I liked the theory that FE was the Periodic Table of Elements designation for iron, and these critters have a lot of that!

Maybe I just haven't looked for anything too weird, but the only thing I've had problems finding for my FE engines is the motor mount insulators for the '69 Mustang body. I bought a service short block 428CJ (1973 casting date) for $2400 a few years back.

The heads were a little pricey, but they are the C8OE-N CJ heads. I needed specific dates, and wanted matched cores, so I ended up with a fairly ratty set that did match my car. The machine work was expensive, but the shop had a terrific reputation and I could have gotten by cheaper. I think Morgan ended up with the heads being more solid than April 1969 when they left Dearborn.

Anything you build looks like it will cost. The parts for my 2000 Expedition family bus scare me, and a starter for my wife's Taurus was nearly a hundred and a half. So overall, it's not too bad. A friend with a 327 Chevy spent as much building an engine with 101 less cubic horsepower.

Still, the gas bill ain't for the faint at heart. My Dad's '65 Ford Country Sedan with the 390-4v never got over 15MPG, and usually hovered in the 11-12 range. But when I was a kid, I had a '57 Chevy with a 283 (wait a minute - I still have it - it's right outside my window), and it averaged 14. For mileage, get a Honda Civic with the little engine, and just push it up hill (or into the driveway, or over speed bumps...)