Have you driven both??? If so, what do you like about each? Or should I ask, which do you prefer and why? I would have to drive them again one after the other to get a better idea for the sake of comparison so I'll have to reply later when I've got the 289 around again. RS
Re: 427 vs. 289??? I never got to drive either! (I have only owned 2 GT 350's!) I have driven a few kit cars wth 302"s so I hate to think how great the real ones perform! Mark
Re: 427 vs. 289??? never have yet i doubt i would ever get the chance to get a real one.i got a freind with a kit car about 800hp maybi some day i hope i can drive the beast
Re: 427 vs. 289??? I have driven a 427 Cobra Replica and the rear end was all over the road. I think the 427 is too much power (if there's such a thing) for such a light car. I think a 289 was handle better smaller engine less weight and power that you can control better.
Re: 427 vs. 289??? IMHO the 289 is hands down a better performance car. It does not have the power but in the turns it handles like a dream. If I was to sell one of my cars the 4000 would go before the 7000. Allan
Re: 427 vs. 289??? I love the big blocks. There is just no mistaking what a big block feels like under full acceleration. I do love the 289 motor as well. The motor can produce quite a bit of power and the car can handle a lot better than the big block. So, Shelby's Aluminum Block 427 is the answer. Less weight and same power!
Re: 427 vs. 289??? I love the 289 look and 289 engines are awesome.They are uncommon as well. I just do not fit well in a 289 car. I am 6'1" 215lbs with long legs and arms. I had to go with the 427 Body style. My 428 puts out 478 HP @ 5800rpm and 532 ftlbs of torque at 3500 rpm. The Torque in the light car is the definition of power. and it is a very nice and responsive driver as well. They both have their pro's and con's. both are worth it!!
Re: 427 vs. 289??? I've had the pleasure of driving new Superformance Cobra's with: 351W, Roush 427's (b/s 351's), 427FE, 428. For pure sound, straight line acceleration, and knowing you can pop the hood of the Cobra and have what's under there look correct, can't beat the FE, but there is the high cost ($22k+) and the weight over the front wheels, which makes the car steering very "heavy". The Roush 427's are nice, and with that less weight, about 300lb's maybe, and 550hp, the cars handle like a dream on the tight and twisty roads. I've never had a feeling over it being overpowered or out of control with that powerplant mated to a Tremec 5spd. A plain ol' 351 is ok, but once you've driven a 550+hp car, there is a big drop off in the speed and performance. To each his own, some like less power as they feel their driving skills might not be up to big time hp. 450-550 hp range just seems right!
Re: 427 vs. 289??? Back in the 70s when I owned CSX 3121, we often traded rides at Cobra Club meetings, so I've sampled a couple of original 289 Cobras. Aside from the big difference in power (a given), I recall that the transverse leaf spring chassis rode like an oxcart compared to the 427. It was my impression that the steering on our big block car was relatively light and not a great deal heavier than the 289, not too surprising with 52% of the weight on the rear wheels. Both cars cornered predictably, but with power oversteer always waiting in the wings.
Re: 427 vs. 289??? I am fortunate to have both types of cars, and, for pure driving fun, the 289's win hands down. The leaf spring design is primitive, certainly, but the handling is superior to the 427, regardless of the more advanced suspension. This feeling is held by every dual owner or by folks that have driven both that I have spoken with, so its not just my cars. The ride is actually more comfortable in the 427, a combination of incredibly comfortable seats and a very slightly less stiff suspension, but the rear end seems to be uncomfortably loose, even at slow to moderate speeds. CSX 2401 is faster with its Weber equipped race engine, better balanced, and sounds better, too. (My "427" has its original 428 engine, which is as smooth and powerful as I would want in that car.)
Re: 427 vs. 289??? Realthing: The 289 in your "little" Cobra must be a monster. In the politically incorrect days of the 70s, our Cobra Club meetings usually involved at least a little impromptu street racing, and the only 289 that could stay within 4-5 car lengths of my 427 was a dual quad car with a good bit of head work and 4.10 gears.
Re: 427 vs. 289??? My engine builder, who builds drag engines primarily, got a little carried away, I think. It's a 347 stroker with RPM aluminum heads, the Weber setup, roller rocker arms, etc. that makes it a fairly powerful "289". It has not been dyno tested, but the computer analysis of the setup suggests ~400hp. The webers work almost perfectly and with a slight bit more tweeking, we will get rid of a very slight stumble at ~1100 rpm. I can understand the appeal of the big block, but if anyone is by this way (Greensboro, NC) come by and we'll go for a ride in both and see what you think. I agree that the steering effort in both cars is about the same. Neither is any problem at all. It's really just the sensation that the rear end is not nearly as firmly attached to the road that bothers me in the 427, and this is with much bigger tires than the 289. Of course, I have spent many hours on the track with my 289 over the last 17 years and have only done a couple of slow laps in the 427--because of the lack of a rollbar, it can't be used at regular track events, so maybe I'm just more confident in the 289. They are both a hoot to drive.
