Big block or small block?

[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.

[fordracing65]

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]

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]

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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[CobraV8]

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

[patrickt]

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]

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

Originally Posted by patrickt

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

[lamaluv]

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

[lamaluv]

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.

[JBCOBRA]

Originally Posted by lamaluv

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

[AL427SBF]

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]

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.

[patrickt]

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.

[AL427SBF]

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]

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.

[AL427SBF]

Originally Posted by patrickt

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.

Long response ...
I simply write what everyone else is thinking ...
Like you really have a clue on what everyone else is thinking? Apparently not by the responses you are getting, hopefully you will learn from this foolish naivety on your part.

Short response ...
patrickt, is it really necessary for you to be such a dick on Christmas Eve?
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[patrickt]

Originally Posted by AL427SBF

I simply write what everyone else is thinking ...

Yes, everyone in the entire world, except members of the discrete class belonging to whatever it is that I happen to criticize in that particular post.

And to the OP, you might search this entire board for a single post saying "Boy, I sure wish I had put a small block in my SC." You won't find it. (Of course, if you're building a FIA, that's completely different... but the fact that you were even talking about an FE tells me that's not the case.)

[Dumpling]

why not do the first eco-boost 4 or 6 cylinder install?

that would be in keeping with the true spirit of the original which was the AC Ace with more power. last century, the only way to get an appreciable boost in power was with a v8...not true anymore. so instead of shoehorning more cylinders and bore into what really is a tiny car, why not put a size-appropriate yet still power-unreasonable engine in it?

[Silverback51]

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.

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by patrickt

And to the OP, you might search this entire board for a single post saying "Boy, I sure wish I had put a small block in my SC." You won't find it.

I hate it when I have to agree with you Patrick.