427 or coyote?

[anthonyL]

I'm currently speaking with the builder who built my last backdraft cobra. I am torn between the Ford racing 427 535 hp engine that I had in my last build or the new coyote. I built my last car in 2011 and the coyote was Available but I liked the vintage look of the 427. I have since sold my last car (big mistake) I want to get started on my next build but have been trying to decide on the motor for two weeks going back-and-forth. I like the reliability of the coyote but I am concerned about resale value. Any thoughts?

[razerwire]

I'm Involved with high end sand cars and have seen Northstar, newer Chrysler Hemi(not 426 old school) and various new technology engines tried. By far the big and small block Chevys with blowers or turbos are used. Same with boats, mostly big block Chevys and Fords. In a cobra, in my opinion, you would be best served with big block Ford. The new engines look different and somewhat cool but did not hold up well in the sand and did not put out the power needed for sand. Much more support with Big block Ford also. More builders with experience. I have had success with my twin turbo chevy Buckshot sand car and have had no problems with Shelby engine in cobra. Shelby engine is stroked and fuel injected, been in car 5 years. Also sand cars with Northstar, ect, engines do not resale as well. My opinion only fwiw. I bring up sand cars because I ran my car with guys that had these engines and my car is just ls1 with twin turbos, puts out about 700 hp and all I do is put gas in it. Sand will test your engine for sure.

[Sawdust]

427 for sure!

[andig]

Anthony,
I have had my BDR for a year now and have put 2000 miles on the Coyote engine and I wouldn't go back to a 427 (my previous BDR had a 427R motor).
I have the Vintage 93 Octane tune which produces somewhere in the region of 475/500hp and it is plenty quick enough.
A few observations compared to the 427 are (a) it doesn't have the massive low end torque hit but it is very smooth and has a pretty explosive top end ie 5000 to 7000 rpms. (b) the coyote doesn't have the classic lumpy/loud idle of the 427 but as soon as you put your foot down it is still very loud. (c), the lighter weight of the Coyote combined with the well matched TKO 600 and 3.91 LSD rear end makes the car much better balanced and better handling than my 427 and (d), I am not much of a tinkerer and the long term reliability and low maintenance of the Coyote appeals to me, although I admit when you open the hood it can't compete with the looks of a 427 with 8 Stack Injection!
Resale wise, I am not qualified to comment but I wouldn't expect it to be that much different from a 427 and not enough for it to be a deciding factor in which engine to choose.

Andy

[BDR1222]

Originally Posted by andig

Anthony,
I have had my BDR for a year now and have put 2000 miles on the Coyote engine and I wouldn't go back to a 427 (my previous BDR had a 427R motor).
I have the Vintage 93 Octane tune which produces somewhere in the region of 475/500hp and it is plenty quick enough.
A few observations compared to the 427 are (a) it doesn't have the massive low end torque hit but it is very smooth and has a pretty explosive top end ie 5000 to 7000 rpms. (b) the coyote doesn't have the classic lumpy/loud idle of the 427 but as soon as you put your foot down it is still very loud. (c), the lighter weight of the Coyote combined with the well matched TKO 600 and 3.91 LSD rear end makes the car much better balanced and better handling than my 427 and (d), I am not much of a tinkerer and the long term reliability and low maintenance of the Coyote appeals to me, although I admit when you open the hood it can't compete with the looks of a 427 with 8 Stack Injection!
Resale wise, I am not qualified to comment but I wouldn't expect it to be that much different from a 427 and not enough for it to be a deciding factor in which engine to choose.

Andy

Ditto what Andy said + the color will have a lot to do with resale. From what I have seem, the blues, reds and silvers seem to be the colors that sell the quickest.

[Bill D]

My vote is for a 427 FE

[MJJ]

I am in the same boat. I going to go with the new mod motor but am now trying to decide between the aluminator, boss or aluminator xs.

I would like to hear from someone who has installed the aluminator xs. Is it significantly different in feel compared to the regular aluminator? It is 2X the cost and 3K more than the Boss Motor.

[toddl]

We are about to find out what the XS will do. The guys at Vintage are about to do the final tune on my Backdraft with aluminator XS with Lund Racing tune maybe this week. Jay and Brian are the only people that can speak to seat of the pants feel since they are the only ones that have driven a Cobra powered by this engine. Should no more by end of the week. Hoping for around 500rwhp.

[MJJ]

Originally Posted by toddl

We are about to find out what the XS will do. The guys at Vintage are about to do the final tune on my Backdraft with aluminator XS with Lund Racing tune maybe this week. Jay and Brian are the only people that can speak to seat of the pants feel since they are the only ones that have driven a Cobra powered by this engine. Should no more by end of the week. Hoping for around 500rwhp.

Good timing on my question. Thanks for the response. I will be interested to hear the results!

Couldn't ask for a better tuner! Just curious why did you go with the XS instead of the Boss motor?

[toddl]

If I'm not mistaken the XS is the replacement for the BOSS. I was initially going to do a supercharged coyote. Was not enough room under the hood to do AC and the supercharger. Jay suggested the XS. Higher revving and he figured we could get similar HP with it N/A. Also, we would have the first one off the line that is kinda cool. To hear them talk it is awesome to drive. Can't wait to find out for myself.

[MJJ]

Originally Posted by toddl

If I'm not mistaken the XS is the replacement for the BOSS. I was initially going to do a supercharged coyote. Was not enough room under the hood to do AC and the supercharger. Jay suggested the XS. Higher revving and he figured we could get similar HP with it N/A. Also, we would have the first one off the line that is kinda cool. To hear them talk it is awesome to drive. Can't wait to find out for myself.

Ford Racing Boss 302 5.0L Crate Engine at AmericanMuscle.com - Discontinued

http://fordracingparts123.com/crate-...FcVFMgodgx8Ajw

The XS has more cobra jet parts and is rated higher out of the box than the Boss is from what I can tell.

Edit: I see the Boss motor is now discontinued. My mistake.

[PLDRIVE]

Originally Posted by toddl

We are about to find out what the XS will do. The guys at Vintage are about to do the final tune on my Backdraft with aluminator XS with Lund Racing tune maybe this week. Jay and Brian are the only people that can speak to seat of the pants feel since they are the only ones that have driven a Cobra powered by this engine. Should no more by end of the week. Hoping for around 500rwhp.

Toddl 500rwhp is overly optimistic seeing that the crank hp is just over 500.

[Cashburn]

Originally Posted by PLDRIVE

Toddl 500rwhp is overly optimistic seeing that the crank hp is just over 500.

You will be very surprised

[Dimis]

Welcome Anthony.

Good name by the way.

There are NO right answers to this but if it were me in a BDR I'd go either a 427 if I wanted a carb, or Coyote in I wanted EFI.

Logic here is:

If you wanted to go modern, then go all the way, and that's the coyote.
Feel free to even strap on a SC if you can fit it under the hood scoop.
It may even give the hood scoop some functionality.

If you want OLD school then I'd go for a SBF without EFI.
That way you can still get yourself out of a fix with a basic screw driver.

On a BDR I'd personally stop short on an FE, only because ROI would out-rule this for me.


Just my 2 cents.

Kind regards,
Anthony

[WardL]

IMO: As far as resale value, if it is a Ford engine, you are going to get back pretty relative to what you put in it. If any other brand engine, you will take a hit on resale because there will be fewer people willing to accept a Cobra with a Chevy, etc. engine in it. There are big block people and there are small block people. Of the 10 or 15 people I know with a Cobra, 90% of them are stroked 351 to ~408. You can see what I have and I would gladly trade it in for a Coyote or BOSS engine. I would want to fine the computer switch to change the sound to lumpy. There are few things more ego building than sitting at a light and listening to your lumpy cam..... I wouldn't worry about resale if you are going with a Ford engine, buy what you want. It is one of those decisions that at the time seem SO IMPORTANT, but once you get on the road in your Cobra you don't remember what you decided because all you can do is SMILE.....

[lippy]

Initially I was thinking of a FFR Daytona Coupe with a Coyote, but then I saw some Cobras with big blocks and they appealed to me. These cars and engines are all great. Don't worry about the resale. Just get whatever turns you on the most when you see it, drive it, and hear it.

[mdross1]

A good subject comparing new to old. Our Cobra embodies everything about classic muscle that so many of us crave. Loud door shaking, seat of the pants feel fat rubber big inch beast. The new muscle cars have non of this without that feel what is the sense.
Course this is one mans opinion,not an FE fan but to me would be a better choice would also fit the overall look of the car. Tough choice only you can make.

[madmaxx]

i went for a ride yesterday, as I was sitting at a light another Cobra turned going the opposite direction, I don't know what engine he had but it sounded pathetic, it must have been a 6 cylinder. I felt bad for him. A cobra is a complete package. I never heard a coyote in a cobra but if it don't sound right you loose some of the experience and a lot of respect.

How many miles are you going to drive a year and how are you driving them. one long cross country trip or little 30 minute blasts around the neighborhood or dailey driver. If you are looking for the high priced hooker 30 minute romp sessions get the 427 stroker or big block, if you are living in the car and have to rely on it to go all over the world get the coyote, one engine wears you out the other doesn't.

[AL427SBF]

Originally Posted by madmaxx

... I never heard a coyote in a cobra but if it don't sound right you loose some of the experience and a lot of respect ...

Well then listen up ...
Backdraft RT3 #1017 COYOTE 5.0 Powered by Vintage Motorsports First Drive - YouTube
Superformance Cobra with Mustang's Coyote 5.0L V8 - YouTube

The coyote is becoming a popular choice for cobra replicas because you get power and reliability at a reasonable price and they sound just fine.

[madmaxx]

Thanks, definelty a muted sound. Not as lumby or deep sounding, throws some cat conveters and sound like a Mustang 5.0 liter. As far as cost after installation it is the same if not more than a Roush 427. For resale value nothing beats a Roush, I know but that the way it is...

I thought I would want a coyote engine for its reliability and street manners. The problem is there is alot more to a cobra than the engine. Even if the engine is flawless the rest of the car is not. You will tire of driving them, no power steering, no dampening between the front wheels and steering wheel, tight footwell, not the most comfortable seats..... Bottom line is if you want a Cobra get a Cobra, if the engine does not wear you out than something else on the car will.

In the end it all comes down to how you will drive the car. Around the neighborhood, couple blast down the freeway on a sunny day or 7K miles per year to cobra events etc.

As far as resale the market is once again heating up, good year in the market last year, guys are getting older have bucket list, if you are a seller make hay while the sun shines.

Everyone that calls on mine is in their 60's, never had a 40's guy call or even a 50's, my gut feel is in 5-10 years there will be a huge glut of replicas on the market due to the owners getting to old to drive and the last 4 generations are not into cars like the 4 generations before them.

If possible drive both before you decide. If not sure by used until you figure what you want. Nice thing about a Cobra is you cant tell if the car is 1 year old or 20 years old the body style never changes thats why they hold their value!!!