460 Windsor or move to a big block

[Ace23]

Originally Posted by 750hp

Your combo must be a fair way off being optimised (or is a mismatch of parts) if your 427 cube motor is lazy below 4000rpm.

A legit 650 to 700hp out of a single carb, aspirated, pump gas small block will need something much more serious than a hydraulic cam combo.

Buying new crank, rods, pistons and heads to get an extra 30ish cubes? Doesn't sound like good value. I'd sell it complete and put a big block in there. Solid roller P51 headed 557ish cube motor and you're in the high 700s without raising a sweat

No the motor was just setup for higher RPM and it doesn't peak until 6900. Combination of a big cam and 3.31 rear gearing makes for a pretty lazy combo. The solid roller is out since this is a street car. I think hydraulic roller is more suited for me as the owner

Originally Posted by patrickt

If you're comfortable dropping, roughly, twenty grand, then have Brent build you a customized FE to your specs and you will never look back.

I don't know much about an FE except that it is what many of the purist like to run. I've been lead to believe the 385 platform will produce much more power per $. If don't care about being a purist what is the attraction to the FE.

Originally Posted by joey4420

Nothing beats torque in my opinion. Sure HP sells cars, but Torque gets you off the line and down the road in any gear.

I have only had my Cobra since Feb, and have to admit that I have been redoing a few things since then and haven't driven it much, but the SVO 460 in my car has the HP and the Torque to put a smile on anyone's face.

I haven't dino'd it yet since I am working a few cooling issues and steering fixes to make sure I am happy with it. But from the build sheet that came with the car I would guess Mid 500's for HP and Torque and being that my West Coast Cobra is heavier than most I can only imagine what it would do in a car that is 500 lbs lighter.

Thanks for the input. I haven't ever ridden in a car with a 385 so I have no comparison at this point.

Originally Posted by jacobsed

big block all the way

You NEVER hear anyone say "Man...I wish I had put a small block in"

What are you running?

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Ace23

I don't know much about an FE except that it is what many of the purist like to run. I've been lead to believe the 385 platform will produce much more power per $. If don't care about being a purist what is the attraction to the FE.

Very little. But you owe it to yourself to look in to the issue. If, after doing so, you choose any other engine, you will indeed save a couple of nickels.

[jacobsed]

I'm running s 460 stroked to 514. Pretty much a flat 600hp and 600 ft/lb tq at street driving rpms. Freaking awesome.

[Ace23]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Very little. But you owe it to yourself to look in to the issue. If, after doing so, you choose any other engine, you will indeed save a couple of nickels.

I will have to read up a bit more on the FE platform. I know Brent has a build log on one that he is currently doing so I will keep an eye on it.

Originally Posted by jacobsed

I'm running s 460 stroked to 514. Pretty much a flat 600hp and 600 ft/lb tq at street driving rpms. Freaking awesome.

Is that the Ford Motorsport crate 514 that you have? Sounds like a fun ride and I'm sure the power delivery is more linear than a 600HP / 600TQ small block.

[jacobsed]

It is that motor. At 10k miles it was freshened up with new street friendly internals. It didn't oil itself well cruising around as it is a drag and race motor by design and started making not great noises. It was new back in 2000. Maybe Ford is doing something different with it now.