what are the pro's vs con's on engines

[Dominik]

Keep the 351 and stroke it to 427. If you change to FE you are facing a lot of work.

[blown]

to answer 750hp's question yes i have had a few cobras with FE motors but i never finnished them someone would always con me out of them i want aroud 550-600 hp my cleaveland is very tight in the bay to work on as it is but i am just curious how bad the handling would chang with the bbf vs the sbf i think their is not any engine more sexy than a FE but 99% of the people wouldnt know if i told them it was a dodge motor but i do agree its already a cleavland so keep it that ill look into stroker kits and see whats out their.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by blown

... I think their is not any engine more sexy than a FE...

Yep, but if the OP really wanted an FE, he wouldn't have to ask here. And I bet Blykins could build him a 600HP stroked 390FE for under $15k, and could probably do it in four weeks or less. There's really no need to go to a 427/428 unless you just happen to have a nice block available.

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by blown

to answer 750hp's question yes i have had a few cobras with FE motors but i never finnished them someone would always con me out of them i want aroud 550-600 hp my cleaveland is very tight in the bay to work on as it is but i am just curious how bad the handling would chang with the bbf vs the sbf i think their is not any engine more sexy than a FE but 99% of the people wouldnt know if i told them it was a dodge motor but i do agree its already a cleavland so keep it that ill look into stroker kits and see whats out their.

Oh, I see... If I read it right - You are the 1% who knows, you want the FE, and your slightly remorseful you haven't gone that way?

I could tell you, if you drove the two engines back to back, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between them on the street, particularly if you kept the hood closed. But you probably don't want to believe me... I'm guessing your heart wants the FE, and your seeking away to justify the spend to yourself.

If it were me and I was on a budget, I'd stay with the Cleveland, else life is short and money grows on trees (just ask your farmer or a horticulturist. ), and that contemporary of yours is deserving of an FE.


But go with whatever makes YOU happy!


Ps: the cost probably can't just be isolated to FE engine vs Cleveland engine rebuild. If you swap engine type, you have to factor in other miscellaneous costs, like: bell housing, possibly chassis mods for engine mounting and the mounting brackets themselves. It can add up very quickly - How deep are your pockets?

Good luck with it either way... and keep us posted on what you do.

[Silversmith]

Spend a little extra & get rid of those China based Procomp heads. Use instead John Kasse P-51 Heads with the above listed engine build & pick up 100 hp est. A set of P-51 was about 2K to 3K last I checked Also a 385 is a very dependable/strong engine, as long as you keep the rev's less than 6,500rpm.

[blown]

wow this has been a good discussion I'm thinking a 390 stroked to a 440 or maybe a 351 stroked to a 393 they both seem to be very good combo's but I need to measure the fe for fitment that Cleveland is tight in their as it is.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by blown

wow this has been a good discussion I'm thinking a 390 stroked to a 440...

I think that's a fine choice. Blykins, or any of the other builders around here, can advise you on head tweaking, cam choice, intakes, maybe single or dual quads, and what not. They can turn the horsepower and torque up to the level that appeals to you. You might also just throw a feeler out to see if anyone has a nice webbed 428 block just sitting around that they'd let go for a dime or two. Having the extra bore always helps, but it's not critical for what you'll be doing.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I think that's a fine choice. Blykins, or any of the other builders around here, can advise you on head tweaking, cam choice, intakes, maybe single or dual quads, and what not. They can turn the horsepower and torque up to the level that appeals to you. You might also just throw a feeler out to see if anyone has a nice webbed 428 block just sitting around that they'd let go for a dime or two. Having the extra bore always helps, but it's not critical for what you'll be doing.

Whether your choice is a small block or big block, find a good engine builder and a good installer, if you're not doing the work. Having an experienced professional both building and installing your engine will greatly reduce the probability of headaches like leaks, cooling issues or other sorting maladies.