Quote:
Originally Posted by AC Ventura
Just wondering. With so many and not just S/B owners saying 331/347 is the default choice for a balanced car, if there are any 427 FE owners out there who actually agree that the smaller motor is the better route.
Somehow, I doubt it but interested in what the real-life feedback actually is.
Alternatively any S/B owners who if they were to do it all again, would build in the big boy.
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Let me start with a little history, for perspective. The Ford flat head V-8 was made from 1932 to 1953, a 21 year success story. The first OHV V-8 was the Y block in 1954. Although produced in trucks until 1964, the FE and SB Windsor engines replaced it in cars, years earlier. It had a short life. The FE engine was developed from the Y-block and still had Y-block DNA in it. The FE was made from 1958 to 1976. Starting life at 332 cid, the FE grew to 428 cid. In its short 18 year life span, it won many races of all types. The little 221 cid Small Block sprang onto the seen in 1961, grew to 302 cid, and was made until 2000. From it grew the 335 series 351C/400C and the 351W. They were taller deck larger displacement versions of this small block design. Arguably, with a 39 year life span this was the most successful Ford engine family to date. It too has claimed all types of race tittles. Likely more than the FE, do to its long history. The 385 series that replaced the FE, also enjoyed a long life from 1968-1997. A 29 year life span, undoubtedly cut short by the ever increasing government regulations, which also helped to kill the SB.
Now why do some engines have a shorter life span than others? Many factors come into play, but costs and needs pretty much covers the main factors. The reason the FE had such a short life was costs. It lacked nothing in terms of filling what Ford needed. The FE design is difficult to produce and assemble reliably, which is its problem to this day. It requires much more knowledge and talent to build than a Windsor SB. To this day you will spend much more money to build an FE. It is difficult to house break (it pisses
oil on the garage floor). The probability of having to pull it down and fix something that was not assembled correctly is much higher, when compared to a SB.
Now the FE is by far, the most nostalgic engine, at least to the old dogs that remembers its glory days. It is a beautiful engine to lay eyes on. It lacks nothing in the power department. The sound is glorious. It is the engine that came in the 427 Shelby Cobra that we all love. No one, who has one in a Cobra, is ever going to say, I wish I had a small block instead. However after spending mega bucks and running into problems and having to spend more, and loosing ride time, I’m sure some unlucky people have questioned if it was worth it. Some have sold their car, disillusioned. Most do not run into problems, just higher costs.
That said a 351W stroked to 391, 408, 427 costs less to build. By simplicity of design, it is less likely to have a problem. It is lighter than a FE, and can make similar power. Logically it is a better choice to build, if all you care about is numbers and logic. Performance per dollar, it is a great choice. It will never have the nostalgic value of the FE. But how do you measure nostalgia and put a value on it?
Similarly the 385 series engine is a great design. Dollar per Hp, it cannot be beat. It is heavy. It takes magic mirrors and special shoe horns to fit it into a Cobra, but it is done. The one I road in was the most amazing ride of my life, but it still is not an FE.
Bottom line: It’s a personal choice. What’s it worth to you?
PS
For those of us that do not race or auto cross (just ride for fun), there really is no need for a SB. I suspect most of us would love to have a 427 SO, if there was no cost difference. Heck I'd go for a cammer if it was free. I think if we are honest, most SB owners will say "I have a SB because the FE just wasn't worth the cost to me, but I would love to have one, if the price was right." If I hit the lottery, I will drop a 482 FE into a Kirkham. No doubt in my mind.