CobraboyDR
09-18-2020, 09:53 PM
After the passing of my mom in March, I finally got cleared by the Dominican COVID brain trust to go to the states to arrange the interment of her ashes and take care of some estate business.
By coincidence, I had a meeting in McDonough GA last Monday, where my friend and fishing buddy Bill Parham, the Ford FE guru, had his shop. Built all my motors when I was a SPF dealer and I never had one problem. He also built my personal side-oiler.
Bill passed six years ago and I knew his wife Susan was still running the shop, so I stopped by to say hello.
They are still in the same location, and still building a bunch of engines, small block and big block. They had a stroker 390 (445ci) on the test stand. Her shop foreman cranked it up. Just wow! There is nothing like the sound of a FE...
They also had an all-aluminum side-oiler from a Pond block in process...with an Inglese Weber-looking EFI system, slightly canted 10-degrees inward, with hidden wiring. What a gorgeous mill! Susan said that was a $36,000 motor. Must be nice!
They also have an ERA with a 571ci FE on the showroom that was nothing short of awesome. Also in the showroom was a '56 Porsche Speedster, 2002 T-Bird, '62 Falcon coupe with a strong "Cleavor" motor, Bill's personal toy, and a '68 Mustang with a stroked 454 top-oiler & toploader. Very sweet.
Susan said they still have more than 150 side-oiler blocks, cranks and LeMans rods in their warehouse. She said they can build a complete 390 stroker close to 500hp fully dressed with a TKO for around $16,000. They will even drill in fake crossbolts.
So if you're looking for experience in an FE build, just know that Southern Automotive Engines is still a go-to place for a solid build. They build a ton of motors for Unique Motorcars.
By coincidence, I had a meeting in McDonough GA last Monday, where my friend and fishing buddy Bill Parham, the Ford FE guru, had his shop. Built all my motors when I was a SPF dealer and I never had one problem. He also built my personal side-oiler.
Bill passed six years ago and I knew his wife Susan was still running the shop, so I stopped by to say hello.
They are still in the same location, and still building a bunch of engines, small block and big block. They had a stroker 390 (445ci) on the test stand. Her shop foreman cranked it up. Just wow! There is nothing like the sound of a FE...
They also had an all-aluminum side-oiler from a Pond block in process...with an Inglese Weber-looking EFI system, slightly canted 10-degrees inward, with hidden wiring. What a gorgeous mill! Susan said that was a $36,000 motor. Must be nice!
They also have an ERA with a 571ci FE on the showroom that was nothing short of awesome. Also in the showroom was a '56 Porsche Speedster, 2002 T-Bird, '62 Falcon coupe with a strong "Cleavor" motor, Bill's personal toy, and a '68 Mustang with a stroked 454 top-oiler & toploader. Very sweet.
Susan said they still have more than 150 side-oiler blocks, cranks and LeMans rods in their warehouse. She said they can build a complete 390 stroker close to 500hp fully dressed with a TKO for around $16,000. They will even drill in fake crossbolts.
So if you're looking for experience in an FE build, just know that Southern Automotive Engines is still a go-to place for a solid build. They build a ton of motors for Unique Motorcars.