427 SO with fuel injection on Ebay

[DP935]

What do you think about this engine? Any guess to its value? Thanks....

[Jim Werth]

Is this the one?http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...498033603&rd=1

[jamvan]

DP935

Is this your listing on ebay? Yes, No, Maybe?

[Sizzler]

I haven't seen this engine, but I have seen the dyno results.
Very impressive if nothing has changed.

It has been running for several years in the Mustang.

[DP935]

Yes, thats the one and no it is not mine. Just wondering its value. Not much information to go on. Does not say if it is sleeved or bored.

[DP935]

Sizzler, can you post or email me with the specifics of the engine? Thank you, Mike

[bdriver]

any one notice that out of this persons 48 ebay transactions, out of the last 15 - he has gotten 2 neutrals and 2 negatives - not good IMHO

Real nice engine - not a bad posting price - coming out of an GT 500 to put in a 428 - hmmmm - maybe it's just me.....

[Sizzler]

These were the original specs. Reading the ebay ad, it seems the high-riser heads and Hilborn high-riser intake have been swapped out. Don't know if they've already been auctioned off, will soon be auctioned off, or will be gracing his wall for the rest of time. Anyway, it was:

Sideoiler block +.030"

Forged pistons (about 10.5:1)

High Riser heads, moderately ported
Lunatti solid roller cam, fairly mild (idles nice at 1,000 rpm)

Sequential port EFI built from a Hilborn injection manifold

Eight 58mm throttle bodies with progressive throttle linkage

Idle air control plumbing to each throttle body

DFI engine control with O2 sensor- closed loop speed density system

Billet air cleaners with K&N filters - fit under the stock hood

The engine was done at Flow Technologies in Plymouth, MI.
_______________________________________________
The dyno chart I saw was with the high-riser parts. Don't know about the current setup.

[Excaliber]

It does make sense pulling the 427/5 speed and replacing with the engine/trans of original specs.

Would I do that? Hmmmmm,,,,, tough call, maybe if I was planning on selling it!

[DP935]

I spoke with them on the phone and the engine has the high rise intake and heads. The medium rise intake in the ad was a mistake. Any thoughts on value for the setup and street performance of the engine and transmission?

[Excaliber]

10.5 to 1 compression is in the ball park for the street, 9.5 would be better. Sounds like the block, pistons etc are as good as it gets for an FE. Short block like this would probably run 6 to $8,000 dollars, done right.

The high riser heads which REQUIRE a matching high riser intake are about as expensive as it gets for an FE. If you had to start from scratch and put this system together the heads and intake alone would probably cost $2,000 (IF you could even find them)! Add the fuel injection components for another 3 to $4,000? Total 5 to $6,000 for the top end for your "short block".

Whats that trans worth? I'm not sure, $2K maybe?

Short block: 6 to 8K
Top end: 5 to 6 K
Engine total: 11 to $14,000

5 speed trans: $2,000?

I'm not surprised it hasn't met reserve yet at $9,300
This is a GREAT setup and I would love to be running this in MY Cobra!

All this assumes of course the engine is in fact VERY healthy and VERY new. I would figure the horse power at well over 500.

[Sizzler]

Originally posted by DP935

I spoke with them on the phone and the engine has the high rise intake and heads. The medium rise intake in the ad was a mistake. Any thoughts on value for the setup and street performance of the engine and transmission?

If they're making that kind of mistake regarding critical parts like that, I'm guessing they're not the original owners of the engine/car...probably bought the car with the engine with the intent of restoring it to its original state and flipping it at a major auction. Just guessing.

Value is solely your call. I've just witnessed a guy with nothing but sub-$10 comic book purchases in his history outbid another guy with a history of buying parts for an entirely different engine family, to the tune of $1,000 for a (originally) flawed design intake that wasn't even complete. Go figure.

As for the street performance of the engine? In a Cobra, you could run a 4-banger and leave most cars in the dust. It's all about power-to-weight ratios. I don't have the original dyno sheet I saw in front of me, nor do I have a photographic memory, but going by my faded gray cloudy photographic plate memory, it seems to me it was peaky skewed to the right. Didn't seem to have a lot of bottom end, seemed peaky, and my impression is that I was a little surprised by the peak number given the high-riser top and roller cam valvetrain (you have been paying attention to the recent threads about bronze gears on roller cams haven't you?). I'd pump them a little about running iron heads at 10.5:1 on pump gas. The 50lb injectors I remember thinking were over-large when I first saw the engine's specs, and I still think it. But maybe they were handy/cheap?

It's basically a running crate FE engine with some exotic pieces. It's a good engine to have if you want to talk about it and bench race, and it'll probably do well in a lightweight Cobra. The trans? maybe take it, but get a newer, but better ratioed (is that a word?) one.

It's up to you what you think it's worth. If you buy it to part out, all the value will be in the heads and intake, the block too though it's probably got walls of rubber right now. The computer stuff won't give you any return on any dollars, it'll all come from the original FE bits and pieces.

[Bill Wells]

Sizzler said :

If they're making that kind of mistake regarding critical parts like that, I'm guessing they're not the original owners of the engine/car...probably bought the car with the engine with the intent of restoring it to its original state and flipping it at a major auction. Just guessing.

The seller is a big time muscle car dealer in Ohio ( MERSHONS) who specializes in Shelby Mustangs and Corvettes. He brought 8 or 9 cars to SAAC 29 for sale (dont recall exact number) , all Shelby Mustangs and one GT 40 replica . Many of his Shelby's had 6 digit prices on them. Not a fly by night outfit, but has been in the Vette resale business longer than the Shelby stang businees i believe.

Based on his local reputation from my contacts and talking with them at SAAC 29 and at Auburn Auction 2 yrs ago , I would think an honest mistake by them.

The owner of Mershon's had for several years a great looking CSX 3000 series 427 street car that he sold at BJ auction several years ago. Same car was written up recently in Cars and Parts magazine, cover car with inside story.

I have not personally done business with these folks, have no interest in promoting or bashing them, but just adding my two cents worth to most likely an honest mistake in their description.

Bill.

[Anthony]

It sold for about $14,000. I believe that intake to be one the hilborn 2 7/16" ( 62 mm) fuel injection systems based off of a 58mm weber intake for high risers. Not bad price for the engine tranny combo, assuming in great shape.

The richmond 5 speed has close ratio gears, closer than the new TKO 600, and probably is a stronger tranny as well.

[Excaliber]

A 427 FE is far more than a "good motor to have if you want to bench race and talk about it".

It is the epitomy of THE engine used in the 427 Cobra's. It is THE most "correct" motor to have in a 427 Cobra. It is THE "Holy Grail".

Mine run's 11 second 1/4 miles, thats dam fast "bench racing" in my book.

It's fast enough to compete AND win against MOST of the replicas represented by owners right here on CC.

I'd much rather RACE, TALK ABOUT and BENCH race my 427 side oiler FE anyday than some "built" 302, 351, 428, 429, 460 or some other variant.

Here comes the "big head". For those of you running something less than the "real deal" a 427 side oiler, you have my sympathy. You've no doubt gotten used to making excuses for your "replica" motor!

Step up to the plate, buy a REAL motor for your Cobra.

[750hp]

Yeah Ernie, and it's been such a cheap and reliable motor to run too, hasn't it !!! My little ol' Windsor motor runs 130+mph in the 1/4, and I haven't so much as lifted a rocker cover in the 18 months that it's been on the road. Actually - I haven't changed the oil yet either. Maybe that's something that I should get onto.....

At the price you stole your ERA for, an engine rebuild will still bring you in at under the normal sale price.

[Excaliber]

Uhh,,,, so what your saying is my ERA used to run 11's?

Actually "bench racing" is about all I can do after the famous 427 FE side oiler "holy grail", "real", "original", "correct" motor "let go" at 6500 rpm.

But, that bad boy looks awesome sitting down there at the machine shop next to all those wimpy small blocks.

[SCOBRAC]

The 427 at .030 over is in it's last life cycle. Yea nifty doodle fuel injection but it's maybe worth $10-12k at .030. Less in my mind, as it seems others thought so as well with bidding not going over $9300

[DP935]

After speaking with the machine shop and the original owner, here are the real specifications on the engine.
Bore is 4.250 (.017 over)with 100 miles since complete rebuild
BRC dome pistons, 10.5 compression
Lunatti roller cam, duration@50 thousand, 256, 264
Lift 595, 613
Stainless steel valves with Doves aluminum rocker arms and end supports
High rise C4AE heads, mild/mod. ported and flow tested, 330 cfm intake and 218 exhaust
Lemans crank
Lemans rods, shot peened, polished and balanced
Weber high rise intake, Hilborn fuel injection unit, custom fuel rails and linkage. 36 lbs injectors, high pressure fuel pump
Accell digital fuel injection management
Custom billet aluminum air cleaners
adjustable damper and March pulleys
Initial dyno had it at 525 HP but once tweaked it is expected to come in around 600 HP
Lakewood bell housing
New Richmond 5 speed with shifter
Auction was ended early with the engine being bought offline

[DP935]

Here is another picture of the engine going into the Shelby GT 500