588R big block

[Joe's Garage]

Originally Posted by patrickt

You can make an FE do anything you want it to... look right, sound right, have blinding performance, whatever ...

But actually not "be right" if it's not a 427, how many honest FE 427's are actually in these cars?

[Bernica]

Originally Posted by Joe's Garage

But actually not "be right" if it's not a 427, how many honest FE 427's are actually in these cars?

That's an open question for sure. Many original Cobras were fitted with 428 FE's. And I imagine a great deal of the original 427 Side Oilers have found their way into Cobras. Now does your question include modern day "honest" 427 FE's? Such as Shelby blocks or some of the others?

[patrickt]

... and you really don't need an "originally correct" 427 or 428 block. A reasonably stout 390 will do you just fine. It looks just the same as my 428 block. You can't tell the difference without pulling parts off to look inside. And you can't see the bulge of a side-oiler unless you jack the car up and crawl under it. I just don't understand why someone would spend the kind of money these cars are costing nowadays and not put in an FE.

[Bernica]

Originally Posted by patrickt

... and you really don't need an "originally correct" 427 or 428 block. A reasonably stout 390 will do you just fine. It looks just the same as my 428 block. You can't tell the difference without pulling parts off to look inside. And you can't see the bulge of a side-oiler unless you jack the car up and crawl under it. I just don't understand why someone would spend the kind of money these cars are costing nowadays and not put in an FE.

I agree again with Patrick. I had a 390 GT engine I built years ago and they look same. That 390 would snap my neck no problem, and I put it in an F100 pickup!

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Bernica

I agree again with Patrick.

I'll tell ya... that damn Patrick is a friggin' genius.

[Bernica]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I'll tell ya... that damn Patrick is a friggin' genius.

Don't get used to it Pal!

[patrickt]

Why is the OP leaning towards a BDR in the first place?

[1795]

There is nothing like the look and rumble of an FE, and they are getting scarce. Very few quality vintage FE blocks still available. A 390 is more affordable than a 427 or 428 and can be built to perform very well, and as other have stated, it is difficult to tell a 390 from a 428 or 427 without a lot of work.

An FE gives you all the low end torque that you will need and reality is, most of the time that you are going to want some power to pass some Sunday driver will occur in the 2,000-3,000 rpm range. On an FE that is where your torque is going to be, HP does not even begin to start hitting significant levels until the 4,000 rpm and up range. There is no hesitation with my FE at lower rpms when I want to pull out and get by someone.

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I'll tell ya... that damn Patrick is a friggin' genius.

NOW that's more like it... Where on earth have you been?
Good to have the real Patrick back.

--

If it were me, in a BDR - I'd slap a coyote in it, and then if I was happy with power and wanted aesthetics - Id slap an 8 stack intake on it, else if I wanted more power, a supercharger is fitting.

So that would make it a REAL S/C Sorry, I couldn't resist.

[Joe's Garage]

Originally Posted by Bernica

That's an open question for sure. Many original Cobras were fitted with 428 FE's. And I imagine a great deal of the original 427 Side Oilers have found their way into Cobras. Now does your question include modern day "honest" 427 FE's? Such as Shelby blocks or some of the others?

Then make that 427 SOs and 428 FEs Just bringing to light what patrickt said -

"If you don't put an FE in your 427 style Cobra, there will be a segment of the populace that will always be disappointed/confused/irritated."

I would say there is a "populace" out there that finds a 588 FE off the mark as well. Is not a replica to replicate?

[rodneym]

Originally Posted by Joe's Garage

But actually not "be right" if it's not a 427, how many honest FE 427's are actually in these cars?

About as many as there are honest Cobras.

[Buzz]

I'm not a fan of the BDR shape, but their many customers seem quite happy. If I were to build a modern interpretation of a Cobra with up to date steering, suspension and brakes (sorry - I just can't bring myself to do the dual padded roll bars), I would go all in with a modern power plant as well; and in that case, there is no better choice to me than this:
The Corvette Z06's Supercharged LT4 Powerplant Now Available as a Crate Engine - Corvette: Sales, News & Lifestyle
Smaller, lighter, more potent and just plain better than the Coyote, it's a no-brainer. Carroll Shelby had no engine brand loyalty hang-ups whatsoever - so why the heck should I?

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by Buzz

Carroll Shelby had no engine brand loyalty hang-ups whatsoever - so why the heck should I?

Cos you're better than him!