Which block to chose ?

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by convincor

That's it. From now on the answer is YES!

I also have gotten to the point when someone, again who really doesn't know what they're looking at, asks "Is that real?" I now answer "The engine is; just about everything else I had made for me." That answer has worked better than any other response yet. About half the time they follow up with "Even the body?" to which I answer, "Yes, I had that made for me in Connecticut." To most of the folks that's as good as saying "Yes, this is the car that beat Ferrari and it is 100% untouched over the last 40 years." The people that really know FEs, or who really know Cobra replicas, have been few and far between. Although at the last car show a guy came up to me who had actually met with Peter about building an ERA car for him -- I spent quite a while with him going over different points of the build, letting him sit in the car, even started it up for him. That has only happened once since I've owned the car. BTW, when I'm at a car show I put a cardboard placard on the windshield that identifies the car as an ERA, the engine as an original iron 428FE, and other stuff... but you can't expect people to actually read that.

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I also have gotten to the point when someone, again who really doesn't know what they're looking at, asks "Is that real?" I now answer "The engine is; just about everything else I had made for me."

Being fairly new at this, I am shocked by how many people actually ask that question. So I have taken to saying "the engine is real, the car is a replica."

Now I know how my wife feels when people say "Are those real?" But hers are. Really.

Sorry for the thread-hijack Bob. We are a narrow-minded bunch here.

[DAVID GAGNARD]

The high command (the wife) has finally succumbed to the constant nagging from my daughter, myself and grandpa (in that order) to allow us to undertake a 3-generation family build of a FF MKIII Roadster for street use (target: low to mid 400's HP, and about 450 torque, no drag, and only very seldom track usage).

As others and Barry R. have said, the 390 is the way to go, you can build a nice looking 390 to meet and exceeds your hp/tq. requirements for the price of a 427 block!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You can also build a nice small block, stroked or otherwise and add the pentroof FE looking valve covers and 99.99346712% of the people looking at it in a Cobra would think it is an FE motor!!!!!!!!!!!!!

David

[KevinW]

Originally Posted by elmariachi

Now I know how my wife feels when people say "Are those real?" But hers are. Really.

Sorry for the thread-hijack Bob. We are a narrow-minded bunch here.

I just met a girl a few weeks ago, and asked her the same question. She looked a bit offended. But I really wasnt sure (and I had to know the answer).

anyway, i liked Barry's post on a 427??? crank in a 390 FE. Being pretty ignorant of engine details, can anyone tell me, bragging rights apart:

are there any issues with this? special pistons needed??
Does it need a particular cam?
how does this handle compared to say a 390 overbored to, say, 406?
Im guessing it improves the torque considerably as well as hp?
what is the upgrade cost compared to an FE390/406?
Finally, and I hate to mention it, (but at >$8 a gallon in the UK, its important)
how much would it drop the mpg going from 406 to 427?
- realise this is dependent on the juice pedal, but using say similar driving style, %-age wise.

any comments appreciated, particularly if you have one of these specs.

cheers,
Kevin