, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Yes, you can get just as much usable power from a SB. Yes, the SB will be cheaper. Yes, the SB will be lighter. BUT, with aluminum heads, intake, water pump, etc. you can get your iron block FE down to within 50 lbs. of an original SB, but more importantly, the fact that you've even thought about the accuracy of an FE in your Cobra tells me you will never truly be satisfied with a SB. It's only a question of time before you're parked somewhere with your hood up and a kid walks up to it all excited and then says "Awww man, it's got a small block in it" and then walks away shaking his head.... You'll be kicking yourself when that happens.

Total nonsense patrickt, sounds like a lame response from a guy who wishes he went SB after the fact

Superformance knows what they are talking about, you my friend don't.
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patrickt · #5 (**permalink**) 12-24-2011, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AL427SBF

Superformance knows what they are talking about...

If that were true they'd fix their radiator and pedal orientation, for starters....

JBCOBRA · #6 (**permalink**) 12-24-2011, 07:57 AM

I hope your New Years Resolution is to Stop Being Such a Dick

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

If that were true they'd fix their radiator and pedal orientation, for starters....

lamaluv · #7 (**permalink**) 12-24-2011, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBCOBRA

I hope your New Years Resolution is to Stop Being Such a Dick

JB unlike Patrick I will always be a Dick except when I'm a Richard or sometimes a Rick.

patrickt · #8 (**permalink**) 12-24-2011, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBCOBRA

I hope your New Years Resolution is to Stop Being Such a Dick

Now was that really necessary on Christmas Eve of all days?

I simply write what everyone else is thinking, but out of political correctness, or fear of hurting someone's feelings, chooses not to.

lamaluv · #9 (**permalink**) 12-24-2011, 07:57 AM

Get whatever YOU want. It shouldn't make any difference what other people think, it's your car and money. That being said

the only way I would have a SB in a Cobra would be in a FIA car.

Dick

CobraV8 · #10 (**permalink**) 12-24-2011, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

It's only a question of time before you're parked somewhere with your hood up and a kid walks up to it all excited and then says "Awww man, it's got a small block in it" and then walks away shaking his head.... You'll be kicking yourself when that happens.

I'd say this depends on whether you need your car to show off or you rather don't give a **** what others might think about the way you handle things

If you're of the first kind you need a 427 sideoiler in a 427 bodystyle car and a HP 289 in a 289 car.

If you're of the second kind just choose any engine you want for whatever reasons. Aluminium block/head FEs can achieve small block weights, and 100cui 4 cylinder engines can be turbocharged to 1000hp and more, so it really doesn't matter in terms of weight and power.

The only true point is that some of us are not in the happy position of beeing born with golden spoons shoved up their asses and a Windsor stroked to 408cui for example will cost considerably less than a 482 all aluminum FE. However you know best what you can and can't afford, so the decision is all yours.

No idea why this funny argument never ends

Merry Christmas to all of you anyways!

Simon

AL427SBF · #11 (**permalink**) 12-24-2011, 08:11 AM

This says it all ...
I'd say this depends on whether you need your car to show off or you rather don't give a **** what others might think about the way you handle things

You're a guy who needs a car to show off in, has nothing to do with what you actually want or making a smart financial decision lol.

... and in this case "what others might think about the way you handle things" would probably mean getting what you want and making a smart financial decision lol.

By the way, you lose all that so called weight savings in trying to make your BB approach SB weight ...
BUT, with aluminum heads, intake, water pump, etc. you can get your iron block FE down to within 50 lbs of an original SB

... like you wouldn't do that with your SB also? lmao!
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vatdevil · #12 (**permalink**) 12-24-2011, 08:21 AM

A small block stroker...unless you are worried about being true to the original. Invest the extra cash into tires and suspension. The big block with crap tires and stock suspension will quickly disappear in the rear mirror.

AL427SBF · #13 (**permalink**) 12-24-2011, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krkucin

Still shopping for a Cobra Replica. I think I have narrowed down the manufacturer, but still having trouble deciding on a motor. My initial thought was to go with a 427 or 428 FE motor to stay close to original. Superformance recommends going with a 351 for weight distribution reasons. Help! Any advice from current owners is much appreciated.

If you decide to go SB, you are not limited by 351 displacement, DART offers a great 427W small block right out of the box with ample room to rebuild (over bore) out to 450 safely, that should last you a life time

You get the best of both worlds there in my humble opinion.
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mrmustang · #14 (**permalink**) 12-24-2011, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krkucin

Still shopping for a Cobra Replica. I think I have narrowed down the manufacturer, but still having trouble deciding on a motor. My initial thought was to go with a 427 or 428 FE motor to stay close to original. Superformance recommends going with a 351 for weight distribution reasons. Help! Any advice from current owners is much appreciated.

What are your planned end use for the car, street cruiser, road racer, ice cream social/cruise nights? How close in appearance do you want the engine compartment to be? Finally, which body style are you planning to get (IE: 427SC, 427 street, 289FIA, slabside)? How you respond to the first one is most like more paramount then the rest, but it does help us formulate a response that may further assist you in making a decision.

Bill S.

Silverback51 · #15 (**permalink**) 12-24-2011, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krkucin

Still shopping for a Cobra Replica. I think I have narrowed down the manufacturer, but still having trouble deciding on a motor. My initial thought was to go with a 427 or 428 FE motor to stay close to original. Superformance recommends going with a 351 for weight distribution reasons. Help! Any advice from current owners is much appreciated.

Where does Superformance recommend small blocks?

And the weight distribution issue is for the most part a bunch of garbage.

Total weight difference is generally in the 200 pound range, and the weight distribution varies from 48/52 for a sb to maybe 50/50 at worse for a bb.

And I can easily lose 45 pounds of unsprung weight by going back to the Goodyear BB from the Avons.

vector1 · #16 (**permalink**) 12-24-2011, 09:35 AM

sb/bb, majority don't know what the difference is and what is the percentage of fake cobras? very few people know what they are.

i think the cubic inches is what impresses people. they ask what is in there--a 351, a 383, a 392, a 406, a 408, a 418, a 454, a 514, they don't take too much notice. but when you say it has a 427!!!!!! that is the magic number.

that is just my opinion of course and with that in mind a 4" stroke x 4.125" bore would be the ticket, in a 351 style block. past that a lsx would be the ticket.

i wouldn't let you shove a fe up patrick's ass

patrickt · #17 (**permalink**) 12-24-2011, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vector1

I wouldn't let you shove a fe up patrick's ass

Well thank you... I think.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vector1

... but when you say it has a 427!!!!!! that is the magic number.

To pass a SB off as a "427" just because it's stroked and bored to that number is disingenuous, to say the least... and you know that.

Varmit · #18 (**permalink**) 12-24-2011, 09:51 AM

I'm just damn glad to have a Cobra. It is a small block 427, I enjoy it for what it is. I've had much faster cars, but none as enjoyabe to drive. I did not buy it to satisfy or impress others, only for my personal experience and enjoyment. Others can do as they wish, then do not make my decisions or control my situation. I do no need their validation to know what I personnally enjoy.

Aside from that I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a wonderfull new years with many happy and safe miles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Silverback51 · #19 (**permalink**) 12-24-2011, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Varmit

I'm just damn glad to have a Cobra. It is a small block 427, I enjoy it for what it is. I've had much faster cars, but none as enjoyabe to drive. I did not buy it to satisfy or impress others, only for my personal experience and enjoyment. Others can do as they wish, then do not make my decisions or control my situation. I do no need their validation to know what I personnally enjoy.

Aside from that I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a wonderfull new years with many happy and safe miles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just out of curiousity, what were your faster cars?

And I'm asking because I'm a gearhead and love all fast cars.

fordracing65 · #20 (**permalink**) 12-24-2011, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silverback51

Just out of curiousity, what were your faster cars?

And I'm asking because I'm a gearhead and love all fast cars.

Mee too, whats faster than a cobra, unless its some twin turbo or supercharged motor, but in that case it can be done in a cobra as well and would still be faster, especially on the street. 0 to 100 in a cobra is hard to beat.