Obviously, I’m a Cleveland fan for the Cobras. My engine is in the shop due to sitting and my ignorance—not the type of engine
The Windsor or the Cleveland is a very good engine. All the data I have upon which to make decisions is based on what I have read and on the few people who have raced and driven the performance versions of these different engines. Granted this is limited and a little biased. Right or wrong this is what I think. For out and out racing the oiling system needs modification. Every engine of every brand does. I suspect the way most people on this forum are using Clevelands in Cobras the stock oiling system is more than adequate. The oiling issue is probably over played. The main bearing size in the Cleveland may be better than the Windsor. That is why Ford reduced the size in their racing blocks.
On the heavier Torino’s and Montego’s and even Mustangs the head choices bring valid arguments to the table. Some Folks on this Forum have argued that on the much lighter Cobras, the heads do not make much difference, like lovehamr, (Do the moderators know he has a stolen avatar???
). I think that they are right—the different Cleveland heads do not make much of a difference on the little Cobras. My engine has a set of 4v open chamber heads sitting on it. But I have a 1970 set of stock 2vs and a set of the Australian 2vs with the closed chambers—have not felt a need to change.
No, Cevelands were never stock engines for Cobras. But in the early 70’s when ole CS, himself, wanted to update his personal Cobra, he put a Cleveland in it—not a Windsor or FE.
I occasionally wonder what it would take to make it a 408. Would the bottom of the cylinders have to be cut to allow for the larger crank and would the stock
oil pan fit? What other changes would have to be made? Like Dawger, which head would be best on a 408? Aus Ford is selling affordable used Australian blocks with higher Nichol content. Would they be significantly stronger than the American ones?
Yeah, you can spend a lot more and have a lot more with a Windsor or a Clevor or an aggressive aftermarket based Cleveland but a basic old Cleveland can give a lot of easy maintenance power on a low buck budget. And besides, like Rdorman and DoubleR mentioned, they sound and look better too. Ha!!
Rick