Hi Brent,
Initially I was drawn to the Coyote b/c of these following reasons:
1) It is Emissions compliant with our governing authorities.
An FE isn't... thus I asked myself what's the next best?
At the moment, IMHO I'm left with Coyote or LS7 (maybe Toyota)... Unless you can advise of another V8?
2) Powerful enough, yet bullet proof, with heaps of potential should I need the "upgrade". I understand that you can get it to (& I'm no expert on this) 5.8lts quite comfortably, which again for 99% of driving is more than enough.
3) It's light weight, modern engine package, making it a balanced & theoretically well handling car, even a nun could drive it, and I'd get plenty more miles to the gallon.
It's nice if you can afford to wipe your a$$ with $100 dollar bills when you go to the toilet or gas station, but it's also nice knowing you don't have too or need too
4) It is a Ford and thus of the correct manufacturer - my logic is if you could justify a SBF Windsor, then the Coyote is just as "pertinent" & "viable" (unless its a 289 or FIA), others may differ.
5) Has plenty of available parts & a growing aftermarket following. Further it could thus be serviced by any monkey dealership if I so chose or if I encountered a tech problem that I couldn't or didn't have the time, or skill, or tools to resolve.
6) I'd be confident it wouldn't leak, pop a rod, chew a gasket, or other, even if I left it siting in the garage over winter for 6months. & would/should start first kick despite this.
7) The engine would outlast the car, many times over.
I guess in a word it can be summarized for me as "Evolution"
Now that is simply my version, & given free reign and any choice of engine an FE for a SC 427 it would be.
EFI or Carb'ed... Now I'm still wrestling with that one.
I can justify the billet suspension in a Kirkham as a "quality improvement", why not EFI?
Kindest regards,