Engine choices FE or 427 Windsor

[1985 CCX]

I have a friend looking to install a motor in a SPF.
The choices range from Shelby FE with injection to a Roush 427 SB.
He feels injection is a keeper. He is thinking Weber stack type injection.
Choices……..
…………….Shelby FE
or
…………….…..Roush 427 stroker
or
Recommendations………

What do you think as I only know 60’s iron. He wants new not old….
He is after light weight reliability with power of old.
Thoughts and why appreciated.

Also, transmission of choice.

[twobjshelbys]

I had roush fuel injected lots of probs with it as described here. Engine was great itself only the efi system. They switched systems and seem to be better. Another local cobra owner had the carb version and tuned to the denver altitude loved it.

Does shelby sell complete engines or just blocks

[1985 CCX]

SEC
https://www.shelbyengines.com/collec...lby-fe-engines

[Harpoon PV2]

Originally Posted by 1985 CCX

SEC
https://www.shelbyengines.com/collec...lby-fe-engines

A quick look at the Windsor 427s, and they are going to be putting down more horse power at the rear wheel then the 60s 427s were putting out at the crank! Combine that with a much better chassis then either the 427 or AC289, he will have a winning combination! Cheers, Dennis

[eschaider]

We used to have an Advanced Engine Decision Tree Logic Diagram that took the decision process right down to the basics. I think I still have it somewhere. Lets see ...

Oh yes! Here it is;

[twobjshelbys]

Fir tranmission go tremec

[1985 CCX]

Let’s add in Blare Patrick or Cozzy.
Both I understand are top notch.

[767Jockey]

Originally Posted by 1985 CCX

Let’s add in Blare Patrick or Cozzy.
Both I understand are top notch.

I have a Blair Patrick built 520" BBM based FE in my car. 744HP, reliable, and Blair is a pleasure to deal with.

[CompFi]

I have been following this thread with keen interest. But hesitant to offer my opinion, given that so many others here know these engines far better than me.

But one thing for consideration here. Resale value. The market typically favors the FE. Markets fluctuate of course but that trend seems rather consistent.

Not that I would encourage your buddy to build his car for the next owner. But if he remains undecided, then the FE might be the way to go for its resale value down the road.

[patrickt]

<sigh>... if you stuff a SBF in a 427 style car everyone on the planet will be disappointed when they look in the engine compartment, including you. The nice thing about FEs is that they all look alike in a Cobra, including side oilers. Put a stroked and bored iron block 390 in there and you will be much happier. And any experienced FE builder can get you more horsepower out of that mill than you will ever need or use.

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by CompFi

I have been following this thread with keen interest. But hesitant to offer my opinion, given that so many others here know these engines far better than me.

But one thing for consideration here. Resale value. The market typically favors the FE. Markets fluctuate of course but that trend seems rather consistent.

Not that I would encourage your buddy to build his car for the next owner. But if he remains undecided, then the FE might be the way to go for its resale value down the road.

Yes, an FE will sell for more, but it originally cost more. Many see to ignore that point. There are some bragging rights with an FE, but as none of these cars are 1960's AC Thames Ditton built cars that is a warm fuzzy for the owner and a negotiating point for a potential purchaser.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by CompFi

Not that I would encourage your buddy to build his car for the next owner. But if he remains undecided, then the FE might be the way to go for its resale value down the road.

If you are buying a new Cobra replica for it's resale value down the road, you shouldn't buy it at all.




Bill S.

[Thor maine]

Just go with a GM LS and forget all this playing around !

[1985 CCX]

Tom,

Dont be silly

[My427stang]

I build a bunch of strokers, Windsor, FE and 385 series. All are good.

A Windsor, 351 or 302 based, makes a lot of power on the cheap (relatively). Lighter, easier to find parts, and makes for a really strong combo. Last 347 I did made 490 HP with a 216 duration cam, and 13 inches of vacuum...hard to beat for something driving often

A 385 is heavy, but the power that can be made is incredible. Cheaper than an FE for the most part, but IMHO not quite as pretty under the hood of a Cobra. Although brutal torque on a nose heavy car is really lopsided in my view

The FE is unique, but correct for a 427 car, they run great, we can click off a Sunday family driver, no maintance at 550-600 HP and 600 ft lbs in our sleep, and as an example, my own 489 has been together since 2006 and behaves like a new engine. In fact, I have a 505 in the works but can't find a reason to take apart the 489

If you were to come into my shop, I'd look at budget, use, which Cobra kit, the owner's personality. I'd personally push toward an FE if a 427 car, but if someone was on a budget or just wanted the looks of the car, the Windsors are a very nice combo

FYI - Even a stock stroke 390 can be brutal in these cars and brings the budget way down.

[1ntCobra]

It seems to me that CSX, Kirkham and ERA typically have FE motors, but most other replicas including SPF typically have SBF. Since your friend has a SPF, a SBF engine would not seem to impact resale value down the road.

[767Jockey]

This is so true. When you see a Kirkham, CSX, ERA or Contemporary 427 style car, you expect to see a FE when the hood opens. When you see a Superformance, Factory Five, or a host of others, you expect to see a small block. Backdraft seems to be a tossup between small blocks and Coyote's. A lot is dictated by the car.

As for value, it's super difficult to make money with these, and trying to is almost a fools errand. That said, there's nothing at all wrong with trying to do things the right way to minimize loss or even come close to breaking even. That's just smart.

For example, it would be foolish to install an expensive high end 347 small block stroker build under the hood of an ERA. Why pre-dig the hole as deep as you can with poor planning and decision making when there are ways to attempt to correct that from the jump? There's nothing at all wrong with trying to preserve value as best you can by building a quality car with good decision making.