Ok so i've been thinking and thinking trying to decide what engine to go with in my 68 coupe. So i was thinking either a 390, 428, 429 or 460. It was originally a I6 car but it was about to give out and i have a 9 inch waiting to go into the car and trying to get new springs and shocks to handle the weight of the big block once i choose one. Any advice guys?

 

Would you consider a 408?

Any 351W-based engine will be lighter than the FE or 385 series motors and won't be giving away very many cubic inches to most of the FE's or the little 385-series 429. Get a 429 instead if a short stroke means a lot to you (and there are some advantages) or a 460 if you simply must have as many cubic inches as possible without stroking.


Norm

 

Sounds like you have some major changes planned, so get a
2010 Ford Taurus SHO 365 HP V6 motor and electronics. or a 2-3 or 4 valve 4.6, or my favorite the 2011 5.0

 

wouldnt do a 390. I did in my 67 the first time around and performance parts are very expensive, need to find the right manifolds or headers and they can be hard to find and also expensive. I would say a 460 is a better choice and would be cheaper to make more power. Or a 351 stroked.

 

Edelbrock's 460 Top End Kit will give you an easy and very reliable 514 HP.

 

What do you want to do with the car and budget? If you want a car that handles and you have budget you can get crazy power out of a 302 and keep the weight down. If you only care about going straight then a big block might make more sense.

 

The stock exhaust manifolds for a 65 390 fit in the car when we were checking fitment clearance and everything. Well I thought about a stroker kit for a 390 or another engine. The car is going to be a weekend cruiser but ill drive it daily when I can. I want to figure out the engine then I can fit it and start working on getting the car painted.

 

It depends on your budget. Ford Racing now sells a 427 version of the 351. Lightweight, tons of power.

 

How much power are you looking to get? Daily driving a big block is kind of ridiculous in most cases, since the mileage will probably be atrocious, and you'll likely be at a power level that's easily attainable in a small block.

Do you already have a big block laying around? What's your power goal and budget? Are you concerned at all about handling, or just want straight line power?

 

You never really said what you wanted out of the car but given those choices the 460 is hands down the horsepower king with lots of potential...The FE motors are cool in a nostalgia type way if that is important to you and can make some decent power as well..