Budget FE Build - Combos You are Happy with

[Grubby]

Let's expand on this a bit.

How about a moderate budget build starting with a Gensis iron 427 block. Could a very streetable engine be built using a 428 crank, I rods (aftermarket or Ford), Edelbrock heads and intake, Canton pan, hydralic cam with flat tappets, and Ford type rockers?

I have been thinking about this for a few months and think you could easily get 450hp for less than $9k in parts. I assume an engine builder would charge another $2k for assembly if you can't do it yourself.

Check this link out to a Carcraft article. They built a 500hp 390 for $6000. http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles..._fe/index.html

Please feel free to shoot this full of holes.

John

[convincor]

here's a HotRod article for a 390.
http://www.hotrod.com/webonly_january/index.html

[FWB]

Originally Posted by Grubby

Let's expand on this a bit.

How about a moderate budget build starting with a Gensis iron 427 block. Could a very streetable engine be built using a 428 crank, I rods (aftermarket or Ford), Edelbrock heads and intake, Canton pan, hydralic cam with flat tappets, and Ford type rockers?

I have been thinking about this for a few months and think you could easily get 450hp for less than $9k in parts. I assume an engine builder would charge another $2k for assembly if you can't do it yourself.

Check this link out to a Carcraft article. They built a 500hp 390 for $6000. http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles..._fe/index.html

Please feel free to shoot this full of holes.

John

actually before the aftermarket parts, ie cranks and blocks, we would run .030 and .060 in centeroiler blocks along with the 428 crank and rods to get up to 454 cubic inches for drag racing. most piston companys still offer the custom pistons for this combo and it is quite an effective combo. low 10's in 3000 lb cars at the strip, with factory components. very seldom did we even break anything so in between rounds when the chevy boys were changing head gaskets we cooked hot dogs.

[Dominik]

Nice thread!

I want to "budget" it even further. If the 390hp 428FE was plenty in the 60s, it might still be for most users today. Wouldn't a 390cui with Edelbrock heads and decent hydraulic cam easily outperform a 60s spec 428cui?

I would merely upgrade the oiling (sump & pump) and keep the revs to 5500rpm that cast iron pistons would work. Or would they even sustain the occasional visit to the drag strip with a 6000rpm redline?

What would be a good cam to suit the Edelbrock heads?

Dom

[blykins]

Originally Posted by Dominik

cast iron pistons

[McD00]

Git yourself a nice stiff bristled broom to and a flat shoval to sweep up those cast iron pistons when they blow through the side of the motor.
Lets face it FE's belong in garbage or dump trucks...end of storie

McVette

Originally Posted by Dominik

I would merely upgrade the oiling (sump & pump) and keep the revs to 5500rpm that cast iron pistons would work.

[lineslinger]

Originally Posted by McD00

Git yourself a nice stiff bristled broom to and a flat shoval to sweep up those cast iron pistons when they blow through the side of the motor.
Lets face it FE's belong in garbage or dump trucks...end of storie

McVette

This thread was an interesting one until capt. ding dong chimed in..
Ignore the man behind the curtain, he is suffering from recreational RX overindulgence from the late 60's.

[blykins]

Originally Posted by McD00

Lets face it, all of my posts belong in the garbage...end of storie

I agree with that wholeheartedly.

[Rick Parker]

Here is a good article with info gleaned from one of our Members


http://www.popularhotrodding.com/tec...ine/index.html

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by McD00

Lets face it FE's belong in garbage or dump trucks...end of storie

McVette

McDooDoo,

Yeah they did put alot of FE's in trucks, dump trucks, etc. I had a 72 Ford with a 360, not a 351. Why did ford use a 360, because it was a more durable engine.

I had my FE 427 chassis dyno'd, and the dyno shop also had dyno'd several Roush 427R's. My engine had similar specs to the Roush 427's, but with 40 year old designed /built parts, and it outperformed the roush 427's by about 50 HP and 50 ft-lbs. Go figure. Surprised me.