Another mystery engine question!

[cs69er]

I have recently obtained another person's headache in the form of an unfinished classic cobra. the seller said the engine was a 429 of unknown year. I have been unable to locate the engine serial number in the typical location which makes me start to question what I have. Here all the numbers and locations to help all of you engine knowledgeable folks. The rear of the engine block has the number 352 and 14 under the top number. The intake manifold has a large S with C7AE and 9426-E underneath the top number. The heads have the following number C6AL J. On the front left side of the engine under the dip stick is the following number 17D1F. The casting number on the front right side of the engine is extremely hard to read but it appears to be 3M5 and an unreadable last digit or 3W5 and unreadable last digit. That's it scouts. No number on the right rear near the starter. Any ideas what this animal is? The choices seem to be: 390, 427, 429. I look forward to all ideas guys. Thanks, Chuck

[Ron61]

CS69Er,

I don't have my book that breaks down everything about the engines but the 353 stamp was used on all FE blocks from the 332 cubic inch to the 427-428 series. ON these eingines the date stamp will be under the valve covers on top of the head also. The rest of the numbers and letters you gave should break down into year, month, and day but as I said I don't have my book with me. One thing for sure you cvan do to see if it is an FE engine or a 385 series which is the 429, 460, 512 etc is measure the bell housing bolt holes. They are different and an FE bell housing won't bolt up to a 385 series and visa versa.

Ron61

[My427stang]

That could be a 428, could be a 390, is ABSOLUTELY NOT a 429 with those casting numbers

Check for crossbolts above the pan to see if its a 427, but I highly doubt it with the head and intake combo

The S manifold is garden-variety 390GT or 428 PI, as are the heads.

The only way to tell if its a 428 easily, is pull the pan and get the crank casting #, like 1U, 1UA, 2T etc. Once we get the crank # we can see if its 390 or 428.

If its a 428, its worth more, if its a 390, its a great motor but not worth as much

[cs69er]

Thanks for your knowledge share, it is appreciated. Another question for both you and others, are the motor mounts the same for both for the 428 and 390 or are the different? Chuck

[R U YELLA]

To see if it is a 428 - pull the center freeze plug. All 428s had a 428 stamped on the inside.

Catch ya later
Ed

[bran3b]

cs69er,

All that I have been able to find is a 1967 Galaxie engine.
C7AE
C - 196x
7 - xxx7
A - Galaxie
E - Engine

The 9426-E is the specific part number (I think) but I cannot figure out what the number means.

I think that the '67 Galaxie had all of the FE types (390, 427, and 428).

[cs69er]

Thanks for all the imput guys. Lesson learned when buying someone else's mistakes is don't take their word for anything. I can live with a 390 or 428. Either way, this hummer will provide enough power to scoot around. Despite what others say, there is a limit to how much horsepower is practical on the street. Chuck

[My427stang]

Motor mounts are the same for all FE's and are broken down into early and late. Early models used a 2 bolt boss on the block and late used a 3 bolt setup. I do not believe there were any 2 bolt 428's.

As far as 428 on the inside water jacket, I have seen plenty that didnt have that, although its worth looking if you can get at a freeze plug.

Bottom line though, a 390 built to the same specs as a 428 will be pretty darn close in performance. Some things to think about:

390's and 428's love CJ size valves (2.09 / 1.67) and if you go to a steeped shank valve (I like Ferrea) you'll get some added low lift flow. In addition the bigger valves get to some new metal for the valve seats

Dont be afraid to cam it, its not a small block Chevy, anything under 280 duration isnt enough. I run a 280H Comp Cams in a pickup and it has more low end than you can shake a stick at in a 4x4 pickup. In a lighter vehicle I'd run a 288 or 292 duration cam, it'll sound rowdy as hell, pull like mad, and you'll have plenty of low end

Get rid of that intake as your first improvement, thats a 390GT intake and they are good for nothing. My opinion, this is what I'd use in this order, and its all based on which I could get cheaper they are all very similar.

Edelbrock RPM (Best intake but most $$$)
Edelbrock F427 (Old style, much like a 428 PI)
Ford 428 PI alum (Great intake but $$$$)
Blue Thunder dual plane
428 CJ cast iron (great intake but HEAVY)

Stay away from a regular Performer, even if it was free, I lost performance through the entire curve on EVERY motor I tried them on, I eventually gave up trying them. Even the stock iron like you have does better. The RPM makes as much low end and comes alive around 2500

[cs69er]

Well guys, I'm still stumped. My block has 4 bolt holes for my engine mounts. I just came back from Napa and look thru their motor mount listings. I didn't find anything that look remotely close for 351, 390, 400, 427, 428, 429. Could this have been a marine engine and if so, how were they mount in old Chris Crafts? I think I hear that Holman-Moody built some 390/428 marine engines for Chris Craft. This is frustrating. Chuck

[My427stang]

They have 2 bolt or 4 bolt, not 3, sorry. The 4 bolt will have 2 closer to each other than the other two if you measure vertically.

[Rick 427 Cobra]

To add to what stang said. The block will have 2 or 4 holes.The mounts will have 2 holes(early) or 3 (late) and one hole on the block will not be used. Carefull, the mounts are left and right specific but can easily be installed incorrectly.
Rick