Upcoming FE build: plan coming together

[Excaliber]

None you can see that I know of (390 vs 428)! Without very close inspection the same could be said of the 427 as well. So whats the big deal with a 427? Braggin' rights? Maybe for some, OK, you ARE going to brag if you have one.

BUT, you need to build/design a car you are personally happy with. Don't do it to please someone else. Like the Webers, if thats why a guy wants it's OK to splurge there, then save some money somewhere else (like a 390 block). All of us have a budget, some budgets are just bigger than others, but we ALL draw the line somewhere.

So you get the 427 center oiler, then someone ask's, "Is it a side oiler?" If it's side oiler they might ask, "How about the OHC 427. That's the best!" You can't win, there is always the "next level".

You get the Webers and the guy parked next to you at the show has chromed Webers! Dang!!!

[Excaliber]

vector1's comment about bore and stroke got to me thinking.

A classic race type, high performance type motor is a big bore with short stroke. They make rpm quicker and typically rev higher than a longer stroke motor. The 427 is a classic design in that regard, big bore, short stroke. Add to that list the legendary Chevy small blocks, 302, 327. Porsche followed that basic recipe as well, many other examples out there. 428 was small bore, long stroke, which is favored by TRUCKS for the torque, not the horse power!

Modern engines tend to go long stroke small bore these days. It's a recipe that is better for emmission controls, mpg, that sort of thing. More horse power per cube comes from modern superior computer functions (EFI, etc) as well as computer designed combustion chambers, better science and all that.

BUT, that doesn't change the fact that a big bore short stroke is inherently a "better design" when it comes to making max h.p. and building rpm quicker. When Ford designed the 427 they had one thing in mind, win races, what's the best fundamental design to do that? Well, there ya go!