normal or acceptable oil consumption?

[Dingocooke]

Originally Posted by D111

what might be the normal or acceptable oil consumption for these type of motors ? small block 400 to 500 hp 10 to 1 compression.

Many years ago, and lets remember, we are talking about old tech iron V8 engines here; Ford in the UK where a 3 litre V6 was a 'big' engine at the time; would not entertain a warranty claim on oil consumption unless it was more that 1 pint per 400 miles; so your quart could easily go in 800 miles and still no warranty claim allowed (oh and UK 'imperial' volumes are bigger than US ones too, so even worse!); and remember all this on very 'cooking' low state of tune fairly low revving standard 'new' engines; not reconditioned and tuned30 year old ones!
To see 400 or 500 hp from a small block, you usually need big valves, more rpm's, more compression, and probably a bore and stroke job too; so you have a lot more crank case pressure variation (increasing blow by) and more opportunities for valve guide and bore wear. I would say two pints in a thousand miles is bearable; my aussie headed 351 cleveland used around a pint in a 1000 miles, and was better on Valvolene than other more 'modern' oils. So that is what is probably normal ? As for acceptable; how much does a quart of oil cost compared to the cost of a rebuild; my guess you can buy a lot of oil for what you would spend in gaskets valve guides pistions etc!!!
I find if you drive faster you don't notice the smoke ;-)
Just my opinon, and have big fun with you Cobra whatever you decide!!