Why do I need a big block? - Page 4

PLDRIVE · #61 (**permalink**) 10-24-2009, 11:11 PM

Patrick, that knowledgeable kid U are referring to will have discontent well prior to peaking under your hood. He will see your second roll bar, and that fiberglass body, and he will say to his buddies “guys it’s only a kit, lets find a real one” Get off your high horse.

Anthony · #62 (**permalink**) 10-25-2009, 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PLDRIVE

. When I was deciding on an engine I asked myself WHY DO I NEED A BIG BLOCK, if I can do the following

----

5. Minimal maintenance (other than valve adjustment)

I don;t know if I would picked a solid roller cam.

Stentor · #63 (**permalink**) 10-25-2009, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PLDRIVE

I went to have my car put on a chassis dyno today, and I was well pleased with the results.

My engine builder told me their engine dynoed was conservative (642HP) and they were not kidding!! First pull 559, second 561 and third 559. Not bad for a small block on Pump Gas that Idles at 950 and will run all day long on in fifth gear at 2100rpm. Oh by the way this was with the small carburetor (QF 850) the 1050 made 12 more HP and more TQ throughout the entire RPM range on the engine dynoed! I am very happy with the results. Engine 461 SBF, Custom LSM solid roller, Super victor (dr J port work).

PLDRIVE,
Those are some impressive numbers. Enjoy your car with that mean, large CI, small block.
Good luck.

Buzz · #64 (**permalink**) 10-25-2009, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RICK LAKE

PLDRIVE Depending on HOW deep your pocket is, has alot to do with building a cobra with either a SB or BB. For a street car, either motor works great, they sound different depending on the camshaft and exhaust on the car. For a track car, the windsor motor is cheaper to build, more race parts, and better machine shops to have the work done on them. You can get great power numbers from them 600-800HP with good parts. The catch is this, the more you stress you have on this motor the shorter the life it has. SB HP range is higher than most BB motors except for Cammers. Weight of between motors is about 50-70 pound with All aluminum motors from front to back. My Shelby complete was 496 minus oil.
A weber 289 looks perfect in a FIA cobra. An FE motor looks better in an SC body cobra than an FIA. The stroker 351 in the orignials did not have a place in the history of cobra racing and is making strong cases today.
IMO I would but happier with a 6,000 rpm torque motor with 600ft of torque than a 600HP at 7,000 rpms. The fact of having 100+pounds of rotating mass is a disadvantage compared to you 68-72 pounds in the same lite car
Your stroker should live for many years with good maintainance and cutting open oil filters and check for any metal. As others have said, warming a motor up before beating on it and my favorite of having a preoiler before startup and use it on road courses will help in the long run. Good luck with the car, hoping to see it run on the track, roadcourse not 1/4 mile.[/b]

Rick Lake Rick - The stroker 351 in the originals!!?? Please clarify!

SoTxButler · #65 (**permalink**) 10-25-2009, 01:29 PM

PLDRIVE.....enjoy your car....you don't need to justify "small block" to anyone....your car will blow the doors off mine and I have one of those "big FE's"....oh well, "C'est la vie"

FuzzyDiceRide · #66 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 11:41 AM

I have a "fake" Cobra with a "fake" 427W and I even have "fake" FE valve covers..and
that is not consistent when compared to other "fake" Cobras? , with rod slinging ,hot
running,no cranking FE's ;-) . However, this might be considered a "fake" opinion too !

blykins · #67 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FuzzyDiceRide

with rod slinging ,hot
running,no cranking FE's !

Wow, that line sounds way too familiar. I think McDipwad is back.

dcdoug · #68 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 12:12 PM

Yep. Let's just ban him again and move on.

elmariachi · #69 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 12:14 PM

My car has been on the road for 6 mos/1500 miles. Behind being asked if its real, the second most asked question is not how much horsepower it makes but whether or not the engine is a real 427 or FE.

Each of us incorporate things into our cars that we are most proud of. Maybe its red piping on the seats, a snakeskin-covered dash or a Viper purple paintjob. For me it was a rod-slinging, hot running, no cranking, hard-to-find, PITA-to-build, expensive FE. And best of all I found it in a barn, where it had been waiting patiently for me for 35 years.

"Why, yes ma'am thanks for asking, it is a big block."

SP01715 · #70 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elmariachi

My car has been on the road for 6 mos/1500 miles. Behind being asked if its real, the second most asked question is not how much horsepower it makes but whether or not the engine is a real 427 or FE.

I have never had anyone even mention the letters "FE". 99% of the people I have talked to have no clue about these cars.

Got the Bug · #71 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SP01715

I have never had anyone even mention the letters "FE". 99% of the people I have talked to have no clue about these cars.

Same here. That probably means that the 1% of people who might know what an FE is are the people in your local Cobra club...and let's face it, they don't really care that much either.

patrickt · #72 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

Same here. That probably means that the 1% of people who might know what an FE is are the people in your local Cobra club...and let's face it, they don't really care that much either.

Oh no, don't kid yourself... they're there alright. They're just being polite. If I was in Santa Cruz and saw your car at a show or cruise-in I would walk right over and look in your engine bay. Then I'd turn to you and say "looks great, you've got a really nice car here." Of course, I'd be thinking....

Doug I · #73 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

.....Of course, I'd be thinking....

.... man that Roush 402 sure is pretty

lineslinger · #74 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PLDRIVE

WOW, you big block guys are soooooo sensitive! Is that Big Block Ego?

http://s540.photobucket.com/albums/gg351/pldrive/

Nope.
Simple logic.....
It's cause' all the babe's know the big block boys are packing a big block "package" and want to do them first.

RodKnock · #75 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Then I'd turn to you and say "looks great, you've got a really nice car here." Of course, I'd be thinking....

"Oh well, it's not aluminum."

AND/OR

"Oh well, only one roll bar."

elmariachi · #76 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

Same here. That probably means that the 1% of people who might know what an FE is are the people in your local Cobra club...and let's face it, they don't really care that much either.

Most of the people who ask if its an FE are men at cruise-ins. " Maybe its more like 1.37% versus 1% though.

Women just say "My what a big motor you have."

RICK LAKE · #77 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 04:12 AM

Buzz The 351 motors both Boss and windsor where not around in the cobra race days. 289 stroked became a 302. 351 Windsor was a whole new block assembly that came out in 69 not 100% sure this was the correct year. Cobra racing from Shelby was done and gone to mostly private guys. GT-40's where another thing. A strong windsor in the 390-427 will out preform a FE motor with the same size cubes and internals being the same. Windsor has more HP, FE has more torque due to the bore and stroker setup. Windsor will rpm quicker than an FE because of assembly weight of the bottom end. 351 motor have some GREAT race and speed parts. FE is catching up to them at a slow pace. As far as the Cammer motor based on an FE block, this is a WHOLE different ANIMAL.

550-575 pounds for the new aluminum cammer and 635hp to start with a 7,500 rpm limit. Rick L.

FuzzyDiceRide · #78 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 11:07 AM

I had a 1970 Mustang with a 428 and it was one mean hoss ! (for the day) and I do love
FE's and could have put one in my car....However the small package and novelty of the
427 W stroker impressed me. I have a Mustang with a 347 stroker and that engine influenced my decision about another stroker. Each to his own of course. I see some are
very touchy about friendly sarcasm too ! lol Take that FE and shove into overdrive .....

fonti · #79 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

It just takes one kid to rush over to your Cobra at a car show and eagerly look under the hood only to sigh with discontent as he walks away while telling his friends "Naah, it was only a small block."

c'mon don't be that hard...

patrickt · #80 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fonti

c'mon don't be that hard...

Fonti, from time to time I lob "playful grenades" to spice up threads. That was one of them. If you run across a post where I appear to be saying something akin to "all Kirkhams, or all small bocks, are crap because..." you should realize that I'm posting that to provoke an exchange and it should not be taken seriously.