Any 427 FE owners regret not going for a small block stroker?

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by AC Ventura

Finally an answer that doesn't involve food outlets...........

All kidding and BS aside, your question is an old question. I'd be surprised if anyone here regrets their choice of engine and what your question boils down to is the age-old choice of whether one installs a small block versus and big block. And you're just going to find that each Cobra owner prefers the choice they made for the typical reasons of cost, "authenticity", value, maintenance, reliability, etc.

In Dimis case, he was out running one day near the local park and saw an FE engine lying behind some bushes, or maybe it was "the bush" (he lives down under), not sure, anyway, so that's how his engine choice was made.

[AC Ventura]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

All kidding and BS aside, your question is an old question. I'd be surprised if anyone here regrets their choice of engine and what your question boils down to is the age-old choice of whether one installs a small block versus and big block. And you're just going to find that each Cobra owner prefers the choice they made for the typical reasons of cost, "authenticity", value, maintenance, reliability, etc.

I'm sure that's exactly the answer to the question that has no definitive answer.

My car is a '93 hand beaten aluminium Autokraft Mk IV which still has the original Fox body 302/5.0 Efi. I don't know if it's common knowledge over there but these cars were sold as new cars only, manufactured under license from AC. Fitting the FE is unheard of over here, but we're not exactly a nation of hot rodders either. In fact any modification to an original car is considered heresy. Engineering wise it is major surgery making space between the 26" (too narrow) moulded fibreglass footboxes and have them looking factory afterwards. They can't be removed with the body on, so they need to be sawn out, then narrowed and then remade so they look original. A big job undertaking on a finished car, but not impossible. Plus there's extensive metalwork inside them (the pedal box frame) that needs remaking and that's just making space, let alone fitting requirements, The factory actually made 11 427 FE powered cars but didn't allow enough space and the engine/cockpit gets very hot as there's virtually no air gap. So it needs another inch each side, which means only a 10" wide pedal box.
Here in the UK, most of the 78 Mk IV owners do not use the cars much and many simply occupy pedestals in multi car collections, If somebody is set regarding tut, tut, modification, the expert recomendation is the bolt in 331/347, but personally that feels a bit of a cop out in the big 427 body.........and well it ain't exactly the legend is it? Also none of the s/b strokers seem to sound like their bigger brother, but have to say only ever heard them on YouTube.
I was hoping somebody would say don't do it, you're kidding yourself that its worth it, but that doesn't seem to be the case....

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by AC Ventura

I was hoping somebody would say don't do it, you're kidding yourself that its worth it, but that doesn't seem to be the case....

Well, now that we know what you're thinking about, I would NOT install a BB in an AC MKIV. Don't do it, you're kidding yourself that its worth it.

I'd import a Kirkham and then install a BB, but I'm clueless about import duties and the vehicle laws of England.

Doesn't Hawk or Dax or somebody make a 427-bodied Cobra?

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by AC Ventura

My car is a '93 hand beaten aluminium Autokraft Mk IV which still has the original Fox body 302/5.0 Efi.

The most important fact in the OP's case is to keep it original for resale.

[AC Ventura]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

The most important fact in the OP's case is to keep it original for resale.

Thanks but that's not really the case. This is my time with the car. We can't just worry about resale at the expense of joy of ownership, just because a car is worth X. That'll be someone else's problem and its not exactly insurmountable to return to its original spec. It's not like the body is being customised, plus I'm only thinking about doing what the great man did. I'll keep to OE engine in any case and it will remain with the car.
I'm lucky enough to have three cars, the first two are awesome in their niche, but this one, the MK IV is underwhelming with its wheezy so called 225 bhp. However, I really like the car. It's almost the real thing and the only open car I have and it's a real buzz driving it. Everyone likes seeing it it seems. We did 5000 miles in the Italian Alps last September and it's a great tourer, although we're gonna miss the 26 mpg. Even has room for luggage.
I wish I could drive a 425hp 347 and a 425hp 427 to see what the difference is.
The 427 I've found (for sale) has alloy heads and pump. I think therefore I'm only gaining 100lbs at the front, esp if I move the battery to the rear.
Win Percy the Jaguar Le Mans ace one said to me a 7 litre Cobra is a pusycat to drive and I noticed F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton didnt buy no 331...

[patrickt]

The problem is that if you don't go with the big block FE, you might very well be happy, but you will always question yourself as to whether you would have been more happy had you gone with the bigger engine. Life is too short to second guess yourself.

[Joe's Garage]

Originally Posted by patrickt

The problem is that if you don't go with the big block FE, you might very well be happy, but you will always question yourself as to whether you would have been more happy had you gone with the bigger engine. Life is too short to second guess yourself.

Yup, what he said ...
BTW patrickt, what was the cost to destroke your BB to make it rev and run more like a SB

[Bernica]

I am told I have very big hands for my size, so a SB just couldn't do it for me!

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Joe's Garage

Yup, what he said ...
BTW patrickt, what was the cost to destroke your BB to make it rev and run more like a SB

I think the 4.125" SCAT is the same cost as the 4.250" one. And there is a split of opinion on whether the shortening of the stroke does, or does not, make the engine more "revvier." My engine builder said it does, Barry R. says it does, blykins and Keith C. both say it doesn't and that you'd be stupid not to go with the bigger stroke. Who knows. But, what is true is that if you want to rev over six grand in an FE, even if it's just to hear the sound it makes, and not to have the power band actually run above it, you need to make sure the other parts of the engine will support it. Obviously you can't have hydraulic lifters, and you need to match the other components. That meant custom Wiseco pistons, Erson rockers, a light aluminum flywheel, etc. And I'm still under 500HP -- but when it's revving up around 6000 or more, it sounds like a million bucks.

[mdross1]

Originally Posted by patrickt

The problem is that if you don't go with the big block FE, you might very well be happy, but you will always question yourself as to whether you would have been more happy had you gone with the bigger engine. Life is too short to second guess yourself.

Learned this a long time ago. Building/owning a vehicle that makes you happy no matter what it takes is the only way to go for me as well. Life truly is too short for those kinds of doubts. Either way enjoy your ride.

[Dwight]

Any 427 FE owners regret not going for a small block stroker?

I think the answer is NO


Dwight

[Dwight]

can not go wrong with either a small block or FE!