[olddog]

I thought you was going for a 351W stroker.

I started out thinking of putting a 4.6 engine in a cobra. Several companies offer kits ready to slide one in. Several people have them. I like the 4.6 engine. In many ways, it is far more advanced than the push rod engines. I think 1995 was the last year for the 5.0 and I'm not sure when the 351W was dropped. Wow that was 14 years ago for the 5.0 engine. Time flies.

Well after you have a 4.6 on an engine stand and set it beside any pushrod engine, you understand just how huge the physical size is for a lousy 280ish cubic inches. When you tear one down, you get a feel for how demanding they are to put together correctly. The timing chains are not easy to time up the cams. Not all that bad on a stand, but it will not happen in a Cobra. Well maybe some can do it, but my fat ass with bad back couldn't.

I still like the 4.6 and would not toss rocks at one in a Cobra, but I have to say the older pushrod engines are easier to do. The performance parts are well sorted out and known. Also a pushrod engine looks more period correct. The further you get from a FE engine, the less accepted an engine is from many parts of the public. In the end, it is your choice.