FE ONLY OR 514ci. CRATE IN YOUR,....COBRA ?

[FUNFER2]

If you,....had a limited budget, say 10k, but wanted the most HP & TQ you could get, would you settle for low power, say 350 to 400 HP thus sounding and feeling lke a purring kitten, or buy the Ford 514ci crate engine with 625 HP for 8k ?

That's where I'm at in getting a engine for my Cobra. I really don't like having a motor other than the 427 or 428 in mine, but....

It's so bad that the FE's are very expensive to build !

Power over price ?
Or
Original to the Cobra ?

What would YOU,..... do ?

[blykins]

Ford Racing crate engines are not complete. You end up spending quite a bit more money to get them running.

I agree that FE's are expensive. I also agree that the 385 series engine is more bang for the buck. But be aware that they are very large engines, don't always fit comfortably in the engine bay, and require a totally different set of headers, bellhousing, accessories, etc.

[FUNFER2]

Well, it's pretty close anyway.

https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-6007-D514
The car is set up fora FE and Tremec transmission.


I would have to change or trade several parts, as I have FE motor mounts, new flywheel, Quicktime bellhousing, clutch. Plus change the driveshaft and maybe work over the trans tunnel for the tranny and or the shifter ?

But, this is mainly what motor would you have, FE or the 514 ?

[blykins]

No plugs, no wires, no carburetor (requires a Dominator carb which will make hood clearance more of a challenge), no pulleys, no brackets, no alternator, oil pan is rear sump, etc.

Yes, you would need new motor mounts, new headers, new bellhousing, etc.

[jacobsed]

I can comment on the end result having a 514....its amazing!
The engine looks huge and great under the hood too.

PicPaste - IMG_4669-gUHwxdV1.JPG


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[Grubby]

Resale value can be negatively impacted by putting anything other than an FE in. Depends on the car maker.

ERAs with a 385 will take a big hit.

John

[FUNFER2]

Cool. Any video of the engine running ?

Is it wider, taller and or longer than an FE ?

What make is your Cobra ?

I know that with the Lone Star, a turkey pan will hit the hood, so I don't know if the 460 would be too tall or not ? (always thought that was a stupid design) !

[FUNFER2]

Originally Posted by Grubby

Resale value can be negatively impacted by putting anything other than an FE in. Depends on the car maker.

ERAs with a 385 will take a big hit.

John

I'll never sell. (unless I hit the lottery)

[blykins]

In a Superformance, you need a Torker intake (very short) to fit it under the hood scoop.

The deck height on an FE is 10.170. A 385 series engine is 10.320-10.360 depending on the year. Heads are much taller as well. Physically, it's a much bigger engine.

[wkooiman]

An FE is not much more expensive than any other engine. A 427 is, but a 428 or stroker 390 is not.

I ran a 428 in a 67 Mustang, and it was scary fast. That was with stock stroke, nothing fancy Edelbrock heads, CompCams 282S, FPA headers, and the C7ZX 2x4 intake, which was my only high dollar part.

My point is you can easily build an FE that makes enough HP to scare the crap out of you, plus it looks the part, and the expense of running an FE is exaggerated.

[blykins]

Originally Posted by wkooiman

An FE is not much more expensive than any other engine. A 427 is, but a 428 or stroker 390 is not.

I ran a 428 in a 67 Mustang, and it was scary fast. That was with stock stroke, nothing fancy Edelbrock heads, CompCams 282S, FPA headers, and the C7ZX 2x4 intake, which was my only high dollar part.

My point is you can easily build an FE that makes enough HP to scare the crap out of you, plus it looks the part, and the expense of running an FE is exaggerated.

You are correct, generally speaking, building an FE is not that expensive. However, when you try to match horsepower for horsepower, getting big horsepower out of an FE takes quite a bit more money.

[Buzz]

On paper the size difference doesn't look that significant, but clearly that doesn't translate into physical reality. The 385 certainly looks a lot bigger.

There's a plethora* of replicas running around with Windsors and they seem to do a brisk trade, so outside of a premium brand replica known for accuracy and correctness, I wouldn't worry about resale. I want the performance so in the circumstances that you describe, I'd take the 514 any day of the week.


* [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyBUMntP6DI[/ame]

[Gary(SF)]

I've got a 521 c.i. under the hood of my Superformance, and I love the power and torque, as well as the brawny appearance. Once you experience the 385's seemingly limitless torque it's hard to be satisfied with anything else.

PicPaste - Cobra_Santana_engine-EhA5P4dm.jpg

[wkooiman]

Originally Posted by blykins

You are correct, generally speaking, building an FE is not that expensive. However, when you try to match horsepower for horsepower, getting big horsepower out of an FE takes quite a bit more money.

Agreed. I wasn't suggesting that an FE is not much more expensive when matching horsepower for horsepower. I was only saying that it is pretty easy to build an FE that will scare the crap out of you, and it doesn't have to cost a lot.

BTW, I'm not one of those that thinks that you have to have an FE in a Cobra. My 2nd choice would be a Boss 429/520, which would make an awesome Cobra, assuming you can make it fit.

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by Buzz

On paper the size difference doesn't look that significant, but clearly that doesn't translate into physical reality. The 385 certainly looks a lot bigger.

There's a plethora* of replicas running around with Windsors and they seem to do a brisk trade, so outside of a premium brand replica known for accuracy and correctness, I wouldn't worry about resale. I want the performance so in the circumstances that you describe, I'd take the 514 any day of the week.


* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyBUMntP6DI

Right - we went through all of this last year. I thought a 460 was a lot wider but it isn't. And this chart compares it to a 390 FE so compared to a 427 MR their may not be much difference in height - but the 429/460 height is probably based on a stock Ford intake. And there is a weight penalty however.

Sounds like their would be considerable cost in switching your car over to a 385 series motor.

[Pman1961]

A thread about big blocks that ACE23 didn't create! Chime in my friend...lol!!

[FUNFER2]

Originally Posted by blykins

In a Superformance, you need a Torker intake (very short) to fit it under the hood scoop.

The deck height on an FE is 10.170. A 385 series engine is 10.320-10.360 depending on the year. Heads are much taller as well. Physically, it's a much bigger engine.

Great to know Brent.
Thanks.

[FUNFER2]

Originally Posted by blykins

You are correct, generally speaking, building an FE is not that expensive. However, when you try to match horsepower for horsepower, getting big horsepower out of an FE takes quite a bit more money.

Yes, that's when I mean by cost vs HP with other engines. The FE is expensive unless it's a pooch motor.
Look at the Ford 514 and the Chevy 572. Apx,..... 8k to 14k with 625 HP. To build a FE with that much, it's from 18k to 25k. Approximately guys !

[FUNFER2]

Originally Posted by Gary(SF)

I've got a 521 c.i. under the hood of my Superformance, and I love the power and torque, as well as the brawny appearance. Once you experience the 385's seemingly limitless torque it's hard to be satisfied with anything else.

PicPaste - Cobra_Santana_engine-EhA5P4dm.jpg

Man, what a motor.

What are the specs ?

http://www.picpaste.com/thumbs/Cobra...1466869931.jpg

[Ace23]

We are all driving fake Cobras so who cares about resale value. If I was starting from scratch I would go with a 385 series and I would save my money until I could afford to do it right. If you are worried about too much torque or low end grunt then maybe look at smaller CI 385 stroker setup that you can pull to higher Rpms and shift the torque curve. I see where Brent mentioned being limited to a torquer intake in a SPF.....that's usually what you see but I think Craig from Craig's cobra is running a victor intake in his SPF. If your using it as a street car and you like sheer grunt I don't see how you could go wrong with the big block.

My idea of the perfect cobra is something that is so loud and nasty people think your coming down the road in a Winston cup car. I want babies to cry when I pass by and I want it to make me scream profanity everytime I step into the loud pedal. Oh and also add getting 20mpg and being able to cruse at 2000rpm....sounds pretty fun!!!!