What is the best FORD engine per dollar

[cobrarkc]

I really can't believe the answers that are being typed on this thread. It is not about opinions it is about facts so for everyone that is arguing here is the question on this 2 1/2 year old thread. If you were going to buy, or have one built, what type of FORD engine combo would produce the highest HP/TQ per dollar Plan and simple it will only take a price sheet and some math, no opinions needed.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by cobrarkc

I really can't believe the answers that are being typed on this thread. It is not about opinions it is about facts so for everyone that is arguing here is the question on this 2 1/2 year old thread. If you were going to buy, or have one built, what type of FORD engine combo would produce the highest HP/TQ per dollar Plan and simple it will only take a price sheet and some math, no opinions needed.

Oops, you forgot one little phrase at the end of the OP's sentence.

".....all else being equal."

My interpretation of that says that all else isn't equal because I (and others) wouldn't even consider installing a SBF or 385 in a 427 Cobra. No way. No how.

We can argue HP/per dollar in terms of 352's, 390's, 428's, 468's, 482's, 527's and any FE in between. What else matters.

[cobrarkc]

[quote=RodKnock;1176505]Oops, you forgot one little phrase at the end of the OP's sentence.

".....all else being equal."

My interpretation of that says that all else isn't equal because I (and others) wouldn't even consider installing a SBF or 385 in a 427 Cobra. No way. No how.

So what you are saying is that Ford built no other engines?
I don't remember the OP saying "for a cobra" or any other vehicle. Don't get me wrong here, I love FE's and am working on putting a nice aluminum tunnelport in my car someday but the question was pretty clear and I believe the OP was looking for non biased answers. In fact this thread is so old he probably isn't around anymore.

[RodKnock]

[quote=cobrarkc;1176900]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Oops, you forgot one little phrase at the end of the OP's sentence.

".....all else being equal."

My interpretation of that says that all else isn't equal because I (and others) wouldn't even consider installing a SBF or 385 in a 427 Cobra. No way. No how.

So what you are saying is that Ford built no other engines?
I don't remember the OP saying "for a cobra" or any other vehicle. Don't get me wrong here, I love FE's and am working on putting a nice aluminum tunnelport in my car someday but the question was pretty clear and I believe the OP was looking for non biased answers. In fact this thread is so old he probably isn't around anymore.

This is a Cobra Forum and nearly everything folks write here is biased opinion(s). I thought I would add mine. The OP's question, to me, is left up to the interpretation of the reader.

A 427 Cobra always requires an FE. This is my biased opinion.

[Silverback51]

[quote=RodKnock;1176945]

Originally Posted by cobrarkc

This is a Cobra Forum and nearly everything folks write here is biased opinion(s). I thought I would add mine. The OP's question, to me, is left up to the interpretation of the reader.

A 427 Cobra always requires an FE. This is my biased opinion.

And even wrong opinions are welcomed.

[mdross1]

Originally Posted by cobrarkc

I really can't believe the answers that are being typed on this thread. It is not about opinions it is about facts so for everyone that is arguing here is the question on this 2 1/2 year old thread. If you were going to buy, or have one built, what type of FORD engine combo would produce the highest HP/TQ per dollar Plan and simple it will only take a price sheet and some math, no opinions needed.

Yup this thread did start 2 1/2 yrs ago and 2 1/2 yrs from now we will still be reading the same thing.The loyalists to certain engine types and their unique reasons for owning any of them will still be the same,as will be my reasons.Could not be happier with my 385 except that I am thinking of solid roller cam upgrade maybe a set of those P-51 heads.Will be looking into porting my MotorSports heads first.The wanting a Cammer craze is finally starting to melt away knowing this 385 has the capacity to get me into the 700 hp range heck it's almost there now.

[B.M.B.C]

If you set a common required HP for instance 400hp, then calculated the cost of building SBF/FE/385 to that amount its clear the 385 series would be the cheapest outright winner.

[blykins]

The 385 series is pretty much going to be the winner no matter what horsepower requirement you have....hahaha The ability to add cubes, up to 557 on a factory block, is a blessing. The factory blocks will also withstand huge horsepower levels, so the need for an aftermarket block when going over 600hp is non-existent.

[mdross1]

Highest hp per dollar was my reason for the 385 choice,yes a lot of us had to deal with opinions.Some of us are wize enough to weed out the good from the bad.Was a little shocked to get such strong opinions from this site as to a 385 in a Cobra instead of an FE course the same goes for those that believe the small block is a better engine for these cars.The sooner one realizes it is never going away then life becomes a little easier to deal with.

[Silverback51]

And the head design on the 385 series is the most modern, and flows better than any SB or FE head. And that gentlemen is where the HP comes from.

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

And the head design on the 385 series is the most modern, and flows better than any SB or FE head. And that gentlemen is where the HP comes from.

On that logic - where does that place the coyote

[REAL 1]

The 5.0flows great. Thats where it excels.

Your point?

[blykins]

Originally Posted by Dimis

On that logic - where does that place the coyote

The typical high end aftermarket 385 series head flows over 400cfm on the intake side.

I haven't seen any flow numbers from the Coyote heads, but the most I've ever seen a 4V Modular head flow (after extensive porting) is around 340 cfm.

Now, having said that, flow isn't everything, and even with the best flowing heads, 302 cubic inches can only do so much without forced induction.

I personally just can't get on the Coyote bandwagon. I believe it just happened to show up at a time where a lot of Cobra owners just wanted something different than the standard FE, or stroked Windsor. However, there is no real benefit to it, especially if a lot of horsepower is desired. My caveat to that goes to the Cobra owners in other countries/continents that have very strict emissions/engineering rules, or have limited access to aftermarket engines in general. In that case, I would certainly choose a Coyote or other Ford engine over a GM counterpart.

[RACER X #99]

Originally Posted by blykins

The typical high end aftermarket 385 series head flows over 400cfm on the intake side.

I haven't seen any flow numbers from the Coyote heads, but the most I've ever seen a 4V Modular head flow (after extensive porting) is around 340 cfm.

Now, having said that, flow isn't everything, and even with the best flowing heads, 302 cubic inches can only do so much without forced induction.

I personally just can't get on the Coyote bandwagon. I believe it just happened to show up at a time where a lot of Cobra owners just wanted something different than the standard FE, or stroked Windsor. However, there is no real benefit to it, especially if a lot of horsepower is desired. My caveat to that goes to the Cobra owners in other countries/continents that have very strict emissions/engineering rules, or have limited access to aftermarket engines in general. In that case, I would certainly choose a Coyote or other Ford engine over a GM counterpart.

I was never a OHC guy until I realized the M-3's with less cubes and torque were just about the best and easiest to drive Open track car you could buy. Easily blowing away most of the pushrod Cobras at any track event.
Now that Ford has answered BMW with the Coyote I'm on board.
I may be wrong here but a $6.000 crate Coyote in a Cobra replica is going to be a kick ass track car and when the serious track guys start running them, watch out.

Will they ever be favored by the car show, wax and shine street cruises, never.

$6K 400 HP 430 Lbs this is your best bang for the buck.

Put that in a FFR spec racer and nobody is catching you on the road course.

[blykins]

Originally Posted by RACER X #99

I was never a OHC guy until I realized the M-3's with less cubes and torque were just about the best and easiest to drive Open track car you could buy. Easily blowing away most of the pushrod Cobras at any track event.
Now that Ford has answered BMW with the Coyote I'm on board.
I may be wrong here but a $6.000 crate Coyote in a Cobra replica is going to be a kick ass track car and when the serious track guys start running them, watch out.

Will they ever be favored by the car show, wax and shine street cruises, never.

$6K 400 HP 430 Lbs this is your best bang for the buck.

Put that in a FFR spec racer and nobody is catching you on the road course.

Admittedly, I've never installed one in a car, but isn't the cost much higher with all the support items that you need to install with the engine....i.e. wiring harnesses, ECM, etc.?

I think that they are also a tight fit in some replicas. I've heard Jay Linke say that the cost to modify the engine bay on a Backdraft to get them to fit isn't cheap....

When you start adding up the different costs, that's where it gets less exciting for me. Also, a lot of guys won't want just 400-450hp, so they have to shell out another couple grand for a supercharger.

Now you are indeed correct about the Spec Racer guys....that's more than enough horsepower for what they need, but they're still looking at the cost of the engine plus support items, which is way more than the typical EFI 302 that these guys run.

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by Dimis

On that logic - where does that place the coyote

Still chasing the roadrunner.

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

Still chasing the roadrunner.

You have no idea how funny that is to me...
Just the other day I was introducing my nephew to the "merry mellodies" & "looney tunes" cartoons, & rediscovering myself how brilliant they actually are!

They still have me laughing...

[B.M.B.C]

Visually a FE is period correct in 427/428 car, as is a 289 in a earlier slabside. But modern replica or reproduction cobras or what ever you wanna call them, can or will benefit from the cheap power/cubes available from 385 series big blocks if thats the route you wanna take.
One thing else i will add is that when the aftermarket really get there teeth into new gen mod motors like the coyote 5.0 with blowers and high hp outputs(650+), good gas mileage out the box will be the norm....

[B.M.B.C]

Anyone for FE pentroof rocker covers to fit 385 series........

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by B.M.B.C

Anyone for FE pentroof rocker covers to fit 385 series........

Why try to make it look like something it's not? I'm not ashamed of my 460.