What is the best FORD engine per dollar

[blykins]

I need to add some "budget" 460 builds to my webpage. Currently I just have some 600+ cubic inch engines, along with some Boss engines.

Even a stock stroke 460 with P-51 heads would give phenomenal performance.

My 529ci Boss 9 engines make 740-750hp at 6000 rpm. No need to spin these engines up, use radical cams, extremely high compression ratios, etc. That was with a pretty mild hydraulic roller on a 112° LSA, installed on a 106° ICL and only .620" lift. Easy power.

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by 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.

On that logic - where does that place the coyote

[REAL 1]

The 5.0flows great. Thats where it excels.

Your point?

[blykins]

Originally Posted by Dimis

On that logic - where does that place the coyote

The typical high end aftermarket 385 series head flows over 400cfm on the intake side.

I haven't seen any flow numbers from the Coyote heads, but the most I've ever seen a 4V Modular head flow (after extensive porting) is around 340 cfm.

Now, having said that, flow isn't everything, and even with the best flowing heads, 302 cubic inches can only do so much without forced induction.

I personally just can't get on the Coyote bandwagon. I believe it just happened to show up at a time where a lot of Cobra owners just wanted something different than the standard FE, or stroked Windsor. However, there is no real benefit to it, especially if a lot of horsepower is desired. My caveat to that goes to the Cobra owners in other countries/continents that have very strict emissions/engineering rules, or have limited access to aftermarket engines in general. In that case, I would certainly choose a Coyote or other Ford engine over a GM counterpart.

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by Dimis

On that logic - where does that place the coyote

Still chasing the roadrunner.

[mdross1]

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.

Yup this thread did start 2 1/2 yrs ago and 2 1/2 yrs from now we will still be reading the same thing.The loyalists to certain engine types and their unique reasons for owning any of them will still be the same,as will be my reasons.Could not be happier with my 385 except that I am thinking of solid roller cam upgrade maybe a set of those P-51 heads.Will be looking into porting my MotorSports heads first.The wanting a Cammer craze is finally starting to melt away knowing this 385 has the capacity to get me into the 700 hp range heck it's almost there now.

[HealeyRick]

Originally Posted by rtstrack

Silverback51,

Maybe I didn't word it correctly, but there SHOULD be an answer to the question. This really shouldn't be too much of one's own preference, but more of a math issue. For example if you said a 302 long block could produce 250HP and they sell for $5,000 and then you said a 390 FE could produce 500 HP for $12,000. THe 302 would cost you $20 dollars per HP (5K/250) and the 390 would give you $24 dollars per HP(12K/500). In my crazy example the 302 is a better "value" all else being equal. I know prices of long blocks can vary depending on vendor, but they should be pretty similar for my case. That being said Chevy's certainly do seem to be priced cheaper than Ford's like Rick was saying

Approaching this from a "numbers only" approach and looking for "value", I'd nominate a used Explorer 5.0 motor with GT40P heads, Trickflow TFS1 cam, Edelbrock RPM or Weiand Stealth manifold and a Holley 570 SA carb. IF you could find a motor that didn't need a rebuild, you could probably be under $3000 with a motor than will put out 345 hp at the crank. I'm not saying it's the best motor, or the sexiest, or the most hp/tq. Just saying you have to go a long way to find better "value" in a Ford motor.

[Turbonut48]

I vote for a 351 W. Mild cam, good intake and freeflow exhaust will give LOTS of torque.
Torque is what moves ya on the street.

The Nut

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

Still chasing the roadrunner.

You have no idea how funny that is to me...
Just the other day I was introducing my nephew to the "merry mellodies" & "looney tunes" cartoons, & rediscovering myself how brilliant they actually are!

They still have me laughing...

[RACER X #99]

Originally Posted by blykins

The typical high end aftermarket 385 series head flows over 400cfm on the intake side.

I haven't seen any flow numbers from the Coyote heads, but the most I've ever seen a 4V Modular head flow (after extensive porting) is around 340 cfm.

Now, having said that, flow isn't everything, and even with the best flowing heads, 302 cubic inches can only do so much without forced induction.

I personally just can't get on the Coyote bandwagon. I believe it just happened to show up at a time where a lot of Cobra owners just wanted something different than the standard FE, or stroked Windsor. However, there is no real benefit to it, especially if a lot of horsepower is desired. My caveat to that goes to the Cobra owners in other countries/continents that have very strict emissions/engineering rules, or have limited access to aftermarket engines in general. In that case, I would certainly choose a Coyote or other Ford engine over a GM counterpart.

I was never a OHC guy until I realized the M-3's with less cubes and torque were just about the best and easiest to drive Open track car you could buy. Easily blowing away most of the pushrod Cobras at any track event.
Now that Ford has answered BMW with the Coyote I'm on board.
I may be wrong here but a $6.000 crate Coyote in a Cobra replica is going to be a kick ass track car and when the serious track guys start running them, watch out.

Will they ever be favored by the car show, wax and shine street cruises, never.

$6K 400 HP 430 Lbs this is your best bang for the buck.

Put that in a FFR spec racer and nobody is catching you on the road course.

[ratsnst1]

Originally Posted by scottj

Nope, that doesn't work. The title is just a hook to get you to read the thread. The question asked in the thread supersedes the title through elaboration. Please... let's not derail this thread by allowing everyone to be "right". This thread has been more entertaining than than anything on here in about 7-8 years.

thisd info.this is some good fun

[Thor maine]

I hope to make this as entertaining as possible. Best Ford engine?? Ford has some awesome engines!!And in a Cobra ...cool. But let's say you built a Fiero Based Ferrari or Lambo would most of you explode because it did not have a Ferrari engine??? Or that the transmision was not gated??? Or that it did not sing that fantastic note when flooring the go pedal??? But a lot of the purist like the Tremec or the magnum trans and suspension from a Ford Pinto, Jaguar,Ford mustang straight axle, or the best of the bunch a Corvette!! But as long as it has a Ford FE or 289 you think it has some birth right to be a real Cobra. Wow that was a rant!! If you have built a kit or replica it is not as Shelby and just have a great time building it and driving it and not get caught up with "is it a 289- 390- 427-428- clevland- windsor- 385-coyote-side oiler -top oiler-460- stroked small block-Chevy-426 Hemi(I had a ride in Artnz with 426 Hemi it was awesome)-Viper V10- or Buick nascar turbo V6or the endless possiblities... Just trying to make this the best thread in 7or 8 years

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by Thor maine

I hope to make this as entertaining as possible. Best Ford engine?? Ford has some awesome engines!!And in a Cobra ...cool. But let's say you built a Fiero Based Ferrari or Lambo would most of you explode because it did not have a Ferrari engine??? Or that the transmision was not gated??? Or that it did not sing that fantastic note when flooring the go pedal??? But a lot of the purist like the Tremec or the magnum trans and suspension from a Ford Pinto, Jaguar,Ford mustang straight axle, or the best of the bunch a Corvette!! But as long as it has a Ford FE or 289 you think it has some birth right to be a real Cobra. Wow that was a rant!! If you have built a kit or replica it is not as Shelby and just have a great time building it and driving it and not get caught up with "is it a 289- 390- 427-428- clevland- windsor- 385-coyote-side oiler -top oiler-460- stroked small block-Chevy-426 Hemi(I had a ride in Artnz with 426 Hemi it was awesome)-Viper V10- or Buick nascar turbo V6or the endless possiblities... Just trying to make this the best thread in 7or 8 years

If you want to try for a classic thread, then start your own instead of always taking this one off topic.

[blykins]

Originally Posted by RACER X #99

I was never a OHC guy until I realized the M-3's with less cubes and torque were just about the best and easiest to drive Open track car you could buy. Easily blowing away most of the pushrod Cobras at any track event.
Now that Ford has answered BMW with the Coyote I'm on board.
I may be wrong here but a $6.000 crate Coyote in a Cobra replica is going to be a kick ass track car and when the serious track guys start running them, watch out.

Will they ever be favored by the car show, wax and shine street cruises, never.

$6K 400 HP 430 Lbs this is your best bang for the buck.

Put that in a FFR spec racer and nobody is catching you on the road course.

Admittedly, I've never installed one in a car, but isn't the cost much higher with all the support items that you need to install with the engine....i.e. wiring harnesses, ECM, etc.?

I think that they are also a tight fit in some replicas. I've heard Jay Linke say that the cost to modify the engine bay on a Backdraft to get them to fit isn't cheap....

When you start adding up the different costs, that's where it gets less exciting for me. Also, a lot of guys won't want just 400-450hp, so they have to shell out another couple grand for a supercharger.

Now you are indeed correct about the Spec Racer guys....that's more than enough horsepower for what they need, but they're still looking at the cost of the engine plus support items, which is way more than the typical EFI 302 that these guys run.

[blykins]

For informational purposes:

*M-6007-M50 - Coyote 5.0L - $5895
*M-6017-A504V - Control Pack - $1599

Subtotal (not counting vehicle modifications) - $7494

*M-6066-MGT525D - 525hp Supercharger Kit (includes, intake manifold, intercooler, ECM upgrade, injectors, drive belt) - $6909

Total - $14403

*M-6066-MGT624D - 625hp Supercharger Kit, same parts as above - $7199

Total - $14693

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by blykins

Total - $14693

If I'm going to drop $15k in your pocket, I'd rather have you build me an FE.

[REAL 1]

Originally Posted by Thor maine

I hope to make this as entertaining as possible. Best Ford engine?? Ford has some awesome engines!!And in a Cobra ...cool. But let's say you built a Fiero Based Ferrari or Lambo would most of you explode because it did not have a Ferrari engine??? Or that the transmision was not gated??? Or that it did not sing that fantastic note when flooring the go pedal??? But a lot of the purist like the Tremec or the magnum trans and suspension from a Ford Pinto, Jaguar,Ford mustang straight axle, or the best of the bunch a Corvette!! But as long as it has a Ford FE or 289 you think it has some birth right to be a real Cobra. Wow that was a rant!! If you have built a kit or replica it is not as Shelby and just have a great time building it and driving it and not get caught up with "is it a 289- 390- 427-428- clevland- windsor- 385-coyote-side oiler -top oiler-460- stroked small block-Chevy-426 Hemi(I had a ride in Artnz with 426 Hemi it was awesome)-Viper V10- or Buick nascar turbo V6or the endless possiblities... Just trying to make this the best thread in 7or 8 years

Thor: pat is correct. The issue is best Ford engine for the $ power wise.

I assure you that the guys here aren't operating under some illusion that just because they put an FE or 289 In there car has birth right to be a real Cobra.

You are missing the entire point of the hobby. The Cobra is the most replicated car in history primarily for it's legendary performance and ease of replication not to mention it's good looks. the hobby is a celebration of the car and it's history and the legendary men at SAI that made it happen. A pride the American "can do" spirit that beat the worlds best. I suspect this has something to do with the fact many want this little car to retain the Ford DNA it started with.

The ease of replication is primarily based on it's Ford powered DNA. Some guys want their car to be a clone of the original and exact as possible. Some just want to keep it in the family by staying Ford powered as long as it produces prodigious Cobra like performance and sound

Your Ferrari and Lambo analogy is off the mark. They are hard to replicate for many reasons and impossible to replicate accurately and just aren't for the most part. They are shunned by the real Ferrari and Lambo owners. There is no one car they are celebrating.

It's not the same. If your a Cobra guy you get it.

[RACER X #99]

Originally Posted by patrickt

If I'm going to drop $15k in your pocket, I'd rather have you build me an FE.

This stock Coyote will probably put most Fe's to shame.
After all isn't this what most Cobra guys like to do.


Superformance Cobra with Mustang's Coyote 5.0L V8 - YouTube

[65SC]

Originally Posted by blykins

For informational purposes:

*M-6007-M50 - Coyote 5.0L - $5895
*M-6017-A504V - Control Pack - $1599

Subtotal (not counting vehicle modifications) - $7494

*M-6066-MGT525D - 525hp Supercharger Kit (includes, intake manifold, intercooler, ECM upgrade, injectors, drive belt) - $6909

Total - $14403

*M-6066-MGT624D - 625hp Supercharger Kit, same parts as above - $7199

Total - $14693

another option would be the 5.0 Aluminator (M-9680-M50)

[REAL 1]

Roger: can you get the 5.0 with track key technology in a crate motor?