Anyone running FEs?

[1968-coupe]

I have been looking into a powertrain for my 1968 Mustang Coupe. I had originally wanted a HOT 300 inline, but had considered an FE V8. I was looking at the Survival Motorsports 445ci FE in my new Modified Mustangs and Fords magazine. Im very impressed with the 476 hp and 501 ft/lb of torque output, all in a very streetable package.

So does anyone here run an FE engine? 390, 428? and if so whats your output/ET? I know that the GT for my year was a 390 (I think) and that fords 428 FE was a torque MONSTER.

 

[rusty428cj]

I have had an FE since 1966 and The best ET for my Mustang is 10.75. The only thing I don't like about an FE in a Mustang is the shock towers and installing headers. On my 68 Coupe street car I went with a Rod & Custom front end to do away with the shock towers.

 

[1968-coupe]

I have had an FE since 1966 and The best ET for my Mustang is 10.75. The only thing I don't like about an FE in a Mustang is the shock towers and installing headers. On my 68 Coupe street car I went with a Rod & Custom front end to do away with the shock towers.

Thats realy great, what hp output does your FE have?

Could you provide me a pic of that front end? I have been looking into front end to do away with the shock towers. Are you happy with it? How does it handle? I bought only a shell, so I taking it apart and building the suspension, I want to get as much power to the ground as I can.

 

[rusty428cj]

I think the HP was around 530.

I have not finished the 68 Coupe

 

[1968-coupe]

How hard was it to instal? Looks GREAT, I looked at their website the other day. I think pricing was about $22-2500

 

[rusty428cj]

The hardest part is removing the shock towers.

 

[68RCodeConv]

Everything is different when installing an FE motor. You don't have to remove the shock towers but they do get in the way especially if running headers. You will also have to run a beefed up 9" rear with at least 31 spline axles and some kind of traction control devices on the rear.

MY 462 cubic inch FE dynoed at 490 hp (5200 rpm) and 580 ft/lbs of torque (3900 rpm). Could have made another 100 hp easy but I wanted a fairly smooth idle and I am not interested in revving the motor to 6500 so I put in a fairly mild cam. Built C6, new driveshaft with 1350 u-joints and built 9" with 3.25 gears and 31 spline. Calvert racing springs and traction devices.

If you have none of the parts needed to install an FE then I would not advise going that route. It is going to be a pain to get everything together and it is going to be expensive. Figure $15K for everything (drivetrain, brackets, radiator, etc.) before you are done if you really want big HP. Probably more. Believe me I know because I started with nothing. Just the motor alone was $10K.

I would go with a stroked 351W. Easy to get 400+ hp and 400+ ft/lbs of torque and much easier to work on and cheaper to build.

 

[1968-coupe]

I have nothing except a shell with a title, no drivetrain, nothing. I do have the stock rear and but its geared at something like 2.93:1, (the car was a factory 200/c4)

I have decided to build for power following the old school doctrine of big cubes=big power. A classic muscle car all naturally aspired.

I have looked into 2 engine options;
survival motoraports 445 ci 490hp 510ft/lb torque pump gas street engine $11k

Ford Racing 521 580hp 600 ft/lb torque $10k (without carb)

I plan to mate the monster to a TKO600, and use a TCI or similar chassis kits with stiffeners and a 9in rear with 3.73:1 gears (or 3,55:1) with a positrack differential.

 

[68RCodeConv]

You are going to be into that car for BIG dollars. If it was me I would shop around for about six months and find some restomod that already fits the bill. Usually they sell for about 60 cents on the dollar so you can get a $50K car for $30K.

 

[65ShelbyClone]

Why did you give up on the big six?

 

[1968-coupe]

Why did you give up on the big six?

One becuse 325hp and 425 ft/lb torque is the MAX I can get out of it withoug going Forced Induction, 2 I dont feel educated enough to build it myself at this point, which I want to do. I may save the 6 for either a Falcon, give up and build a drag strip 300 in a Fox body. I have started axploring the 300s dragracing possibilities, and they are most suprising. I plan to build the six, just prob not for this project now. I decided to build a monster with a crate engine for the stang.

 

[65coupe408w]

1968-coupe

Sorry to jump into your thread like this. But you said that your car was originall a 200ci car. Is the rear that is in it the original...? 7.25inch? If so...I would be very interested in buying those gears from you...I think they are 2.80's. I am looking for a set for my 1960 falcon. It originally came with 3.56 gear! I want to gear it down for highway cruising!

Thanks

 

[1968-coupe]

I would have to relook at them, buts its something close to that. I was thinking it was an 8 in rear end though factory. I would have to check to make sure but Im almost positive its the factory rear end. And if they will work for you then we could work something out because there is no way Im going to use gears that tall. Id probably sell the entire rear and, i want to go with a 9in with 3.55s.

I just looked at it, its a 4W vin code, which is a C4 with a 2.83 gear. Im thinking it was an 8in rear end.

 

[65coupe408w]

does the rear have a pumkin (carrier) like a 9 inch? if so then its probably the 8inch. If it has a back cover like the newer 8.8inch then its is probably the 7.25. Also was this car originally a 6cylinder car?

Thanks

 

[1968-coupe]

Accordong to the VIN code it was a 200 inline car. Im going to look st the rear end today and let you know. Ill even take a pic for you.