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04-12-2006, 05:37 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Milwaukee,
WI
Cobra Make, Engine: Superformance MkIII, Performance Engineering 418 Stroker. Keyless Entry, and naturally aspirated A/C
Posts: 130
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Not Ranked
Ford Crate Engines... Your thoughts ?
Hi Guys,
Relatively new to the forum, and I'm seeking last minute advice before I pull the trigger on my first Cobra.
Crate Motor: Ready to go, and you and potential buyer knows what they are getting, with warranty.
Custom Build: Coolness.
Tough choice never having owned either..........
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04-12-2006, 05:57 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: Jupiter/Tequesta,
FL
Cobra Make, Engine: BDR#078,408 Dart Block, TKO 600,Indigo Blue, White Stripe
Posts: 315
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Not Ranked
I spoke to a Ford dealer who has sold a mumber of 393 creat engines. He said they are seeing about a 20% failure rate. They have made good on the product but they don't cover the installation and removal.
__________________
JayB
Jupiter, FL
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04-12-2006, 06:06 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Milwaukee,
WI
Cobra Make, Engine: Superformance MkIII, Performance Engineering 418 Stroker. Keyless Entry, and naturally aspirated A/C
Posts: 130
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Not Ranked
20% huh ? That seems a little high. Anything in particular that goes out on them ?
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04-12-2006, 06:07 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Tulsa,
OK
Cobra Make, Engine: SPF 148 with 427 SO
Posts: 629
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Not Ranked
Keith Craft
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04-12-2006, 06:10 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Acworth,
GA
Cobra Make, Engine: SPF #1158, BDR #180
Posts: 97
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Not Ranked
Mine came up with a cracked block after around 200 miles. They made good on the engine, but I had to cover removal / reinstallation.
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04-12-2006, 06:13 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,078
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Not Ranked
World Products 427" / 625 HP Limited Edition Drag crate engine.
www.worldcastings.com
__________________
Chas.
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04-12-2006, 06:15 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Milwaukee,
WI
Cobra Make, Engine: Superformance MkIII, Performance Engineering 418 Stroker. Keyless Entry, and naturally aspirated A/C
Posts: 130
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Not Ranked
You guys are making my decision easier by the minute...
Stay tuned for a poll concerning custom builds...
Anyway, I thought the crate engines were supposed to be "better" than the standard ford issue, but they sound worse. But hey, I asked.  |
04-12-2006, 06:19 PM
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6th Generation Texan
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Devil's Backbone,RR 32,
TX
Cobra Make, Engine: Lone Star Classics #240,Candy Apple Red,Keith Craft 418w - 602 HP,584 TQ
Posts: 8,157
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Not Ranked
Keith Craft
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04-12-2006, 06:49 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Cobra Make, Engine:
Posts: 15,712
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Not Ranked
http://www.gessford.com/
Gessford Machine, 2004 National machine shop of the year award winner! 
Crate motor 20% failure rate? Not acceptable!
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04-12-2006, 07:17 PM
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Backdraft Racing Dealer
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: North Haven,
CT
Cobra Make, Engine: Backdraft Racing
Posts: 5,121
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Not Ranked
20% seems high, alot of that could be the result of a bad install or other assembly problems. For example the 302/345HP is more of a long block ... there's a lot somebody can screw up on that.
I've had more headaches with custom builders to be honest.
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04-12-2006, 10:50 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Cobra Make, Engine:
Posts: 283
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Not Ranked
I have wondered about that. The block Ford uses in the crate motors is rated for 450hp. Many of these engines are close...maybe over with some mild modifications. In there ASA crate motor (similar to the 302/450hp) the changed the to the R302 block and a zero balance crank.
The Dart and World blocks shouldn't have a problem. BTW, the 625hp engine is race only (including fuel). However they have a wide selection of others including a 375cid 8.2" block and a 460cid 9.2" block.
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04-13-2006, 06:04 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Fairfield, NJ, USA,
NJ
Cobra Make, Engine: A & C, 351W, Tremec 3550. Exiled Member: Club Cranky
Posts: 5,897
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Not Ranked
Engine Factory.....Good work, great service......
http://www.enginefactory.com Speak with Chris..... Tell'em Roscoe sent ya.
Roscoe
__________________
Roscoe
"Crisis occurs when women and cattle get excited!"....James Thurber
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04-13-2006, 07:07 AM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Toronto, Canada,
Ont
Cobra Make, Engine: Shelby CSX 4995, Keith Craft built 427 SO
Posts: 1,168
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Not Ranked
Keith is the man to see!
__________________
"The 427 Cobra is easily the highest performance car ever sold for street use. A decent 427 - not the worst, not the best, will go from zero to 100 mph and back down again to zero in less than 14 seconds. All thing considered, you can put together a pretty good argument that the 427 Cobra is the ultimate performance car, judged on any basis you want to name." Taken from; Corvette, The Sensuous American 
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04-13-2006, 07:17 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Cobra Make, Engine:
Posts: 302
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Not Ranked
Have you considered building one yourself? It's really not that difficult if you do a little reading. You can get a 351 from a junkyard for under $500.00 and rebuild it with quality machine work & parts for about $2,000.00 to $4,000.00 depending on how extravagant you want to be. Another $300.00 in basic tools and you've got the satisfaction of knowing exactly whats in it and being able to tell everyone you built it yourself. If you find a good machine shop in your area they'll very likely give you good advice on the assembly if you use them for your machine work.
I'm almost done with a 428 FE build and including all the accessories I'll have less than $4,000.00 into it. That's using top shelf parts where necessary and stock parts where they'll do fine.
Tom.
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04-13-2006, 07:55 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Milwaukee,
WI
Cobra Make, Engine: Superformance MkIII, Performance Engineering 418 Stroker. Keyless Entry, and naturally aspirated A/C
Posts: 130
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Not Ranked
Build one myself ?
I may not have enough time to finish writing the check properly.  |
04-13-2006, 08:12 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Cobra Make, Engine:
Posts: 302
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Not Ranked
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Remod
Build one myself ?
I may not have enough time to finish writing the check properly. |
I understand the time constraint issue. once upon a time I had a REAL job. Now, being retired, I can do this stuff at my leisure. But seriously, if you are at all considering it, I've got only about 12 hours into assembling the engine, and that's with my being severely picky about every step. I've got about that much time into running bits to the machine shop, ordering parts from Summit, reading books, etc. |
04-13-2006, 12:26 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Kansas City,
MO
Cobra Make, Engine: CRL, 351W, Tremec TKO
Posts: 2,299
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Not Ranked
I've got a 351W Ford crate motor, over 8000 miles on it now. No troubles.
Check the builders that the others are mentioning. Often you can get as good (or maybe even better) for the same sort of money that Ford charges - and you'll get darn near personal attention from the builders.
__________________
Pete K.
Who is John Galt?
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04-13-2006, 12:39 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Cobra Make, Engine: BDR 302 AFR 165
Posts: 363
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Not Ranked
This is my opinion from speaking to a few buyer's of crate engines is that they have gotten much better in the past couple of years. I prefer the machine shop route but I would consider buying a crate 392 since the forged pistons where added. Some times the little parts can really add up on a machine shop rebuild. Distributor, balancer, oil pan, valve covers, flywheel. Weigh your options. I just prefer my engine builder no matter what the cost. I have a rebuilt shortblock with Heads, cam and intake and my builder did an excellant job and we have lunch every week.
later
dennis |
04-13-2006, 12:57 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Savannah,
ga
Cobra Make, Engine: Unique, 351W
Posts: 260
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Not Ranked
I'm a Ford dealer and the few crate motors we've sold can be counted on one hand, one of which is in my Cobra with 1000 miles on it. Knock on wood, they've all been ok.
Walter
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04-13-2006, 06:16 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Mechanicsville!,
PA
Cobra Make, Engine: Unique 427SC/331/5 forward
Posts: 922
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Not Ranked
20% failure rate..........wow. Wonder what happened.
Can't speak to any other, but I bought a Ford crate 302 and have put nearly 9000 miles on it without any issues whatsoever. It is the 302/345, B cam. Starts immediately, runs excellent and is carbureted. $2900 delivered to my door. As mentioned before, the early 392's had piston troubles but seem trouble-free since the change to forged units.
Alternative might be to get a custom shortblock from the many builders out there and some good heads; pretty easy to put together, even for a novice.
Just remember, with ANY engine, to prime it extensively before you go to crank it up.
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