[Streetwize]

Rich,

I think you may be right regarding the head/valve layout but even considering that these days 427" is really the realm of the big inch small block, much lighter rotating mass (my bobweight is like 1830G), guys are building small blocks in the 470 and even 480 cube range these days. 1 7/8" and 2" header sizes that weren't even dreamed of 15 yrs ago for smallblocks, now they're common place. And I do agree most of the Windsor stuff is still a traditional wedge, however the port angles and lighter valvetrain mass (especially in that 280-320CFM headflow range) is still an advantage at higher RPM (above the torque peak)over say the Edelbrock FE head.

Another thing about packaging is that for a given HP output there is a lot more room in the Cobra engine compartment for a smallblock to dissipate heat and when you are hot lapping a car around the track or even around town heat soaking of the intake manifold/heads and carb will absorb a fair amount of net power (as the fuel charge loses density onthe way to the hole)to the wheels in the real world as a opposed to the controlled conditions of the engine dyno.

I run an iron block aluminum head 351 based 427 with a scattershield, the weight balance of the car is nearly perfect and the power to weight and the HP/torque curve is virtually identical to a real deal FE as delivered in 1965-66....that's really what matters to me, does it feel like a 7 litre motor from behind the wheel.....also to me a smallblock offsets some of the weight penalty of the heavier fiberglass body, to build an iron block glass bodied car you're going to wind up a bit heavier than the real thing....yes some of us can and will afford the high dollar dove aluminum block and more power to them.....I don't have the Dust to go that route butit's not to say I wouldn't if I could. As I said, I love the old FE, it's quirky intake/head configuration, all that stuff....but at the 500-600hp level, I like the smallblocks.

BTW....PatrikT...That is an Awesome looking cobra you have !!!!