390 / 428 owners

[rustyBob]

They have to catch me first........hence no throttle stop.........

[Tony Ripepi]

Engine options from FE Specialties.....

http://www.fespecialties.com/HTML/EngPackage.html

390 570 HP $8,995
428 635 HP 12,495 Add $3k for an Aluminum Block
427 SO 680 HP $15,495

They all look exactly alike from the top !!!!!!!!!!

Any of these will fry the tires in a light weight Cobra, pick your poison, $6,500 difference top to bottom.

Tony R.

[Gunner]

Originally Posted by Tony Ripepi

Engine options from FE Specialties...

Impressive numbers for the 390. Given that all three engines use identical components (give or take a version), it makes you wonder what's in the 428 and 427. That's not all block cost. The 390 and 428 *ARE* identical engines except for stock bore, so I'd like to know where the other $2500 (charitably speaking) went.

Maybe I'll walk over and ask. FES is a stone's throw from me.

[dcdoug]

Originally Posted by Gunner

Impressive numbers for the 390. Given that all three engines use identical components (give or take a version), it makes you wonder what's in the 428 and 427. That's not all block cost. The 390 and 428 *ARE* identical engines except for stock bore, so I'd like to know where the other $2500 (charitably speaking) went.

Maybe I'll walk over and ask. FES is a stone's throw from me.

Probably just that the market places a higher value on a 428 or 427 vs a 390.

[RodKnock]

You're going from a flat tappet cam to a roller cam.

[Tony Ripepi]

Hi Gunner,

The details are available from Tom Lucas at FE specialties, he is well respected here in the Bay area for his FE motors. The point being that you can start with 40 year old Iron or get new castings in Iron or Aluminum, either way add in the right components and cost escalates quckly. The base 390 uses original style crank and connecting rods and is a budget build, I'm pretty sure that is not the 570 HP version of the motor.

I saw a 390 orginal style motor that had been gone through, machined, Dyno tested and ready to install this past weekend for $5,750 at the Mustang Ranch in Santa Clara last weekend. The budget build can be had that will make 400-450 with a 390 very inexpensively.

An FE can make 500+ HP with the right stuff inside, the cost of the block is simply the price of entry, you pick the right components from there (Same Cost i.e. Crank, Heads, roller rockers, Connecting Rods, Cam etc.etc.) and the 390/428/427 will all get there. A key ingredient is to have the expertise to put it together.

One Man's opinion........

Tony R.

[Gunner]

Originally Posted by Tony Ripepi

The base 390 uses original style crank and connecting rods and is a budget build, I'm pretty sure that is not the 570 HP version of the motor.

Using stock components would keep the cost down, yes. But if that's not the 570HP version, that means the list above is made from a collection of random numbers. I would seriously question getting 570HP out of 390 cubic inches.

[RodKnock]

I have an engine from FE Specialities. Tom knows FE's. When we spec'ed out the engine, he said it would make "x" HP and when we were done, it made almost exactly "x" HP.

Having said that, 570 HP from the 390 seems a little aggressive, though from the wording it's "capable of up to 570 HP."

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

I have an engine from FE Specialities. Tom knows FE's. When we spec'ed out the engine, he said it would make "x" HP and when we were done, it made almost exactly "x" HP.

Having said that, 570 HP from the 390 seems a little aggressive, though from the wording it's "capable of up to 570 HP."

What was your target and actual HP?

[Barry_R]

I can say with a very high degree of certainty based on many dyno runs that the average 445 cube stroked 390 on pump gas will get you between 475 and 500 horsepower and +-500TQ. This would be with a set of tweaked Eelbrock heads, a dual plane intake, a slightly lumpity flat tappet cam and a 750 Holley.

I've had several customers build their own and get them dyno'd with comparable results - no magic involved...

So I'd suspect that with more compression, worked over heads, and a really snotty cam that 570 mark is very attainable...

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

What was your target and actual HP?

Tom gave me a pick of three hydraulic roller cams spec'ed for my 482. Small, medium and large. I picked medium and I'm very happy, though with the single carb, I think I could have easily gone up one more notch. Tom said I would get 600 HP with the medium cam and the rest of my 482. I know there's more there, if I had a dyno tune, but Tom got 605 HP.

For the most builds, Barry, Tom, Keith, George all basically know what they'll get since they know what they're doing and have been doing it a long time.

[patrickt]

Rod, that's a good bit of horsepower. Can you put the throttle all the way to the floor with the revs over 3000? Or do you get wheelspin? I'm serious -- you've got, like, 20% more horsepower than I do and can't harness what I have with my 295/50 Yoko Avids (which are pretty decent tires, btw) and, as I recall, we've got pretty similar gearing.

[lovehamr]

Originally Posted by Barry_R

and a really snotty cam that 570 mark is very attainable...

Wouldn't that get messy though?

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Rod, that's a good bit of horsepower. Can you put the throttle all the way to the floor with the revs over 3000? Or do you get wheelspin? I'm serious -- you've got, like, 20% more horsepower than I do and can't harness what I have with my 295/50 Yoko Avids (which are pretty decent tires, btw) and, as I recall, we've got pretty similar gearing.

Honestly, I haven't really tested the outer limits of the engine and car at this point. No time and no place around where I live to do it. Plus, I'm still getting used to my car, since with only a 1,000 miles, I don't have a lot of seat time.

However, with SAAC 35 at Sears Point (not calling it Infineon) next year, I'm hoping to "step out a bit."

I have a 3.42 rear gear with the TKO600.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Honestly, I haven't really tested the outer limits of the engine and car at this point. No time and no place around where I live to do it.

Well don't do it on my account. That's all I need is you griping at me because you totalled your car trying to find out if you get wheelspin just because I asked about it.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Well don't do it on my account. That's all I need is you griping at me because you totalled your car trying to find out if you get wheelspin just because I asked about it.

The only thing I would do on your account is buy everyone here a nice breakfast, and that especially includes all the SPF, FFR, BDR, CSX owners you've ticked off over the years, so that they don't string you up and video tape it.

At my advanced age , peer pressure is meaningless.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

...all the SPF, FFR, BDR, CSX owners you've ticked off over the years, so that they don't string you up and video tape it.

Hmmm, I don't think I've gratuitously attacked BDR yet. I've got them pencilled in for after the New Year, though.

[Wolfzter]

Hi Kevin. When I built my first Cobra, I could only afford to go 390 GT. It is an excellent engine...but...definitely a mid-range mover! It really came to life with a gear change. Since the first Cobra, I have experienced 428, 427 and 488 (Stroker)...never go back to the 390. There are a lot of stroker kits available these days for not too much money and it is definitely worth the effort. Start with a good block (pre 68) and have it sonic checked for wall thickness and go from there.

[MaSnaka]

Hey Wolfzter

What gear change are you talking about? Rearend I assume but what did you have and what did you change it to?

John

[Wolfzter]

Hey John...I should have been more specific. Along with my budget, I used a Toploader I had lying around as well as a set of 2.73 gears...not an optimal combination with the 295-50-15 tires (but cheap). After nearly getting waxed by a blown Mustang I went with the 3.50 gears and this thing came to life...I had to watch my speed on the highways (65-70 max). Since those hungry years, I have discovered the Tremec solution...Cheers, Wolf