427 Alum.

[msmith6773]

has anyone used a 427 all aluminum block for there f5? and if so how does it handle compared to a small block like a 351w. is it still very front heavy?

[Gordon Levy]

I have built a couple aluminum block 427W cars and they handle great and curb weight is right at 2100lbs.

[msmith6773]

what are the power numbers like and cost?

[Gordon Levy]

550-650hp, $12k-$17K depending

[msmith6773]

do you do any engine/trans packages?

[Gordon Levy]

Yes we do. Please e-mail me at gordon@levyracing.com or call me at 520-494-2745 and we can talk over the best package for how you want to use your car.

[Avalanche325]

It will handle GREAT with an aluminum bock. All of that excess weight will be gone out of your wallet. :-)

[CraigS]

Check the weight of that alum block vs a stock one. A friend built a 347 from a dart iron block. He told me he was disappointed as he didn't realize it was so much heavier than a stock iron block. He also commented that the alum block is not much lighter than a stock iron one due to all the extra metal which is what makes it strong. Just passing on comments from a friend I trust but I haven't researched this at all. Of course it would be much lighter than an iron big block.

[CHOTIS BILL]

I don't know about the weights of the Dart blocks but from the data I have seen from Ford Racing their 427W aluminum block is 110 pounds and their 427W iron block is 195 pounds making a difference of 85 pounds or 17.6% lighter which seems like a reasonable weight savings to me.

Bill Lomenick

[Pylons]

has anyone used a 427 all aluminum block for there f5? and if so how does it handle compared to a small block like a 351w. is it still very front heavy?
I don't think anything you put it is going to make the car very front heavy. The engine sits significantly behind the front axle line.

Go look under the hood of an Audi TT. That's front heavy. :D I swear half of that engine is in front of the front axle line...it might need wheelie bars in the front for heavy braking.

[edwardb]

I did a DART 347 SHP block in my Mk4. At the time I ordered the engine, my builder said there was an additional "50-60 lbs" for the DART block over the stock Ford block. The extra meat in the block plus very large 4-bolt billet caps adds up.

Just checked, and DART lists all three of their SBF iron blocks (SHP, Sportsman and Iron Eagle) as "178 - 210 lbs." That's for both 302 and 351 variants. For their aluminum block, they list as "85 - 109 lbs." So somewhere in the 80-90 lbs savings range iron vs. aluminum. I would expect the Ford Racing Boss blocks to be similar, and also supports what Bill said. For the record, stock SBF blocks are roughly 135 lbs for a 302 and 150-160 lbs for a 351.

At a roughly $4,000 upcharge for the iron vs. aluminum (at least for DART) that's some expensive weight savings. No doubt the reduced weight is in the right place, but I'd bet most drivers would be hard pressed to know the difference. I'll spend a little more time on the treadmill which will be good for me and my pocketbook.

[BMEP]

Are you thinking a Windsor or an FE? I have a Pond aluminum block FE in my car. It's based on a 427 but is now 482 cubes. The Pond block is significantly stronger than the stock cast iron block and weighs 120lbs vs the stock FE iron block at 195. 75 lbs is a lot but it does come at a high price.

Anything you do to lighten the car will help - no arguing that. However, there are plenty happy owners out there with iron Windsor and FEs in their cars.