FE engines are like drugs - once you get started, it seems to go on forever... a little at a time. I started with a Genesis block and a Scat stroker kit. No big deal: 5 grand plus $200.00 for a cam, $1,500 for labor and I got a nice-sounding, good-looking engine for under 10 grand. Right. Then the calls start coming from the builder... "Hey you need the trick aluminum heads. They're only about $50 per horsepower". "Hey you need the roller cam. Only about $50.00 per horsepower", he continues. A week later: "Hey you need the heads and manifold ported. With all the cool stuff on the engine, it can't breathe". You get the idea.
FE parts are not dirt-cheap BB Chevy parts that the local Kragen has on his shelf. They all seem a more expensive for seemingly the same thing. And it takes more of everything than a Chevy to get the power.
Anyway, $22,000.00 is really easy to spend on a nice FE. I know
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Brian