Ordered a Superformance Cobra, trying to make some decisions.

[Detroit Bill]

Based on the Keith Craft crate engines

Pond Block FE 482 600 hp 19,000
Production block 514 700 hp 12,000

Certainly a reason to pause. The BB may have height clearance problems I don't know to flow that much air I don't think they are using a dual plane manifold.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Detroit Bill

Based on the Keith Craft crate engines

Pond Block FE 482 600 hp 19,000
Production block 514 700 hp 12,000

Are your all-in costs for this car not going to be approaching $100k? If I was going to shave a few grand, I would find it somewhere else. And the HP difference is not important.

[Detroit Bill]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Are your all-in costs for this car not going to be approaching $100k? If I was going to shave a few grand, I would find it somewhere else. And the HP difference is not important.

That is a significant $ per HP difference.

There is no where else, skip the floor mats?

It is all good I have worked very hard for many years to be able to do what I want.

[patrickt]

I know you won't believe this, but there is no difference between 600 and 700 horsepower in these cars.

[Detroit Bill]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I know you won't believe this, but there is no difference between 600 and 700 horsepower in these cars.

If you specified equal HP engines there would be a significant $/HP difference.
The HP difference was not the point it was an easy example.

I understand the car will be over powered, planning on it. Has anyone ever called you the fun police? I have read you say 1,000 times anything over 400 hp is a waste or something like that. Yea we get it. I have never read one post where someone says it just hooks up in first and goes.

[patrickt]

Then by all means put your 385 series engine in there and be done with it. It will make cheaper power, which is apparently what you want.

[Detroit Bill]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Then by all means put your 385 series engine in there and be done with it. It will make cheaper power, which is apparently what you want.

Hu? "Which is apparently all you want?"

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I know you won't believe this, but there is no difference between 600 and 700 horsepower in these cars.

This is the same guy who changed his air cleaner element to a K&N and can feel the "seat of the pants" difference? Oy vey.

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

This is the same guy who changed his air cleaner element to a K&N and can feel the "seat of the pants" difference? Oy vey.

"Touche" - you're on a roll to day. Or Patrick isn't covering up enough in this sparring match.

[blykins]

If you're trying to find a compromise between hp and money, you can use a factory 390 or 428 block, stroke it, and save anywhere from $3500 to $4500 right off the bat. You can still have the cubic inches and a wad of horsepower.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Detroit Bill

Based on the Keith Craft crate engines

Pond Block FE 482 600 hp 19,000
Production block 514 700 hp 12,000

Certainly a reason to pause. The BB may have height clearance problems I don't know to flow that much air I don't think they are using a dual plane manifold.

A Pond aluminum or iron block?

And I wouldn't compare either of those Pond blocks, which are near exact duplicates of the original side-oiler blocks to a production 385 series block.

[Detroit Bill]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

A Pond aluminum or iron block?

And I wouldn't compare either of those Pond blocks, which are near exact duplicates of the original side-oiler blocks to a production 385 series block.

I believe the 512 is iron. I am not sure if there is a Pond "460" block?

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Detroit Bill

I believe the 512 is iron. I am not sure if there is a Pond "460" block?

Pond doesn't make a 385 series 460 block. He makes aluminum and iron "427" FE blocks. I wouldn't make a comparison of a Pond 427 block to a production Ford 460 block.

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by Detroit Bill

The BB may have height clearance problems I don't know to flow that much air I don't think they are using a dual plane manifold.

I have an Edelbrock Performer 460 and a Holley Street Avenger 770 CFM on mine, and there are clearance issues with the hood. Other than the size of the engine, I attribute that to 3 things: a) 21" oval air cleaner, sandwiched between the hood and the distributor; b) 1/2" carb spacer to raise the carb enough to use the air cleaner; and c) the upward tilt of both the engine and the carburetor. All of this was installed by the previous owner(s).

I have some solutions in mind for my car, but starting from scratch a BB should fit as long as: a) the air cleaner is short enough to not interfere with the distributor and narrow enough to fit in the hood scoop (e.g. 8" x 15" or 8" x 12" oval); b) the intake manifold is relatively low profile; c) a minimal insulating spacer or turkey pan is used; and d) the carb and air cleaner follow the line of the hood scoop (I'm adding a 5° wedge spacer to tilt mine down 2°, rather than up 3° as it is now).