FE Cost ????

fordracer · #1 (**permalink**) 12-25-2002, 08:39 AM

What's an average price for a FE ? I've been to the web sites and it varies widely . On paper using a Genesis block, I figure $8500 if I do the labor. Here on CC there are 428's ging for $2500-3500. I understand comparing a S.O to a 428 is not a fair comparison. Just trying to get all my financial ducks in a row here. Thanks and H A P P Y H O L I D A Y S

southernfriedcj · #2 (**permalink**) 12-25-2002, 09:06 AM

Try Southern Automotive's website www.southernautomotiveengines.com they have prices and options listed and are well respected in the FE community. I don't have one of their engines(yet), but if you do a search, you will see a buttload of positive feedback from the many CC members that are also SA customers.
HTH

Ron61 · #3 (**permalink**) 12-25-2002, 09:27 AM

You might look at Coast High Performance also to compare prices. I don't know a lot about their engines but have heard they are good. You can at least use their prices as a comparison. www.coasthigh.com

Jeff Frigo · #4 (**permalink**) 12-25-2002, 09:29 AM

It depends on two things. How complete and how many new or used parts.

decooney · #5 (**permalink**) 12-25-2002, 11:51 AM

Fordracer,

along with the parts and related prices....other FE items like blueprinting your block and heads for appropriate oiling and flow, port matching your intake and heads, possible port work on the heads you select, engine balancing, valve work, the performance engine build and setup itself, and break-in on an engine stand can all add to the price. There are several places to contact now for FEs. Most seem to be pretty competetive, and it really comes down to what you get for the money.

FYI...if you are interested:
One other FE Engineer/Builder that I would recommend you speak with is Tom Lucas at FE Specialties. Tom lives, breaths, and drives FE engines in his cars. Tom is very reasonable, and seems to do it for the love of the FE engine alone. He builds Cobra/Mustang/Thunderbolt/Truck FE car motors, drag car motors, and some hefty FE nostalgic drag boat motors - all day long, every day. A pretty unique individual if you meet him. I saw a mean 390 running recently that he just built for a customer. It was running on his break-in engine stand, and it was a might bit more wicked than my 428CJ he built for me. He won't even sell you a complete motor unless he checks, runs, and tunes it first on his in-house break-in stand. No negotiation there. The 390 I saw was around $6000 complete with carb and all. He does an affordable 390 package every once in a while for advertisement... His built 427s, 428s, and stroker FE motors are considerably more depending on what parts you choose to go with. He will build whatever you want, for a reasonable price. A good guy to check with for comparsion. Tell him I sent you, and that you saw this on ClubCobra. Yes, I am endorsing him, so far he has done more for me than "any" engine builder I or my friends have come across to date. Good guy. He is a member of these boards, and checks in every once in a while on late evenings... His id is "FE Specialties" on Club Cobra.

Tom Lucas / FE Specialties is at: (916) 339-0427

notice the phone number - thats a 3 and 390-427. Bore size being larger than a 428, so 427 was the last number he chose, not 428. That's Tom, the FE guy.

JBAIRD · #6 (**permalink**) 12-25-2002, 02:21 PM

Keith Craft and Jim Kountz are the foremost authorities on Fe's in the country. Both in arkadelphia, Ark. Keith Craft has a website.

SFfiredog · #7 (**permalink**) 12-25-2002, 09:37 PM

I try not to think about how much I'm spending building my dream Cobra motor. If I were to add up the receipts it would scare the crap out of me

Happy Holidays,
--Mike

Jamo · #8 (**permalink**) 12-25-2002, 10:22 PM

If it helps (or hurts) my Shelby arruminum block, Edelbrock heads, Velasco crank and all of the other assorted high-end sh!t and massaging from Joe Boghosian Racing here in Fresno will be hitting the $25,000 mark and beyond.

Mr.Fixit · #9 (**permalink**) 12-25-2002, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ron61

You might look at Coast High Performance also to compare prices. I don't know a lot about their engines but have heard they are good. You can at least use their prices as a comparison. www.coasthigh.com

They suck. They are cheap, thst is their only advantage.

Chaplin · #10 (**permalink**) 12-25-2002, 11:05 PM

Jamo-
Only one thing to say . . . "Ouch!"

JWheaton · #11 (**permalink**) 12-26-2002, 10:31 AM

Mr. Fixit:

You want to give us your true feelings on that one!

Jamo:

Your trading in your Butler just for the engine on the Kirkham

Jon Miller · #12 (**permalink**) 12-26-2002, 01:32 PM

At the other end of the FE price scale............

I paid $900 for a Super Cobra Jet with 30,000 miles on a rebuild.

I could have run the motor as is, but I've spent a little more money on aluminum heads, water pump, and 2x4 intake.

-Jon

Jamo · #13 (**permalink**) 12-26-2002, 01:38 PM

Chaplin

If it don't hurt--you're not pounding it hard enough!

JW

That's been the plan since the beginning of the KMP build--Butler covers the motor and trans...

Jerry Chabino · #14 (**permalink**) 12-27-2002, 03:43 PM

Jamo,

You going big block!? Thought I'd never see the day! I ASSumed U was SB all the way. Saw pics of your baby Kirkham. WUNNAFUL !!!

FE Specialties · #15 (**permalink**) 12-27-2002, 07:00 PM

Gentlemen,

There are not a lot, but diffenetely a few, very good FE Builders across the nation. Price usually comes from the degree of build, and the longevity that is built into the motor!!
The old addage; How fast do you want to go----How much do you want to spend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In todays Engine market with all the new trick blocks, heads, cranks, rods, etc. You can build just about any type FE you want!!
I remember when I got started in FEs back in 1975, we were just winding down on the good availability of 427 and 428 parts. You could buy a set of nos Aluminum Tunnelport heads complete for about $1200. And yes I said Aluminum TP heads. You could find intakes galore, steel cranks, Fuel Injection, etc. etc. But after a few years into the early 80s, the 427 stuff was getting rare and very suspect in quality!! So really, compared to the 70s, and taking inflation into account, You can build a much better FE today, for about the same price!! 1970s a good 390 complete went for about $1800 icncluding intake and carb. Today, that same 390 goes for about $4200. So with infaltion, its really cheaper today!! And you get better quality parts!!!! Gas was 55 cents a gallon for Premium, now its 1.70. So divide 55 into 1.70 you get 3.09. Multiply 1800 times 3.09 you get $5562.

I started my engine building with a guy who used to run a 57 T-Bird with a $427 SOHC(cammer). Wayne Torkelson. He ran 8.90s back in '76 with a cammer on injection with a Lenco. That was damn fast for a doorslammer that weighed 2800lbs for the middle 70's.
Through this association, I was able to get to the top of FE engine building in a matter of a few years, instead of decades. I got out of engine building for about 10 years to raise a family. etc. but back in about 1992 My love for the Venerable FE brought me out of mothballs, and I continued my pursuit for the perfect FE.

As my customer and friend Duane Cooney stated. I Love FEs. I think the good builders are those of us who have a long history with the FE and Fords in general. I cant tell you how many FEs that I have had to ressurrect because a Chevy engine shop built the motor!! How about BB chevy intake in Medium Riser heads!! This lowers the valve tip down .150 and kills the valve train Geometry.

I build Engineered engines!! Not dart board engines. Dart board engines are engines were guys use stuff that worked in other applications, and think that they will work in every application! Definetely not true. You have to build engines to, #1, the car, the application of the car(Road course racing, street driving, everyday street driving, drag, circle track, etc.) There are a ton of variables that have to be considered in order to get the right combination!!#2, you have to build to the driver/owner of the car. What exactly is the driver wanting to accomplish with his or her car. And #3, the price.
There is a lot to consider when trying to find a builder for your Cobra. One thing I think is something to consider is that your engine is the biggest component that will determine how you really enjoy driving the car. I think some get the chassis down pat, and then scimp somewhat on the engine to get everything in under budget!! Dont!! Take a few more months and get the necessary funds together to do it right the first time. You will be much more satisfied with the car no matter who builds the motor!!

Thanks, Tom Lucas FE Specialties

fordracer · #16 (**permalink**) 12-27-2002, 07:50 PM

I didn't want my question to confuse anybody. I am not looking for the cheapest builder or the most expensive. I was just noticing the wide range of prices I've seen for what essentially seems to be the same motor.
Now a question for you Tom. Are you a full service shop ? What I mean is, do you have a flowbench and dyno ?

Jamo · #17 (**permalink**) 12-28-2002, 01:10 AM

Tom has shared some excellent points. We have all heard horror stories about folks who went to what appeared to be reputable shops (but evidently lacking in experience)--our own Website Leader is one who suffered in such a situation.

In my case--I wanted someone close to help with tuning, etc. down the road and I got lucky right here in Fresno, which has always been a key location in California motorsports (believe it or not). I knew Joe Boghosian was known for building Indy motors, AA/Fuelers and can put together Drakes and Offys like nobody else. But then I found out he's been keeping Dick Smith happier than a dung beatle in sh...(well, you get the idea) by keeping his original, but well used, puppy running as good as it ever has for the past 30 or so years. In fact--he's building Dick a new monster, and mine is hopefully next in line. Our parts are laying on the bench next to each other.

George Anderson, a virtual immortal living in the distant Olympus of Nebraska, and others are out there. The good ones are busy--they're not cheap and you may have to stand in line. But if you're going to spending the bucks to have someone build you, as Tom puts it, the biggest component of your Cobra, you're not going to mind waiting. It's damn near a dead heat between the Poles/Mormons building the car, and the Armenian building the engine timewise. Course--the time has come to wake up Kee for the trans...

SCOBRAC · #18 (**permalink**) 01-02-2003, 08:13 PM

Hmmm.. I have a nice running 428 you can have for $2500.. The 427 replacing it you couldn't have for $18k

KobraKarl · #19 (**permalink**) 01-02-2003, 10:32 PM

bang for your buck,hard to touch a 428. $ to hoarses even cheaper than a small block ......off topic a little,Micheal,your car bio. looks eerily familiar,are you running jag type 1 front brakes? if not what did you get to work?

Turk · #20 (**permalink**) 01-03-2003, 12:36 AM

Michael,
Time for you to stop by and take a look at what happened to my garage.ERA has gone buh bye...

Stop by!

TURK



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