[Streetwize]

I debated for months and went with the smallblock 427 but mainly because back when I built my motor (one of the first if not tHE first Coast HP kits) there were none around. I build strokers, it's what I like doing, I like the technical challenges of building a custom Bore and stroke combinations and figuring out how to make the cam and head flow compatible for the broadest possible power curve. Every time I take mine for a ride I never for one second regret the choice I made, to me the challenge and the reward is in getting the combination "just right" for the way I like to drive.

I've built several FE's before and I always liked them, I guess I just preferred the lighter weight (both total and over the nose) being that I'm 6'-2" and 240 lbs. To me the Legend of the Cobra is the 427 but the Racing Heritage and FIA/Daytona championships were earned by the small block 289, my logic was simple, I wanted the torque and power of an original 427 with the light weight and more balances handling of the 289, best of both worlds. Back then 91997) there were no really "affordable" Aluminum FE components, only the Dove stuff which was considered pretty "Exotic' at the time, Edelbrock FE's were years away.

I'd like to do another one, an FE of over 500" and 700hp....but not in a Cobra, maybe a 67 Mustang.

But today the technology and power per cube is really in the Small block arena. Look at the CHI heads flowing 380cfm, pretty easy to build a 650-700HP 392-408" motor and still have a decent high RPM piston speed and Rod ratio off of a 9.2 or 9.5 deck height and still have plenty of room in the bay to work around. There's not really a Professional racing market/venue for FE Big block where any of it's technical features have a competitive advantage to anything else, so over the past 30 years there's been (comparative to the small block) very little R&D pushing it's power and efficiency boundries. It was the top dog of its day in the mid late 60's, today it is a very cool notalgic piece, And I'll be the first to admit, nothing LOOKS cooler in a Cobra. But my reasoning is It's either Original or it's not, and if it's not than just build it the way you'll enjoy it the most and don't waste time being devisive by criticizing other owners for the way they chose to build theirs. We're all part of a very small community, why argue over the pedigree when we're all driving (when you get right down to it) "Lovable Mutts"