Longevity & Reliability vs. Power

[zrayr]

Originally Posted by Z-linkCobra

"...........So with the 500 hp motor you lost 20% or 100 hp. With the 700 hp motor you lost 14.3% or a 100 hp....again the drivetrain doesnt know the difference. It takes X amount of force to turn X amount of weight...right?........."

Im confused....lol

Gene

you're confused? I'm so confused I'm tempted to un-subscribe, and I'm the numbskull who started this thread .

all I want(ed) to know is can I have a 427 FE motor (stock displacement) that can reliably hit the red line as often I choose and still have enough reliability to drive across the country w/o undue worry. Or do I need to limit my fun to low & midrange torque-type excitement?

Z.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by zrayr

all I want(ed) to know is can I have a 427 FE motor (stock displacement) that can reliably hit the red line as often I choose and still have enough reliability to drive across the country w/o undue worry.

I think it would be a coin flip as to whether my FE would make it cross-country without something breaking on it.

[392cobra]

Originally Posted by zrayr

all I want(ed) to know is can I have a 427 FE motor (stock displacement) that can reliably hit the red line as often I choose and still have enough reliability to drive across the country w/o undue worry.
Z.

The key to the answer depends on how often you choose to hit redline.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by zrayr

all I want(ed) to know is can I have a 427 FE motor (stock displacement) that can reliably hit the red line as often I choose and still have enough reliability to drive across the country w/o undue worry. Or do I need to limit my fun to low & midrange torque-type excitement?

Z.

Depends on how much of a worrier you too. Personally, I would worry plenty about driving any FE across country. Unless I had Patrick tailing me with a tool chest and a bunch of spare parts, I wouldn't do it. But that's me.

If you can fix anything at anytime, you know a McGruber type, then you da man.

[patrickt]

... and to think how much we've spent on our FEs and now most of us would just be happy if they went an entire summer driving season without breaking down. My car *might* make it coast-to-coast, but if I was going to place a heavy bet, I'd put my money on a break-down. Nothing terribly serious, but something requiring a garage and time. And it would be out in the middle of a cornfield somewhere, too....

[Z-linkCobra]

Originally Posted by zrayr

you're confused? I'm so confused I'm tempted to un-subscribe, and I'm the numbskull who started this thread .

all I want(ed) to know is can I have a 427 FE motor (stock displacement) that can reliably hit the red line as often I choose and still have enough reliability to drive across the country w/o undue worry. Or do I need to limit my fun to low & midrange torque-type excitement?

Z.

Driving cross country back when those motors were new was still somewhat of a gamble..lol. Put together with the right parts and taken care of(water temps,oil pressure etc) there is no reason why you couldnt drive one cross country and hit red line every now and then.

Long story short the more hp you want to make the bigger the fire you gonna have to build. A 427 will make more hp and tq then you will ever be able to hook up anyway. Put it toggether with some good rod bolts, good head bolts and gaskets, a mild cam and let it go.

Just my thoughts

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by zrayr

...
all I want(ed) to know is can I have a 427 FE motor (stock displacement) that can reliably hit the red line as often I choose and still have enough reliability to drive across the country w/o undue worry. Or do I need to limit my fun to low & midrange torque-type excitement?
Z.

I thought I answered that in post #59. Your question mimics my combination and usage exactly. I'm the only guy here that answered you with actual experience and component facts-not hypothetical BS.
Not to the point enough for you??