Personally, when it comes to engines, an aftermarket all aluminum FE for about $20K +/- works for me. I don't need NOS blocks, heads, intakes, etc.
Then a nice original 427SO will be in the same range if not more. I consider $35K to be in the same range as $38K. I was likely low on my estimate that why I qualified it with words like "every bit of".
Point is you can get BB power for alot less if you can do with out the Holy Grail of Cobra engines and the 427SO is clearly that IMHO or a nice aluminum block 427 like the Shelby block.
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Cobra Make, Engine: Butler...488" hi-rise, dry-sump FE s/o w/stacks
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Keith Craft will sell you one today for $38,000. Well known highly respected builder..all aluminum Pond block with Coon heads, Dove 2x4 manifold and ready to pump out big horsepower.
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA Street Roadster #782 with 459 cu in FE KC engine, toploader, 3.31
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I remember reading in Colin Comer's book that early CSX 3000 street cars used 427 center oilers before the 428 blocks. Are you sure any street roadsters actually came with side oilers? Maybe after they switched back to 427s?
Cobra Make, Engine: Kirkham 289 FIA #690, FRPP 427 Boss engine
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The real answer to all the comments in this thread is to get a Kirkham 289 car and put a small block 427w in it with some decals that try to fool people into thinking it is really a 289. You stick to the correct engine/body combination and get that awesome sound.
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Kirkham #690 289 FIA
PHC1:
it might be bragging rights and lots of money, and yes there are others that can do virtually the same, but the sound and power of the SO is unequalled, I have a real one in my Cobra and it is orgasmic.
Just my humble opinion
Basque 1(Lou)
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #732, 428FE (447 CID), TKO600, Solid Flat Tappet Cam, Tons of Aluminum
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Quote:
Originally Posted by REAL 1
Then a nice original 427SO will be in the same range if not more. I consider $35K to be in the same range as $38K.
I haven't been paying attention in the last few years to prices, but if my 428, which has pretty good stuff, was instead a 427SO block it would now cost me close to $40k? Jeez. Well, it does look and sound exactly like a 427SO -- unless you put it up on a lift and look from the underside.
The real answer to all the comments in this thread is to get a Kirkham 289 car and put a small block 427w in it with some decals that try to fool people into thinking it is really a 289. You stick to the correct engine/body combination and get that awesome sound.
I like it. In the end, these are just modern hot rods...almost like funny cars with a Cobra body. It's all freestyle.
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Cobra Make, Engine: Sold my beloved Shelby CSX 4068, Gessford 427 Ford
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DanEC
I remember reading in Colin Comer's book that early CSX 3000 street cars used 427 center oilers before the 428 blocks. Are you sure any street roadsters actually came with side oilers? Maybe after they switched back to 427s?
Good catch. The old wives' tale that "all 427 Cobras came with a side oiler" is my pick for the most-repeated lie about Cobras.
The truth is that a few more than 300 427 Cobras were made, and that the mix of engines was roughly 1/3 center oilers, 1/3 428 PIs, and 1/3 side oilers. So that 428 or center oiler is just as correct as the hallowed side oiler.
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You need an FE if you really think you need an FE.As far as sound any motor with a given displacement of 427" will give you that sound you crave.Whatever you decide for style of block or ci make certain you have it built by someone with the experience and understands what you want for performance.Good Luck
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #732, 428FE (447 CID), TKO600, Solid Flat Tappet Cam, Tons of Aluminum
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mdross1
As far as sound any motor with a given displacement of 427" will give you that sound you crave.
Not true. The sound of a big block does not come from the size of the space in the cylinders, but rather it comes from the size and shape of the metal of the block. Just like a bell, it's not the size of the "hole" that makes up the underside of the bell, it's the size of the crown, waist, soundbow, etc that makes up the bell itself. I have never heard, or felt the sound, of a small block that was the same as a big block. Now, I firmly believe you can make a SB just as powerful as a BB, but you can never make it sound the same, anymore than you can make a small bell make the same sound as a big bell.
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA Street Roadster #782 with 459 cu in FE KC engine, toploader, 3.31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by patrickt
Not true. The sound of a big block does not come from the size of the space in the cylinders, but rather it comes from the size and shape of the metal of the block. Just like a bell, it's not the size of the "hole" that makes up the underside of the bell, it's the size of the crown, waist, soundbow, etc that makes up the bell itself. I have never heard, or felt the sound, of a small block that was the same as a big block. Now, I firmly believe you can make a SB just as powerful as a BB, but you can never make it sound the same, anymore than you can make a small bell make the same sound as a big bell.
Some of the difference in sound between various engine makes results from differences in the firing order. I don't know if a SB Ford has the same firing order as a FE - probably does. And then compression and cam timing and exhaust size/configuration contribute enormously too.
Not true. The sound of a big block does not come from the size of the space in the cylinders, but rather it comes from the size and shape of the metal of the block. Just like a bell, it's not the size of the "hole" that makes up the underside of the bell, it's the size of the crown, waist, soundbow, etc that makes up the bell itself. I have never heard, or felt the sound, of a small block that was the same as a big block. Now, I firmly believe you can make a SB just as powerful as a BB, but you can never make it sound the same, anymore than you can make a small bell make the same sound as a big bell.
This being the case, the sound would be determined by whatever the "bell" is made of, be it iron or aluminum. I've not heard an aluminum BB next to an iron BB, but they should sound vastly different if the bell anology is correct.
Cobra Make, Engine: KMP 427 S/C, Twin Paxton 511 FE
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I agree with crASH. A bell is made to resonate. It's size, shape, material and thickness will all have a dramatic effect on the sound it makes, not to mention the hammer or mallet.
Suspend and iron, aluminum, FE, SB, etc. and see how they sound when struck. They will all sound a little different and have resonant frequencies but they probably won't translate well to the [glorius] sound of a BB and the [bothersome] noise of a SB.
I'd say it's the C/R, bore, heads, headers and pipes, even fuel probably, moreso than the mass of metal.
I wish the builders would chime in (no pun intended).
I'm just ecstatic that Patrick didn't wax (on) poetically about his non-427 sideoiler, with mechanical flat tappet lifters, sounding like one of these:
Cobra Make, Engine: Backdraft 874 solid red Roush 427 small block 515 hp
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Do you "need" one? Probably not since Ford won lots of NASCAR races in 1963 and 1964 with center oiler or top oiler engines. Iron crankshaft, too. But I think it would cool to have one, too.
My dad was the Ford dealer here in Jonesboro, Ar from 1929. - 1967 and it was cool to take advertising brochures to Buick dealer down the street.
The 425 2 quad Buick Riverias were nowhere near 425 HP.
Go for it! I love FE engines!
The side oilers came along in 1965 probably as 1966 models.
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