He hasn't logged in since September, so I'm going to say "No, no real update. Still thinking; still planning. No progress, but I'm working on it -- yep, gotta long list of things to get to.":cool:

Could not have said it better bud. ;)

A lot of the saved money had to go to fixing up the house, daily car & truck attention and medical bills, but I'm still trying.

Hello again, been a while on this thread.

After researching again, I'm still thinking that the power I want and cost, going with a 385 series is much lower in cost vs a FE. If I could build/buy a old stock or a new side oiler with 600 HP/TQ for say,....$12,000, I would be happy, but those numbers do not look possible.

The closest is 500 HP =$14,000, or about.
These builders are just three examples of street/racing engines available.


The Kraft 385 series, based on the 460 engine is really amazing.

Ford Big Block 460

Ford Big Block Crate Engines

Ford Big Block 460

466 BBF Budget Blueprinted
466 Budget Blueprint Keith Craft Crate Engine

Our Price: $9,895.00
514 BBF Street Crate
514 Crate Engine

Our Price: $12,595.00
572 BBF Street/Performance Crate
572 Crate Engine

Our Price: $13,699.00


Also, Barnett High Performance.

429 460 engines
For less expensive engines see our engine rebuilding page!
Please email us for a custom quoted engine specific for your application.
460 520 horsepower @ 5500rpm 540 torque @3800rpms
Hot street engine running on 93 octane
Aggressive flat tappet solid camshaft
Original reclaimed block fully machined
New Eagle steel crank
New forged steel rods
Hypereutectic pistons with matching rings
Edelbrock RPM intake
Front sump oil pan
BHP aluminum heads
$6900 crate engine

545-557cid 620 horsepower @ 5700rpm 650 torque @4300rpms
Hot street engine running on 93 octane
Custom designed hyd roller camshaft
Original reclaimed block fully machined
Scat steel crank
Forged steel rods
Hypereutectic pistons with matching rings
Edelbrock Performer RPM plane intake
BHP aluminum heads
Front sump oil pan
$9000 crate engine

Signature engine! 572cid Hot street engine
650 horsepower @ 5800rpm 650 torque @ 4000 rpms
Running on 93 octane
BHP custom grind hyd roller camshaft
New Eliminator Products block
Scat Steel crank
Eagle Forged rods
Icon Forged pistons with matching rings
Edelbrock rpm intake
Trickflow street aluminum heads or Eliminator Products Iron heads
MSD distributor race wires and spark plugs
Canton oil pan and valve covers
$11600 dyno tuned complete


Lykins Motorsports 431/445 FE

*Fully machined production 390 FE block with ARP main studs
*Federal Mogul main/rod bearings
*Comp Cams hydraulic roller camshaft
*Scat 4.250" crankshaft
*Ford Racing timing set
*New cam thrust plate with ARP bolts
*ARP camshaft bolt
*Scat forged I-beam rods, 6.700"
*Diamond forged pistons
*Total Seal/Mahle moly rings
*Powerbond harmonic balancer
*ARP balancer bolt
*Edelbrock aluminum water pump
*Felpro gasket set
*Edelbrock Performer RPM cylinder heads, ported
*Morel hydraulic roller lifters
*Trend pushrods
*T&D street rocker arms
*Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, port matched
*Melling oil pump/oil pump drive
*ARP oil pump/pickup bolts
*Moroso T-sump oil pan/pickup/dipstick
*MSD distributor and Blaster coil/coil bracket
*Distributor clamp
*Edelbrock mechanical fuel pump
*Ford Racing valve covers, valve cover breather
*Autolite spark plugs
*MSD plug wires
*PCV valve/hose
*Quick Fuel HR carburetor
*March aluminum pulleys and alternator bracket, accessory belt
*Water neck/thermostat
*100A 1-wire alternator
*Stainless steel exterior bolt kit
*Braided stainless steel fuel pump hose with AN fittings
*RAM pilot bearing
*Powermaster gear drive starter
*Rotating assembly balanced
*Fully assembled
*Wix oil filter
*Build sheet with all specs
*Build pictures
*Dyno results and dyno video provided!
$13,350

Kevin,

Are the build specs from Craft and Barnett as complete as the one from Lykins ? Do those other builds include things like the alternator, starter, fuel pump with braided SS hoses, SS bolt set, ported heads, T&D rockers, etc, etc. It all adds up.

Just food for thought

Ted

I'll have to check. Like you said, It's all the little stuff that add up.

There's two things that can also add up.

I'll have to sell or trade my new FE flywheel, steel bellhousing and clutch for a 385 series.
I wonder if I could use the clutch ?

If the 460 is taller than the FE, I'll have to make a different hood scoop, which means repainting the hood. I'm a body man so that's not a big deal, except mixing new white pearl stripes, but it means more work especilly making a new scoop, and some,...cost.

I'd just have to feel, it'll be worth it at the end. ;)

Go ahead if you want to make a new hood scoop. OTOH, you can buy one, paint it to match the hood and rivet it on. There are other 'off the shelf' scoops, of course, but Shell Valley makes a couple that are 3.25" and 3.5" high: Cobra Replica Hood Scoop

http://www.shellvalley.com/cartimage...01303201051590

Couple of questions on valvetrain.

I've never used Scorpion Racing Products rockers. What do you think about them ?

I've also never used stainless rockers. What do you think about them vs aluminum ?

That's cool.

Anyone ?

Bare with me, I have several posts to grt back to, but I'd like your thoughts on this engine.

427 Center Oiler (bummer not a side) lol

If a guy replaced the heads, valve train, maybe the intake and cam, what performance numbers could be expected ?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1963-Ford-42...-/272677201807

Some examples from Brent's dyno page ( Lykins Motorsports, LLC ):

434 ci FE, 422 hp @ 5500, 467 lb-ft @ 4000. 4.165 x 3.980, factory CJ crankshaft, Scat H-beam rods, Diamond pistons, 9.8:1. Comp Cams hydraulic roller, 227/233 @ .050", .576" lift, 112 LSA. Factory CJ heads, Ferrea valves, valve job only. Factory CJ intake manifold. Holley 750 mechanical secondary carburetor. Stuska dyno.

428 ci FE, 533 hp @ 6400, 472 lb-ft @ 5400. 4.130 x 3.980, Scat cast crankshaft, Scat H-beam rods, Probe pistons, 11:1. Comp Cams solid roller, 248/254 @ .050", 110 LSA, 110 ICL, .676"/.680" lift, Keith Craft Stage 1 Edelbrock heads, Dove Tunnel Wedge, Road Demon 625 carburetors. DTS dyno.

427 ci FE, 510 hp @ 6100, 511 lb-ft @ 4200. 4.250 x 3.780, factory 391 crankshaft, BBC rod journals, Oliver rods, Race-Tec pistons, 11.5:1. Bullet solid flat tappet, 252/260 @ .050", 106 LSA, 104 ICL, Lawes Mayfield ported factory C3 LR heads, Lawes Mayfield ported factory LR 2x4 intake. Holley 600 carburetors. Stuska dyno.

427 ci FE, 476 hp @ 5700, 489 lb-ft @ 4400. 4.236 x 3.780, factory 427 $ crank, Scat H-beam rods, Diamond pistons, 10.7:1. Bullet solid flat tappet, 240/246 @ .050", 108 LSA, 103.5 ICL, .620"/.614" lift. Edelbrock heads (out of box with competition valve job), Blue Thunder 1x4 intake. Holley 750 carburetor. Stuska dyno.

435 ci FE, 529 hp @ 5800, 552 lb-ft @ 4250. 4.280 x 3.780, factory 427 $ crankshaft, Scat H-beam rods, Diamond pistons, 10:1. Bullet solid flat tappet camshaft, 243/249 @ .050", 108 LSA, .620" lift. CNC Pond cylinder heads, port matched Performer RPM intake. Holley 750 DP carb. Stuska dyno.

445 ci FE, 525 hp @ 5500, 588 lb-ft @ 4200. 4.080 x 4.250, Scat 9000 series crankshaft, Scat I-beam rods, Racetec pistons, 10:1. Comp Cams custom hydraulic roller cam, 235/241 @ .050", 110 LSA, .610" lift. Survival Motorsports as cast cylinder heads, Performer RPM intake, Quick Fuel HR-750 carb. Stuska dyno.

Kevin, what you really need to do is just send blykins, or the Keith Craft people, or Barry R., a check for the highest amount that you can actually afford to spend. If he sends it back, then the game's over and you need to throw in the towel and forget it. If he keeps it and builds you something, then you'll be happy with it. But you've gotta quit farting around on all of this stuff and just write a check. If you can't make the numbers work, then you can't make it work.:cool:

So, you don't beleive in research, planning and even chatting about "bench building" with others ? How sad.

Don't you ever talk with others hear about different engine specs, chassis, bodywork, paint types, racing etc, or are you so knowledgeable,....that you don't need us for help with your projects or just talking about Cobras, different ways of building and options ?

So, why are you a member ? (other than trying to ruin the fun of members chatting)

If I knew exactily what I want, why would I ask for this diccusion ?

Isn't this a discussion forum ? Hum,.....?

If you can't be helpful, don't say anything, we can get by without you. :p

For me, it's just being smart buddy.

Brian, thanks for the list, we just need to include the prices.
Here's the page.

Lykins Motorsports, LLC

Not needed now.

So, how much is a sonic checked out 428FE block today, around 3k ?

How much is just a sonic test ?
(It's been many years, so no idea)

No machining, just tested for thick good bores.

And, how big of bores can you go, .30 over ?

Scorpions are cheap for a reason, just my 3 cents :3DSMILE:

Since your car is set up for an FE, if I were in your position, I would stay FE. Price a set of headers that would bolt to a 385 series and your side pipes. Then the mounts and flywheel, bell housing, etc. Too much of a head ache, let alone the cost.

The 427 center oiler, if it is what it is advertised to be, is worth the money if that is what you want. It is priced at the top of what it is worth from my perspective, but if you needed it to restore a car it is a steel. I wouldn't use the heads. With the crank and rods it would be tempting to build it and use them. So you would have another $2500ish in good heads. By the time you get a cam and valve train maybe another $1500. So you could have it done right for about $12K. Obviously you want some work done on the oil system.

Toss a stroker rotating assembly in it and you will add $1500-2000 and make a bunch more power.

I would have to look things up but I think you can have a 390 block stroked to 445ish built by any of the builders that visit this site for the same money, and it would likely make more power than a 427. Then the builder would stand behind it.

PS
Craft budget at 500 HP $10995
390 FE 416-445 Budget Blueprint Crate Engine - Craft Performance Engines

Craft street at 525 HP $13895
390 FE 416-445 Street Crate - Craft Performance Engines

Craft stroked 428 550 HP $14895
428 FE 428-463 Street Crate - Craft Performance Engines

Yes, it would Definitely, be faster and easier to replace it with another 428.

I can make the headers, but prices on 304 stainless has shot up in price. I'd have to see if I could exchange my new bellhousing, flywheel and clutch, if not I would need to sell it all, loosing some money I'm sure.

The 427 center oiler won't do, as I would want more performance out of it, including heads. It really should go to a guy who's restoring a car.

Brent and others have some really nice and powerful 390/444ci FE's , with good pricing.

If my budget does not increase, and want another FE I'll have to forget the HP/TQ that I'm wanting.

Lance's FE's-

500 to 550 HP
$11,000 to $15,000
(+) other parts.

According to the posted measurments, is the 460 a tad smaller/same as the FE ?
Or is the 460 different than the other 385 series engines ?

FE Height- 29"
385 Height-29"

FE Length -32"
385 Length-34"

FE Width-27"
385 Width-27"

One chart

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/a...1&d=1327904705