[A Snake]

I wouldn't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but I have to ask a question. Make no mistake as I say this,I completely understand what budget constraints are and can be.

There are two places not to stint when building an engine....especially one as expensive as an FE. One is rotating parts such as crank,pistons, rods bearings and to a lesser degree, the camshaft and lifters. The next is the valve train. Why not get the best? To me that's just cheap insurance against engine failure. What's $300 or $400 against the replacement of a $10,000 to $20,000 engine?

It took me over a year to get all of the parts and pieces for my 427 S/O and another 6 months to get it built. You know what though.....I didn't lose a minute's sleep worrying about what might break if I pushed the engine. (which I did) To me, that peace of mind was worth the time and the money.......and I only had to spent it once.

Another thing just occurred to me. What if a guy is on the track, pushing the car and the engine to the limits and the engine lets go in a turn and causes loss of control? Somehow I have a hard time balancing a few hundred dollars against injury, loss of life or at the very least a totaled out car. Don't say it can't happen because it does and has and will continue to happen on every track in the world. Don't plan to be on a track? A little horseplay on a twisty road will have the same result.

And if ya ain't gonna push it....why have it?

Just my two cents worth.

Al