428fe, or 427fe, which one do you prefer? Please no other engines, thanks.

[mtrain2000]

I know there are all kinds of engines you can put into your Cobra, but I want to hear specifically from those who have either or the FE's listed above.

I have a 428fe in my SV Cobra, and usually I can't get a car home before either tearing into the existing engine, or altogether swapping it out.

But, this 428 engine is so much fun I doubt I will go to the trouble to do anything [mostly stock 428PI engine with Eld intake, and iron heads].

On the other end of the scale I have a 540fe tunnelport supercharged engine I built in a 67 Mustang of course it has way more hp/tq, but its way more temperamental than the stockish 428. The 428fe in the Cobra is just way more fun. [also, the TKO600, 5 speed helps with all of that low end torque].

Here is the 540fe.

[Bernica]

If you are happy with the 428, then keep it. You can make it do pretty much everything a 427FE will do and you wouldn't know the difference except in your wallet. There are plenty of folks here running 428 FE's and happy with them. And there are plenty of original Cobras that came with them as well.
BTW, nice tunnel port!

[patrickt]

For an original iron block FE, not a new-fangled aftermarket block, a nice, unmolested, 428, with the additional webbing in the crank saddle, is awfully hard to beat. No sleeves, no overheating, stroke and bore it to your heart's content... it's definitely the way to go.

[Bernica]

Originally Posted by patrickt

For an original iron block FE, not a new-fangled aftermarket block, a nice, unmolested, 428, with the additional webbing in the crank saddle, is awfully hard to beat. No sleeves, no overheating, stroke and bore it to your heart's content... it's definitely the way to go.

Listen to Patrick on this one. He knows the 428's.
Just don't let him pick your cam or roll bars!
That one was for you Patrick!

[RodKnock]

I'd choose the Big Block Chevy. Was that a choice? Ooops!

Although it's not quite a real FE, I'd leave the 428 in the Cobra. If it ain't broke, why fix it?

[750hp]

What's the mustang motor make on a dyno, or what mph has it run at the drags? Looks impressive!

[Danr55]

429..if you've got it. Keep it. Same with the 427. The only difference would.be if you are racing. Otherwise they sound and look the same. The 428 will deliver more torque and more HP than you will ever need for street driving and its a lot easier on the wallet. Besides. In the 427 Cobra the 428 is original factory equipment. More cobras had 428s in them than had 427s.

[Cashburn]

What's one CI amongst friends? Spend your money on T-Clamps.

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

428 all the way for street driving

[Dwight]

Ford build the 428 for street cars and trucks.
4.13" bore and 3.98" stroke. Lots of low end torque but out of steam about 5500 rpms.

The 427 was a high rpm race motor. 4.23" bore and 3.78" stroke. Made it's power in the high rpm range. By 1965 Ford had a 427 that could turn 7500 rpms for 24 hours. That won races for them.

Different motors but pretty much the same block.

Dwight

[Ron61]

I have had a 427 Tunnel Port with two huge Holleys, a 427 with dual fours and my 69 Cobra came with the 428 SCJ Cobra engine in it and it is as fast up to 100 MPH as any of the other two were. I liked the 427 in the Galaxie, didn't like the 427 Tunnel Port and traded it for A 390 high performance engine, but all around I like the 428 Cobra engine the best. It dynoed out at just 440 horse but will run with most engines around here.

Ron

[DanEC]

Engine blocks are benign - don't really have a personality. It's all about how they are prepared, what's stuffed inside them and how they are operated. A well prepared 428 and a well prepared 427 with comparable heads, intakes, exhaust and internals will pretty much operate indistinguishable from each other. Due to the stroke and bore relationships there may be minute differences but you almost would need an engine dyno to see them.

Only when you start stuffing in 13:1 pistons, 250+ degree - .700 lift cams, single plane intakes and start twisting them north of 6500 rpm and higher is the difference going to show up - probably with the 428 block grenading at some point (but 427 blocks apparently are not immune from that either considering all of them with holed skirts).

The answer is in how you plan to build the engine and how you intend to use it. That and at least another $3,000.

My 3 cents (inflation)

[1795]

I have driven cobras with 427's and 428's in them. ON the street you really will not know the difference. Currently I have a 428 and there is all sorts of torque. Absolutely no stall if you touch the gas at any speed in any gear. If you already have the 428, go with it and save yourself some money. The car will find other ways to gobble up what spare change you have in your pocket.

[cycleguy55]

mtrain2000:

My summarization of the above comments: The 428 has a bit more grunt at low RPM and at higher revs will run out of breath before the 427. So, the 428 is probably a bit better for street and autocross, with the 427 better for high RPM track use.

As others have pointed out the differences aren't significant, so unless you're planning to spend a lot of time at the track I'd stay with the 428, especially as it sounds like it's well built, well sorted and jolly good fun as is. Save your money and spend it elsewhere - like that '67 Mustang!

[blykins]

The 428 can do whatever the 427 can do. The length of stroke has nothing to do with how high it can rev, low end grunt, or how much hp it can make. Those are all common misconceptions and wives' tales. The only plus of the 427 is the oiling design and the bore size, which allows for larger valves without them being shrouded.

Otherwise, tell the 428 guys running NHRA SS that their engines can't turn 8000+ rpm and make 800 hp.

[REAL 1]

I have owned both an FE428 and currently for the past 14 years an FE427SO.

The performance of both are nearly indistinguishable in street usage IMHO in normal usuage. Both provide gobs of torque for a 2400 lb car and rev great.

The FE428PI was standard fare in 427 street cars with some street cars also receiving the 427SO.

The SC and Comp 427 got the 427SO only and as such the 427SO is the "brass ring" for Cobras because of its higher performance potentials, stronger block, cross bolt mains, higher nickel content block etc.... It is also the rarer motor.

Both are great and will be "correct" for a street 427. If you are a stickler for details and aesthetics you will need a 427SO for a comp or SC.

From above to naked eye with the hood open both are indistinguishable from each other. You need to get underneath to confirm whether its a SO by the ribbing and crossbolts.

A well done 427SO will easily cost you a good 1/3 more than a 428.

Whether it's worth it to go for the SO is a individual choice based on many factors.

[Bernica]

And as has been said before in this thread, the car will find plenty of ways to spend your money without messing with the engine. Trust us all on that!

[AL427SBF]

A good read Building Ford Strokers Engines: Make Most of a Windsor Block
.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by AL427SBF

A good read Building Ford Strokers Engines: Make Most of a Windsor Block
.

Q. How do you make the most of a Windsor?

A. Sell it.

[AL427SBF]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Q. How do you make the most of a Windsor?

A. Sell it.

It certainly is a seller's market
.