FE vs. 460

[FUNFER2]

If you want a based 460 +, check out Keith Craft's 514. 700 HP for under $13,000. Wow.

Check out his site, as he has many configurations to suit your needs, wither it's a small or big blk.

Ford Racing has a 514 cu. 630 HP for under 70k.


Kevin

[diegokid]

I too almost went with a Bowtie and until there are several thousand miles on the FE I went with I'm keeping my fingers crossed since I have NEVER had a Ford product that held up as good as my Chevy stuff. As far as weight goes here are some numbers I pulled from a Ford forum. The Fe is consederably lighter when you goe with the Alum intake and heads. I couldn't believe the weight of just the cast iron intake when I started buying junkyard motors for this project.

PS: You know that Chevy is making a 427 again don't you? If you used it all the 427 badges would be correct!

ENGINE FAMILY WEIGHT (LBS) WIDTH LENGTH HEIGHT
289/302 Windsor 460 24 29 27.5
302 Boss "Clevor" 500 24.5 29 28.5
351W Windsor 525 25 29 29
351C 335 (Cleveland) 550 25.5 29 29
351M/400 335 (Modified) 575 26 29 29
332-428 (ex.SOHC) FE 625 27 32 29
427 SOHC FE 680 32 34 30
429/460 720 27 34 29
429 Boss 385 635 30 34 30

[NeoConMan]

Okay, I'm sold.
FE it is.

Now I have to decide on how many inches I can get out of it before the cost gets insane.

Hell, a stout 428 would be just fine with me.

[ENTDOC]

if you go with a 428 (excellent choice) you will save 1/3 to 1/2 over the cost of a 427 SO, and you will really give up nothing but some bragging rights

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by ENTDOC

if you go with a 428 (excellent choice) you will save 1/3 to 1/2 over the cost of a 427 SO, and you will really give up nothing but some bragging rights

Yep, but NeoConMan you might still be taken aback at what an FE is going to cost you. Keith C., Southern Automotive, and Gessford all have prices on line; Gessford the most expensive, SA the least, KC in the middle.

[Kzof]

Only my HO but I would never do a Cobra with a 460. Not orig. in any way, shape or form. would build with a 390 before I would use a 460.

[FUNFER2]

Great, it's a FE then. Good decision.

With the rear end. A 9" will take all the punishment you give it. I live off a highway 15 miles to the city. I have the Tremec TKO with 331 gears. At 60mph, I'm running 2,000 rpm. Very nice combination.

The only thing I would do different is, to narrow the axles & housing to place my wide tire further inward, as once and a while, I get some tire rub. The appearance will also look closer to the original cars or like the Kirkham. I have the suspension just right for me now and will tackle narrowing the axles as a winter project.

For your Cobra, you may not have the issue I do but, plan the off-set, get the tire/wheel's you want and do some measuring for the rear end. You can also do the same for the ride height you want and getting the suspension set.

I made a solid shock mount out of aluminum and used adjustable heim joints to set all of the above and for ordering the length and spring rate for my new QA-1 coil shocks. If your interested, I'll send them to you for just the shipping cost.

Thanks,

[decooney]

If it were me, I'd pick the chassis/body manufacturer first, then select your powerplant and size next. For example, you could go with a 427 body and decide FE, or an FIA style, and go small block, or go with something different such as a Stallion/West Coast Cobra and go 460, etc. Or, even something different such as configuration such as one of the new Cobras coming out that Shelby is building with an aluminum style FIA body and an aluminum Shelby small block in it, stroked, with plenty of HP and less weight. Some of the more expensive cars/kits typically call for a specific powerplant and configuration if you follow the mainstream crowd of thinking for specific makes/models/configurations. For example, you would probably only put a small block in an ERA or Unique FIA body and a big block FE in a 427 body car. Or, you could do something like an EM car with a new Ford powerplant in it and that might work for you. It sort of depends on what you start with chassis wise, and based on what you plan to do with the car, and most importanly, determining your budget and time schedule for completion of the car - then go from there. Good luck.

[undy]

I say the following fully realizing that I'm a incurable and incorrigible horse power junky..

I originally started with a warmed over 428 FE in mine. It just didn't have the grunt I wanted... or what I was used to. My daily driver would walk away from it like it was standing still (502 rwhp 07 Z06). That was just not acceptable, to have the "toy" take second seat in the acceleration fun factor. I tried different heads, cams and other upgrades but the 428 still couldn't muster what I wanted. I ended up going with a 482" side oiler from Keith Craft, Pond aluminum block, CNC'd heads and a really stout hydraulic roller cam. I'm happy now as the Cobra's (narrowly) slipped into first place on my fun factor list. Keith is a stand-up guy and builds an engine that'll get-r-done for you too.

Dave

[FUNFER2]

Neo-
I wouldn't worry about bigger brakes, unless your going racing. These cars are so short and light weight, that you don't need big expensive one's, same goes for power steering. You really need to feel the road with a Cobra.

Everyone is different but, I don't like the 17" wheel, as they look too big for the car. I like to fill the wheel well with tire. If I were to build a Hot Rodded Cobra, I may use the larger wheels or, if I were road racing. There's not much tire selection for the 15' anymore. I'm thinking,... of replacing my Good Year II's with the billboard tires. I love the racing look but, I hear different opinions with these. Some say they are stone throwers and don't ride the highways well, being of bias tire construction.

[NeoConMan]

Hmmmm....
Good food for thought guys!

This is ALL very preliminary, but I'm leaning a little toward the Lone Star kit.
I would prefer to stay in the 90" wheelbase and set it up for ME ONLY as the driver, but the flexibility offered by a little more cockpit space is a good thing.
Aluminum bodies are cool, but way too pricey.

I still hold a fondness for the 460 that may reappear if a good solid FE is gonna cost me $20k.
I'll gladly go aluminum heads, but a block is just too costly for the benefits.
On the other hand, a good iron block may be awfully pricey while a new purpose-built aluminum piece might not be so bad.....

Undy, I understand completely your sentiment but again I'm not gonna sink a ton of money in a motor.
I'm more interested in a big motor for torque and good driving manners so my wife isn't scared of it.
Big peak horsepower numbers at super high rpm's is for racing engines.
Been there, done that.
If my Cobra isn't the fastest in the world, I'm okay with it.
If I can make 500 hp and 500 ft/lbs out of an iron block and single carb, I'm good.

15 as opposed to 17'' tires is gonna be a subjective matter.
I HATE bias ply tires, they will never be a on a car I own.
However, these oh-so-trendy 29" low profile wheels with a rubber band wrapped around them belong on a new Vette or Homie Honda in da 'hood.

I want a car with good quality, original looking wheels wrapped by good wearing, readily availabe tires that don't cost $400 apiece and last 2,000 miles.
I'm sure I'll be smoking enough tires as it is!

Brakes are another place I have no clue about.
I'm very tempted to use off the shelf Mustang parts for availability and service.
I don't want or need exotic, budget-busting brakes.

I guess, overall, I want a fast, fun daily driver that the wife can handle with a little coaching.
I want to be able to get parts for it along the road if something breaks, for less than the price of a new kitchen appliance.

There will be enough oddball parts on it as it stands, I want to be able to live with the car.
If it turns into a huge money pit to maintain after it's complete, I may as well just buy an airplane.

[trularin]

Good, I have two engines for sale.

Help me get them out of the barn.

I also have brand new ARP studs and fasteners for an FE.

Check the 'For Sale' stuff.

PM me and let's make a deal for these engines and bolts/fasteners.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by trularin

Good, I have two engines for sale ... I also have brand new ARP studs and fasteners for an FE.

PM me and let's make a deal for these engines and bolts/fasteners.

If he buys both engines will you throw the bolts/fasteners in for free?

[convincor]

the FE is 95 lbs light than the 460 in stock form.
FE can be expensive to build if you have to have that 482 cube all aluminum.
But you'll never need that much in a 2400 car. A well build 390, edeblock heads, aluminum intake, water pump like said above will still make plenty of power & torque and you'll have a great drivable, reliable engine that looks at home in the Cobra.
Here's a turn key from Keith. A little over $10k, but look what your getting.
http://www.keithcraft.com/engines/39...te_Engine.html
Some other options-
http://www.southernautomotiveengines.com/406engine.html
Add aluminum heads and $7900 aint a bad price.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by convincor

A well build 390, edeblock heads, aluminum intake, water pump like said above will still make plenty of power & torque and you'll have a great drivable, reliable engine that looks at home in the Cobra.

427s and 428s know if you have a 390 under the hood, and they snicker and chortle at them.