:D

Hey, a paxton would look cool.

So Mike, what are the specs on that Southern Auto 427 FE you got lined up? Street? Strip? Mild or wild?

427 Side Oiler makes the car. Real or Replica.
$9000 is not too much to spend on an engine.

If you go on their site I ordered the 427 S.O. w/ the single carb set-up. 490HP and I also went through their extra's and got the turkey pan, stellings air cleaner, aluminum water pump, aluminum pulleys, upgraded electronics ignition MSD w/ spark box, etc....Im projecting to use the cobra for street and every once in the while a few romps here and there....WOW this has been a great response and I appreciate all the opinions......Mike

cobra Mike,
Drop the Stellings from your order list or you'll drop 30 or so HP from that 490.
Ask Bill to substitute a K&N for you.
If you keep the Stellings, use it only for "show".

Re: 667 horse with original heads and intake
 

Where did 667 hp come from? I have to admit, I find that pretty hard to believe. Even the 1x4 SOHC only made 616. Hell, the SOHC my engine builder did with the race spec SOHC cams and a modern built race carb made 670. I'm sure the 12.5:1 and the high rise heads are the major power players in that combo, but that's still over 200hp more than an OEM spec medium rise setup that original came in the cars.

I've scratched my head over that one myself Sal, and questioned the numbers. George (Gessford) did some calculations with the specs on the motor and figured if it was running at 100% volumetric effiecency that horse power was possible. From the paperwork that came with the car I am inclined to believe the numbers (flywheel horse of course).

Going with 9.8 compression and milder cam George estimates I'll be giving up about 150 horse. I've heard it said the medium riser heads are "almost" as good as the high riser, but I wonder. You could drive a truck through the ports on my high risers. :D

The intake is a single plane 2X4 with full blown "race only" center squirter 660 Holleys. The engine was built "loose", I found out when I took it down. All clearances were at max. Like .005 on the piston clearance when .003 or so is normal. It also had the typcial oiling modifications done, etc. My feeling was this motor was built to race with a radical cam.

I can say this, it is/was the fastest replica Cobra on Island, 100 mph in 8 seconds!

I will agree that the 427 SO is the best looking engine you can put in a BB Cobra. But there are other Ford engines that you can put in a Cobra that will outperform the SO for half the cost.
Were talking replicas right?;)

Hey, were talking ACCURATE replicas! :D :D

Excaliber, do the center squirters have power valves? They didn't come with them, but you can put the front plate from a vacuum-secondary 600 Holley in them with it's power valve (used ones work fine...no moving parts). Jet the 660s down 6-8 sizes, and you've got a streetable carb. Without the power valves, they run waaay too rich at idle.
Also, .005 clearance is pretty standard if the pistons are forged. Cast pistons will run tighter clearance, but you don't want them in a performance motor.
Just some food for thought...oh, and I'll bet that baby screamed!

The new pistons, also forged, are spec'd at .0035 clearance. Those 660's had no power valves, they had two speeds.
1. Go like hell.
2. Try to idle, but don't do that very long.

:D

I put some 600 vacuum secondaries on just before I took the motor down. That ALONE was a HUGE improvement in street ability. WITH some noticable loss of power at the high end!

Earnie,

Only you would verbally vommit all over someone else's engine build thread. :mad: You couldn't take the moderator HINT before? My apologies to everyone else, but this is ridiculous.

Might I suggest getting a life or starting your own thread? Don't bother with a rebuttal.

A good thread, thanks Mike!
 

427 FE's is the subject. Got something to add?

Mike I ran a 390 GT engine in my fat 67 convertable and it ran like a scalded dog! I have just got my 427 s/o back from Southern and I can only imagine how much fun that it's going to be in a little Cobra and 50 o/o more power. Congrats and enjoy your new engine!Southern is a good choice!;)

Mike, congrats ! I to have ordered my 427s/o And top loader from SA. I'm going with the 2x4v And I ordered my Unique Cobra. Going to visit them both on the 21 March. Want me to say hello to your engine?
Tony

You guys, Mike/Tony going with the close ratio or wide ratio top loader? I'm running the close ratio but with the higher rear gear of 3:31 (which I have) I think I would prefer the lower 1st gear ratio of the wide ratio trans.

I understand the original Comp Cars ran a close ratio, but I've also heard they ran a pretty low rear gear for road racing. Something like a 3.75 or so. No doubt a higher rear ratio for the longer straight a way courses.

I think you did it exactly right. Rollers are a dime a dozen. Give David Kirkham a call next year and he'll find a home for your side oiler.

Wide Ratio. Did research on CC about gear ratios and trannys. Seems to be a better street combo for the majority.

Tony

Congrats on your purchase! I too, have a 427 s/o from Bill @ SA and it's a great street motor. Later, if you start looking for a little more power, you can always do some head work. My Edelbrock heads are ported with SS oversize valves (2.19/1.73 to 2.25/1.75 intake/exhaust), Comp/Dove Alum Competition Rocker Arm assembly (includes Billet rocker arm shafts, alum roller rockers, alum spacers and end stands, chrome moly pushrods -all of which you can order from Bill), port matched to a Performer RPM intake. I'm around 540hp w/ 10.0-1 comp.
If you want even MORE, send your heads into Keith Craft for some of his port work. I've been told that he could take my FE to well over 600hp. The only reason I'm holding off is that I'm considering going with an alum. block as well and may sell my entire engine and go with all new parts. Of course, if I end up buying a new engine............I may as well buy a new Cobra to put it in (perhaps a color change........I don't know........).
And the Cobra madness continues............!

What crank comes with the FE off their website? Mine has Eagle H-beam rods with a nodular iron offset-ground crank w/ 4.125" stroke. This crank uses BBC journals so oiling issues are non-existent. Keith Black custom pistons and a custom ground Reed cam.
Bill builds a hell of a good engine.

As stated earlier, ask Bill to get you a K&N filter for your Stellings air cleaner. The stellings filter is too restrictive, but the real HP robber is the Turkey Pan. I've seen dyno sheets as much as 30hp difference without the pan on...............but it looks cool, so I polish it and put it on for shows.:rolleyes: :D

If you want to get under Bill's skin, ask him to install helicoils in all the bolt holes on your alum heads! -He'll know who's engine you're talking about!:3DSMILE:

...
 

I chose the close ratio....w/ 3.27's mostly because I like to cruise around and do some highway driving and plus w/ that much horsepower it wouldnt take much to get going...just a personal opinion. And YES Tony check on my engine and tranny please, thats a lot of coinage going into it without seeing it first. Love everyones opinion so far and it just makes me want the 427 s/o and tranny that much quicker, sucks though I wont have a car to put it in until hopefully next year some time.....Thanks All....Mike:CRY:

P.S. I did order the K& N and will take your advice on the turkey pan...thanks again

Mike when you get your engine set it up so you can fire it up.
Then upload a picture of you sitting on the tranny. I love the 427FE. It is what made me fall in love with the Cobra. I had a 427FE in a 63 1/2 Galaxie 2x4v lowriser and it was a bad mother. So I can only imaging it in a car 1/2 the weight.

Congrate again and don't wait to long for the Cobra.

Life is to short! Tony