I thought I'd ask since these are two engines I am considering.
First, let me state that I am not interested in insane power. So either engine would be near stock with maybe mild power additions. I am looking for somewhere around 300+ HP to the wheels with some nice torque numbers. My plan is a spirited street Cobra with the rare occasion of a track date.
The Coyote looks like it delivers nice power at a decent price. This becomes more true with time as Ford is bringing down the price of their Coyote stock and Aluminator crate engines. The FE (for me a 390 block) gives that original look with similar power numbers, but with some extra weight.
Just want to get your thoughts. Some considerations I have are 1) Coyote engines are newer and tuning hasn't been quite figured out yet 2) both Coyote and FE engines are quite large and fill up the engine bay pretty well and 3) transmissions begin to factor in as the larger power numbers will stess the basic Ford T-5 some.
Cobra Make, Engine: Some polish thing... With some old engine
Posts: 2,286
Not Ranked
Les,
It's totally up to you, but since you asked... if it were me building a hurricane (as per your other posts), I'd go for a stroker 390FE (445) or a 428 if I could find one in decent condition for a reasonable price.
Any decent FE engine builder could easily hit your power target with their eyes closed.
The coyote engines are nice and breath well but...
The coyote idles like a Cadillac. You can put a nice cam in the FE so that it will have that nice lumpy Cobra idle. Even if you do not want insane horsepower, I would think you want the whole Cobra image with the nice lumpy idle and the overall sound and effect. You will not get that with the Coyote engine. It purrs like a Camry
.
__________________
LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO WORRY ABOUT GOOD GAS MILEAGE
________
Utinam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant!
________
The coyote idles like a Cadillac. You can put a nice cam in the FE so that it will have that nice lumpy Cobra idle. Even if you do not want insane horsepower, I would think you want the whole Cobra image with the nice lumpy idle and the overall sound and effect. You will not get that with the Coyote engine. It purrs like a Camry
When I was seventeen a friends dad referred to the sound of my Corvette Stingray as a washing machine. I think he was right.
Back to the Subject:
I think the Cobras saved the FE engines; at least it seems that way. I remember in 1974 reading an article in one of the magazines about it becomming a dinosaur and a boat anchor. I built a ton of them and never really liked the design. Parts have improved and things have changed. They now garner a lot of prestige. But the weight is a negative to handling. For my next project I have done a lot of reading on Coyote installs on the FFR cars, and there is considerable more work to the installation. It appears all the bugs have not been worked out. The total cost for all the parts is running around 10K if you do it all yourself. Between those two choices I think I would choose the 390 FE as the way to go for ease of the project and you will retain the prestige. I agree with your approach for a mild build. I have too many friends that don't drive their cobras because their engines are too radical for the street.
__________________
Wayne
"Everything is alive. If you get angry at a vehicle or the trans, it won't fix until you apologize and say you are sorry." "The vehicle always knows what it is doing and what the cause of it's bad feeling is. If you ask it humbly what the problem is, it will tell you. Then you and it will both be happy."
Gil Younger
Last edited by Wbulk; 04-04-2013 at 12:42 PM..
Reason: Last added
I have looked at Southern Automotive and they seem to do a nice basic 390 for the price of a 302. And they even sell dress up kits to give it that 427 look.
Cobra Make, Engine: Kirkham #684, 482FE, Mike Mccluskey build
Posts: 2,520
Not Ranked
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cashburn
No you didn't... Alteast be honest when giving false info
Just for your info the DOHC Cammer and Coyote are the exact same engine in specs and size, hp and tq, both were used in grand am racing, and actually my Cammer put out more power than the Coyote, so your right in a way, keep up the Phantom tunes and pushing the tq less Coyoyte..
I guess I'll take the minority position on this one... I'd go coyote... for the smoother idle quality, driveability, & dependability... not to mention, the much better mileage.
My aluminum-blocked 427 Windsor stroker has a very snotty cam in it. It WILL idle around town, but is not happy doing so. Sure, it makes 612 hp/615 tq, tho it's extremely rare that those numbers actually get put to use.
If you want that "original" look, go FE... if you want the benefits of technology, go coyote. Both look great under the hood, tho in different ways... Good luck with whatever you decide.
__________________
R. Smith
Santa Clarita, CA
BDR #89- KCR aluminum 427 windsor, TKO-600
Does the fact that I want to go with undercar exhaust make either choice more obvious?
It shouldnt you can go either way there as well.A lot of our cars have belly exhaust,another one of those personal preference things.The true beauty of a kit car.
I own an FE with side pipes and no inserts. Give me Fe or give me deaf. FYI...The stock Coyote Mustang class in NMCA are posting in the LOW 10's. Try that in a FE!!!
My personal opinion is that a cobra should be loud, nasty, and have more power than you can handle. Going with EFI, radios, A/C, etc is just too "bimmer" or "corvette" for me.
In my mind, the coyote is just not cost effective...but to each their own.
4Likes
FE vs Coyote
Linear Mode
