The Shelby 427 (427) IS an FE block. Just as much as Edelbrock heads and manifolds, Blue Thunder manifolds and valve covers, Erson or Dove rockers, etc. are FE. They just don't happen to be cast at a Dearborn Foundry in the 1960s. All of the above mentioned parts are direct (more or less) replacement for stock Ford FE parts.
I would be hanging with a REALLY tough crowd if I have to explain to them why I used a Shelby block!
BTW, my Shelby block is a "side oiler". The main
oil galley runs next to the side of the camshaft!
As for the 390/428 FEs, they are good engines but I have sonic checked enough of both to know that they can be just as thin as 427 blocks.
The biggest drawback to a 390 block, and somewhat to the 428 block is the size of the cylinder bores.
While it is true that with the new Scat stoker cranks you can build a 433 ci 390, the bore is too small and the stroke too long unless you want a low rpm truck motor for towing.
The 390 has a bore that equals a .050 289 small block! (4.050)
A bore that small totally limits the valve sizing to a max of 2.09/ 1.66. If one trys bigger valves the cylinder shrouds the valves and actually makes less power. The main reason the 427 block is so desirable for making big power is the larger (4.23) bore. I realize not everyone needs a 550 hp FE and a 390 is more than capable of making respectable Cobra horsepower. But, if you do spend the big bucks for a 427 based engine, you're getting much more than just being "flashy". There ain't a 390 or 428 made that will outrun a 427 if both are properly built using the same quality components.
I cannot imagine why people are willing to pay the ridiculous prices ($5000, 6000, 7000!) for NOS side oiler blocks especially when most of them are service blocks that never were actually avaliable in a car from the factory. I could see if someone found a NOS PRODUCTION block and was restoring a R model Failane, GTE Cougar, R model Galaxie, Cobra or some other ORIGINAL 427 powered car,but to pay that much for a replica, CSX 4000, Kirkham etc. is kind of silly considering the Shelby 427 block is readily available and Genesis is just starting to fill production orderes for their 427 blocks.
As far as 'originality's sake', none of these cars are original.
Sorry guys. If the issue of orignality is to be contended, try taking your CSX 4000 or Kirkham to the Pebble Beach Concours or the next vintage car race at Laguna Seca and tell the people at the gate your car is original.
They will politely show you where the general parking lot is.
Of course, those cars are a lot more "original" than my So. African plastic car!
--Mike
Quote:
Originally posted by Sizzler
If you want a side-oiler, it's for 'originality's sake'.
With the 427 side-oiler block, you can open your hood and truthfully state "it's a 427 side-oiler".
With the 429 Shelby block, you open the hood and start explaining.
With an FE block, you open the hood and can truthfully state "it's an FE" or "it's a bigblock Ford" or "it's a 427 bigblock Ford" if you have what is commonly known as a 428 (do the math - 2.065*2.065*3.14159*8*3.98=426.55).
What I'm getting at is that an NOS 427 side-oiler will set you back a pretty penny, and the ones that SA may provide may have one or more sleeves installed and these prices all make the Shelby block "reasonable". But, when you consider the cost of "lesser" FE blocks (390 and 428's), your overall cost could drop tremendously. If you don't get yourself caught up in the hype (heavy NASCAR rods, heavier steel cranks...) and choose your parts wisely, you'll end up with an engine that will cost you far less, look exactly the same, and outperform the ones built by experts from paper-thinwall-castings costing the earth. I've seen excellent 390 blocks for $300, long block 428's for $750. At those prices, a decent, "427" could be built for under $5K (including machining and billet this/that/and the next thing). I know this (personally) for a fact.
If you put a $800-$900 4.25" crank from SCAT in, you'll get plenty of displacement out of a cleaned up $150 390 block. If you're spending $25K on an FE, you're not getting something 'better' more than something 'flashy'. Think watches.
My opinion.
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