What is the best FORD engine per dollar

[REAL 1]

What is the price difference between a good FE390 or 428 build and a 385 series build and power comparisons?

[Thor maine]

"Join me ,join the Dark Side and together we can rule the galaxie"!! Hey it's just a hobbie let's all just have some fun with it.

[Xack]

If your talking about a Cobra... I'm assuming you are. Please don't put a cheby in it. I guess if your just going to crank it up and scare small animals, women and children then that's what you need. However, your 385 will do that more effectively. Fords are more expensive, but then what are you doing buying a Cobra in the first place if your worried about Engine $ ? Get a used Corvette and be done with it.

I'm not saying you need to put a stock 427 in your roadster. Like mentioned, Ford Racing makes great crate motors with a wide variety of components. The cheapest and most available parts are for the small block Fords by far. They make great HP and should not overpower your frame if its close to origional. Make sure your frame is rated for the torque and HP if you get a Big Block and opt for performance.

My 2 cents,
Xack

added 2/17/12, Just to be clear. I was responding to the prior messages regarding the suggestion that "chebys are cheaper". Not that the original post was asking about them or not. I had not looked at the post date. Sometimes old posts still are interesting if it's relevant. I got sucked into an old discussion.. shame on me.

[mdross1]

Originally Posted by AL427SBF

Silverback's comparison falls way short of a parallel argument, determining hair color without selection criteria is not the same as what the OP asks which does have selection criteria ...

If you were going to buy, or have one built, what type of FORD engine combo would produce the highest HP/TQ per dollar, all else being equal.

RICK's response still stands and is irrefutable ...
#1 is a stroker windsor in the 393-427 range in Aluminum
----

Silverback did hit it square on the head.There are those of us that need the Wow factor when you open the hood and have a hard time seeing the ground because of the big block wedged between the frame rails.They do make 385 aluminum blocks also,no need for one in my car the weight bias is just the way it should.

[CowtownCobra]

Best engine for the money? The one that's already in the car running fine and is paid for

[D-CEL]

Chevy? LOL just proves the bow-tie boys cant read either.

Brent is on the money. Power /cost

Stroked 429/460 with P51 heads NO question. There is a nothing special 545 build detailed on 460ford.com with this combo that makes over 950HP.

GAME, SET AND MATCH!

385 SERIES FOR THE WIN!!

Jason

[RodKnock]

Obviously, "The Best Per Dollar" is an ambiguous question. Many of us felt that a SBF or an FE were "The Best Per Dollar" for our builds.

If I thought a 385 series was "The Best Per Dollar", then I would have installed a 385 series in my car. I didn't. In my opinion, the best engine for my Cobra would be a new 427 SOHC CAMMER!

[AL427SBF]

Originally Posted by mdross1

Silverback did hit it square on the head.There are those of us that need the Wow factor when you open the hood and have a hard time seeing the ground because of the big block wedged between the frame rails.They do make 385 aluminum blocks also,no need for one in my car the weight bias is just the way it should.

I agree, there are those of you like patrickt who buy these things to impress the neighbors, doctor pics with photoshop and spend more time looking at them than driving them. Too bad it ain't real eh? Remember, all you have is a KIT CAR, but if forging Leonardo da Vinci signature on that Mona Lisa PRINT you have makes ya feel better then go for it

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by AL427SBF

like patrickt who buy these things to impress the neighbors, doctor pics with photoshop and spend more time looking at them than driving them.

Now Al, c'mon... you gotta admit, this one is just gorgeous. Right?

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by AL427SBF

I agree, there are those of you like patrickt who buy these things to impress the neighbors, doctor pics with photoshop and spend more time looking at them than driving them.

If I wanted to impress the neighbors, then I'd have to actually take my car out of the garage and drive it.

AL's calling us "waxers." If I weren't a Buddhist, then I'd be very insulted.

I have all the love in the world for ya AL.

For me, logic dictated that 427 Cobra's came with FE's.

SBF's should be installed in small block Mustangs, Fairlanes, Galaxies, Falcons, etc.

385's should made into avant garde coffee tables. I'm kidding of course.

[B.M.B.C]

SBF's should be installed in small block Mustangs, Fairlanes, Galaxies, Falcons, etc.... And of course Mk1+Mk2 Slabsides, Daytona Coupes, GT40s...........

[cobrarkc]

I really can't believe the answers that are being typed on this thread. It is not about opinions it is about facts so for everyone that is arguing here is the question on this 2 1/2 year old thread. If you were going to buy, or have one built, what type of FORD engine combo would produce the highest HP/TQ per dollar Plan and simple it will only take a price sheet and some math, no opinions needed.

[B.M.B.C]

If you set a common required HP for instance 400hp, then calculated the cost of building SBF/FE/385 to that amount its clear the 385 series would be the cheapest outright winner.

[blykins]

The 385 series is pretty much going to be the winner no matter what horsepower requirement you have....hahaha The ability to add cubes, up to 557 on a factory block, is a blessing. The factory blocks will also withstand huge horsepower levels, so the need for an aftermarket block when going over 600hp is non-existent.

[Silverback51]

And the head design on the 385 series is the most modern, and flows better than any SB or FE head. And that gentlemen is where the HP comes from.

[mdross1]

Highest hp per dollar was my reason for the 385 choice,yes a lot of us had to deal with opinions.Some of us are wize enough to weed out the good from the bad.Was a little shocked to get such strong opinions from this site as to a 385 in a Cobra instead of an FE course the same goes for those that believe the small block is a better engine for these cars.The sooner one realizes it is never going away then life becomes a little easier to deal with.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by cobrarkc

I really can't believe the answers that are being typed on this thread. It is not about opinions it is about facts so for everyone that is arguing here is the question on this 2 1/2 year old thread. If you were going to buy, or have one built, what type of FORD engine combo would produce the highest HP/TQ per dollar Plan and simple it will only take a price sheet and some math, no opinions needed.

Oops, you forgot one little phrase at the end of the OP's sentence.

".....all else being equal."

My interpretation of that says that all else isn't equal because I (and others) wouldn't even consider installing a SBF or 385 in a 427 Cobra. No way. No how.

We can argue HP/per dollar in terms of 352's, 390's, 428's, 468's, 482's, 527's and any FE in between. What else matters.

[B.M.B.C]

Visually a FE is period correct in 427/428 car, as is a 289 in a earlier slabside. But modern replica or reproduction cobras or what ever you wanna call them, can or will benefit from the cheap power/cubes available from 385 series big blocks if thats the route you wanna take.
One thing else i will add is that when the aftermarket really get there teeth into new gen mod motors like the coyote 5.0 with blowers and high hp outputs(650+), good gas mileage out the box will be the norm....

[B.M.B.C]

Anyone for FE pentroof rocker covers to fit 385 series........

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by B.M.B.C

Anyone for FE pentroof rocker covers to fit 385 series........

Why try to make it look like something it's not? I'm not ashamed of my 460.