Reading the article on the buildup of the 446 inch FE motors in the August issue must have shaken the rust off some grey cells in my brain.  I remembered another FE buildup from years back and faithfully searched out the article because I distinctly remember it being a true BUDGET build up.  In the July 1999 issue, the engine was a 390 made into a 428 with an .080" overbore and a 3.98" stroke stock crank, modified stock heads and basically a rebuilder's makeover.  It made 450 hp and 495 ft-lb of torque with a 234-238 Crane hydraulic cam and a factory three-two carb setup.  Here's the kicker:  it cost under $2000.  (excluding the cost of the intake and carbs.)  So, here we are nine years later and tons of additional high-zoot speed stuff (aluminum heads, Milodon oil pan, solid-lifter cam, performance intake manifold and carb, and 28 more cubic inches) and we only get 50 more hp?  And it costs us $4000 more??  What happened to budget?  Give me the old way of thinking.  

Parts cost have gone up,new tech makes some of the old parts obsolete.Magazienes need to hock product to stay afloat,every one wants aluminum heads.I agree they should be able to get more power out of those mills.I remember the article you mentioned,50 more horse for what they spent isnt very impressive.  

the new engines will probably last alot longer than the old one will. .080 out is a LOT for an FE. Im all for the budget approach, but when a 428 crank nowadays can be over $400 alone you want the parts to last.

I paid $600 for my 428 as a core. Ive got about as much into it as the Car Craft guys do now. Im all for the FE getting some ink though in a non Ford only publication. The fact that it looks exactly like mine on the outside is amazind as well. (im also running gold mercury valve covers, a block block and an aluminum top end.)