engine costs...rant

[67GTA-FB429]

Not to beat a dead horse...but here I go again.

I was looking at a past issue of Mustangs & Fords and they did a comparison; 427W vs 428FE. Details include: 351W and 390FE donor motors, similar pistons and guts, both built by Coast Performance, the FE out-powered the W, but it was interesting...in that they never talk about the cost of each build. The cost is an important factor. They say all the right things like; 'if you add a roller valvetrain to the W it would easily be over 500HP and ft-lbs....but at what cost??

I am all for stroking ( ) little into big and I agree with the weight issue. But I would love to see the cost of the small block build up.

Input?
Opinions? (including 'this should be in talk')

I know my 429 rebuild was close to 6K..and I am still using stock heads and I only have one reputable machine shop in town, so they had me by the short and curlys.

 

[SadbutTrue]

still rather have a 351w

 

[D.Hearne]

My 331 stroker cost me $4200. the block was $50 ( std bore, new cam bearings and plugs) The Canfield heads were $1100 + another $300 for the Comp Cams roller rockers. The stroker kit and machine work was $1325 ( forged SRP flattops, rings, bearings, SIR rods, Eagle cast crank) The repop Ford 3x2 intake and carbs was $1100 ( used 1 year) probably another $200 for misc stuff, the Ford Z303 cam was $115. Would have been a lot less if I'd reused the Vic Jr and Holley DP I had with the Canfields on the previous 5.0 they were on, but I wanted something different Horsepower should be in the 400-425 hp range. Pushes the 3800 lb 89 Ranger it's in to mid 13's.