Comparing 427, 428, and 429 (help)

[1967AceStroker]

Well this may be a dumb question, but I want to know the differences between these motors. I am talking about a 427, 428, and a 429. Other than the one cubic inch. And I also want to know the difference between a cobrajet, thunderjet, or boss versions available on some of these. Could I put one of them in my '67 F-100, easily? It currently has a 352(getting very tired). I just don't know a whole lot about engines yet and I know that some of you are real familiar with them. Thanks for any info, I appreciate it.

[DuckRyder]

The 427 and 428 are FE engines, the bore and stroke differs. The 429 is a LIMA (385 series) engine same family as a 460.

427 or 428 would bolt right in in place of a 352/360/390 but they tend to be expensive (428) or very expensive (427) a 390 or 410 is easier to build inexpensivly.

Books have been written about cobra jet, super cobra jet, boss engines. IIRC a "thunder jet"is a run of the mill 429.

[1967AceStroker]

Thanks DuckRyder, I have a few more questions though.
Well I could get a running 427 for $400 right now from a guy my friend works with. He said it runs, but probably should rebuild it if you want to put it in anything. So a 427 would be an expensive rebuild, think you could do a rough guess of possible cost? I am about do for an engine, and I want more power than my 352 puts out, and thats what i'm after is way more power. I was thinking too, mabey a 410, cause of cost, and I have a 4 barrel edlebrok aluminium intake, holley 4 barrel carb, and flowtech headers on my 352 that I could re-use if I went to a 410. I am not sure if I could make my 352 into a 410 though, it has the 352 stapmed on the block. Also would that stuff fit a 427?
Thanks.

[fordman]

i don't think it would be expensive to rebuild a running 427. it would cost more to make a 427 than it woudl to rebuild a running one.

[averagef250]

If you can get a 427 for $400 I'd suggest you do it, put it on ebay and make a tenfold+ return on your money. Take that money and buy an early 429/460 for a couple hundred and spend a couple grand to have it done right by a decent shop.

I would doubt it's a real 427 for $400. It seams to me it's pretty common knowledge that a 427, even a center oiler, is an extremely valueable engine. If your buddies throwing around $400 427 statements I'm suprised he isn't getting barraged by people wanted to take it off his hands.

[1967AceStroker]

Well its a guy he works with, the guy has only told him so far, and he wants my friend to put it in his '89 bronco, which aint happening. The guy told my friend he found it somewhere for $150, so if I talk to him I will try to talk him down from $400. How can I easily identify it as a 427 if I go look at it?
Thanks.

[dablack00]

Yep, every 427 I have ever inspected has ended up being a 360 or 390! I love it when these people (who don't know what they are talking about), explain that the PO told them it was a 427, and that the PO had it rebuilt so he must know and I'm wrong. HA. I love it. This is after I call and say, "are you 100% positive it is a 427"

This has also been true of every "hi-po" 289 I have gone to look at. Usually turns out to be a 85 302 with an aluminum intake. I tell them what it is and they say, "No it isn't! Its a hi-po 289! Look at the factory aluminum intake!" That is when I explain what a casting number is and where it is. Just because it is a small ford V8 and has an aluminum intake, doesn't mean it is a hi-po.

Same thing with 428 cobra jet engines. Everyone I have seen has been a 390. I did find a plain jane 428 once, but it sure as hell wasn't a cobra jet.

I once picked up a 66 mercury wagon with a 410 in it. It was well optioned but rusty. I parted it out. I should have kept the 410 and C6 (66 was the first year of the C6 if I remember right).

anyway......

[dablack00]

Well its a guy he works with, the guy has only told him so far, and he wants my friend to put it in his '89 bronco, which aint happening. The guy told my friend he found it somewhere for $150, so if I talk to him I will try to talk him down from $400. How can I easily identify it as a 427 if I go look at it?
Thanks.

go over to fordfe.com and ask there. They will give you detailed info. I usually have to crack all my books to figure it out.

[texrodder]

Well its a guy he works with, the guy has only told him so far, and he wants my friend to put it in his '89 bronco, which aint happening. The guy told my friend he found it somewhere for $150, so if I talk to him I will try to talk him down from $400. How can I easily identify it as a 427 if I go look at it?
Thanks.

For $400 you need to look into it, whether you use it or not , as average f250 said its worth way more to a restorer,do a little research and you might get lucky, if your not interested anyone of us on here would be.

[1967AceStroker]

Well its a guy he works with, the guy has only told him so far, and he wants my friend to put it in his '89 bronco, which aint happening. The guy told my friend he found it somewhere for $150, so if I talk to him I will try to talk him down from $400. How can I easily identify it as a 427 if I go look at it?
Thanks.

go over to fordfe.com and ask there. They will give you detailed info. I usually have to crack all my books to figure it out.

Errr... ford fe is working on the site, I couldn't go in, it said under construction.
Hey texrodder, I am gonna just get the serial off the block today hopefully and call the local ford dealership and have 'em run it to see if its a 427 and if it is I will buy it in a heartbeat. I might rebuild and put in my truck, I'm not sure what i want to do yet.

[scott123]

I just pulled a 427 Merc with a c-6 out of my truck (actual, not fake 427). One issue is that that combo is 3 1//2 inches longer than a small block with a c-4, c-5 behind it.

The engine perches are also different than the small blocks however in 72 all of the bolt holes were there. The bolt holes should be there if that was an option for your year truck.

As far as building one up, they have quite a bit of power bone stock. I imagine with a set of headers and a few other tweaks, my stock 427 would have been a screamer. As it was it would light the rears on my camper special at 40 mph. Maybe due to lower gearing?

[DuckRyder]

This is the site you want:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/74182/

Now, I agree it is unlikely it is a 427 for 400.00, but you never know, even if it is a 390, 410 or 428 it might be worth 400.00. Be aware that 428's and 427's were sometimes found in industrial aplications (like irrigation pumps) and 427's were pretty common in boats. Boat motors can be problems becasue of block errosion and some were reverse rotation, the industrial motors vary greatly in condition and specification.

If it is a 427 or 428 and the block is good it is worth 400.00...

[1967AceStroker]

Well, he pulled it out of something himself, what, when, where I don't know, and paid $150 for it and wants $400. He decides he don't want it asks my friend if he wants it or knows anyone who does, so my friend told me. Thats all I know right now. After he gets off work today he is supposed to get me the serial number stamped on the block, and I am going to call the local ford dealership to run it. I'll let you guys know as soon as I find out.

[DuckRyder]

After he gets off work today he is supposed to get me the serial number stamped on the block, and I am going to call the local ford dealership to run it. I'll let you guys know as soon as I find out.

Ford only stamped partial serial numbers on certain engines in certain carlines and I don't think that anything with a 427 would be included (although I could easily be wrong) serial numbers on blocks is mostly a GM thing very few Fords have that.

Might as well introduce you to the next concept in Ford FE's:

Block casting numbers are meaningless, the soomer you accept it, the better off you and your wallet will be.

Oh, and any FE should cost about the same to rebuild all other things being equal, meaning the same parts for a 352 or 427 should be priced comparably if you don't need a crank or "LeMans Rod".

[Redcap]

After he gets off work today he is supposed to get me the serial number stamped on the block, and I am going to call the local ford dealership to run it. I'll let you guys know as soon as I find out.

Ford only stamped partial serial numbers on certain engines in certain carlines and I don't think that anything with a 427 would be included (although I could easily be wrong) serial numbers on blocks is mostly a GM thing very few Fords have that.

Might as well introduce you to the next concept in Ford FE's:

Block casting numbers are meaningless, the soomer you accept it, the better off you and your wallet will be.

Oh, and any FE should cost about the same to rebuild all other things being equal, meaning the same parts for a 352 or 427 should be priced comparably if you don't need a crank or "LeMans Rod".

Couldn't have said it any better.