BB in an FIA

[DoneByDoug]

Prior to the 427 SC, my research seems to show that a 427 BB was put into an FIA for a short period of time.

Two Questions: 1) How does a 427 BB in an FIA affect resale value.
2) How does a 351W based SB in an FIA affect resale value.

I want lots of low end torque, but am fearful of the maintenance and cost to drive issues of a true 427 BB.

Thanks in advance everybody

Doug in Louisiana

[FIA-ERA]

Doug,
I know for sure a FE in a FIA is too much! It can fit and it will fit but w/ mods. They engine is too over proportion. The foot boxes have to be altered and unless it's an aluminum FE it's too heavy IMO. True, the FIA and the 427 SC share the same suspension, the SC is built for a FE. Just like a 427 SC looks out of place with a small block, the same holds true to a FIA. As far as resale goes, to me it's like a Frankenstein or something. A hybrid gone wrong. The 351 W fits very nicely into the FIA engine compartment!! With all the strokers and engine combos you can get out of the 351w you can't go wrong. The 351w in a FIA just looks as if it was made for it! I tried a 289/302 block and it just didn't fit as well/ fill up the engine compartment too (with the headers I have already). A buddy of mine had a FIA with a 351w stroked to 427 and it was just way tooo much!! He couldn't take it far and there wasn't many areas to let it run free. He finally got sick of it and sold it. I can't tell you how many stories of cars w/ too much power and reliabilty issues causing them getting sold! I'm planning on a 351w with one of Edelbrock's power packages for power. I think 425 horsepower with 410 torgue all under 5200RPM is more than enough for a 2100lb car!!

How is Louisiana on titling and registration on one of these cars? Here in Ga. they have stopped registering these cars until "further legal actions" are looked into! I met a guy recently how just took delivery of a new Super performance and can't get it registered!! Nothing! I'm just glad mine is done and fully registered. Pm me if you have more questions, Thanks Matt.

[LMH]

I had never heard of an FIA model with a big block. Bet Ron could confirm if it was produced that way though.
Larry

[Jim Maxwell]

I think you would love a stroked 302 to 347 in an FIA. They are lightning quick, light, relatively cheap and much lighter than the big block. Get roller cam and rocker arms, aluminum heads, Holley 4 barrel or F.I. and you will have all the power you want. Plenty of torque to outrun most of the BB's at the strip (ask those that have gone down the strip behind me!). Jim Maxwell

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by DoneByDoug

Prior to the 427 SC, my research seems to show that a 427 BB was put into an FIA for a short period of time.

You know, there were only 5 original FIA cars. I know of no BB effort with those cars.

Street car CSX2196 was the FE mule for testing BB fit....ran at Sebring once in it's original body...became the Fliptop as the program continued.

Some early references refer to CSX2166 as the first 427 proto (pre-CSX2196), but that has been disproved, I believe.

FE in an FIA-style replica is just the wrong thing to do.
...but, as many say...it's your car.

[1ntCobra]

Originally Posted by FIA-ERA

Doug,
I know for sure a FE in a FIA is too much! It can fit and it will fit but w/ mods. They engine is too over proportion. The foot boxes have to be altered and unless it's an aluminum FE it's too heavy IMO. True, the FIA and the 427 SC share the same suspension, the SC is built for a FE. Just like a 427 SC looks out of place with a small block, the same holds true to a FIA. As far as resale goes, to me it's like a Frankenstein or something. A hybrid gone wrong. The 351 W fits very nicely into the FIA engine compartment!! With all the strokers and engine combos you can get out of the 351w you can't go wrong. The 351w in a FIA just looks as if it was made for it! I tried a 289/302 block and it just didn't fit as well/ fill up the engine compartment too (with the headers I have already). A buddy of mine had a FIA with a 351w stroked to 427 and it was just way tooo much!! He couldn't take it far and there wasn't many areas to let it run free. He finally got sick of it and sold it. I can't tell you how many stories of cars w/ too much power and reliabilty issues causing them getting sold! I'm planning on a 351w with one of Edelbrock's power packages for power. I think 425 horsepower with 410 torgue all under 5200RPM is more than enough for a 2100lb car!!

How is Louisiana on titling and registration on one of these cars? Here in Ga. they have stopped registering these cars until "further legal actions" are looked into! I met a guy recently how just took delivery of a new Super performance and can't get it registered!! Nothing! I'm just glad mine is done and fully registered. Pm me if you have more questions, Thanks Matt.

I think it would depend on the manufacturer as to whether a BB would not easily fit in an FIA style body. I believe a Kirkham FIA comes standard with a 427 style coil spring 4 inch round main tube frame (the 289 style frame is an upgrade). So the BB would seem to naturally fit in there. Also I think the ERA cars probably use the same frame for both their 427 SC and FIA models.

An FIA may have never had a BB, but CSX3002 (the first 427 competion car) looks an awful lot like an FIA. So if you made you FIA into a CSX3002 replica, the BB would look natural there.

[RodKnock]

Doug, I agree with Ron and Jim.

A SBF is perfect for FIA and I think an FE would hurt the resale value. While there are exceptions, I think FIA buyers tend to be more traditionalists than the 427/427SC buyers. I know when I was looking for Cobra, and I looked at an FIA, I wanted a Windsor.

One of those all-aluminum 353's (302-based/8.2" deck height) from Roush would be terrific in there.

[RodKnock]

Just a side note, but I had a opportunity to buy Dean Lampe's (he posts occasionally on ClubCobra) Kirkham FIA many moons ago. I kick myself now for not buying it. I thought his car was the "cat's meow" and it had a 351W with Webers. Personally, the 302 versus 351W is not a big deal for me as it relates to resale value, but I still think most would say "only a 302-based engine in an FIA." Best of luck.

[xracerbob]

Just for clarification, the ERA FIA and the ERA 427SC are most definitely different frames.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by xracerbob

Just for clarification, the ERA FIA and the ERA 427SC are most definitely different frames.

Some of us would go so far as to say they are completely different cars all together, bearing only a slight similarity.