427 vs 428

[R U YELLA]

I am starting an ERA kit next year but want to go ahead & start piecing an engine together. I want to stay with a 427 or 428 but don't know which one. I do want to drive her on weekends & race not so often. I want something that is fast but reliable & doesn't need tweaking all the time. Tell me what ya think.

[rphubbard]

I would build a stroker if you are going to drive the car on the street mostly with a little track time on open track events. If you put a 428 crank in the 427 block it becomes about a 454 ci. This makes for a nice torque monster for the street but still has the horsepower for the track. It is not uncommon to have on of these engines put 475 horsepower and 475 ft-lbs of torque and still be reliable for a long time.

Ryan Hubbard

[cobraguy]

I like them both. Horsepower wise I would rate them as equal or maybe even give the edge to the 428 if the same amount of money is spent on both engines. Here's my logic.
A stock balanced and blueprinted 427 side oiler can set you back about 15 big ones or more. This engine will produce about 425HP and about the same or slightly more torque. If you stroke it by putting a 428 cast crank in it the 427 now becomes more like a 428 because that high reving durability has been reduced by replacing the forged crank. Why spend the money for the high nickel content block and cross bolted mains when the engine now is only good to 6,000rpm. A 428CJ block with thicker main bearing webs and caps is plenty strong enough.

For $15,000 on a 428 you can have a roller cam and rockers, weber 48 IDA's, Edelbrock aluminum heads ported and polished, Eagle rods, MSD ignition, billet distributor and a host of other goodies. With the above the 428 will probably produce more horsepower and torque than a stock 427 side oiler for the same money. If you intend to show the car nothing I mean nothing can top the look of an FE with a Weber setup. All of a sudden people aren't crawling under your car to see if it has cross bolted mains. As the Rock would say IT DOESN'T MATTER.

Point of interest more original 427 Cobra's came with 428's than with 427's. It is just as correct and original. If someone asks you if it's a 427 you can truthfully say yes as the 428 actually is closer to displacing 427ci than the side oiler. But most people ask if it's a side oiler and if it's important to you to be able to say yes then put one in. Either way they're both great engines and belong in a big block car.

[Ron]

Either is a great choice. I'm just finishing my 428cj. Very happy. 600hp for approx.$8000. The reason I chose the 428 over the 427 was initial cost. A rebuildable 427 is harder to find than a 428, thus driving the price up. Not to mention the 427 sideoiler. If money is no concern, rphubbard is right. Perfect match. Good Luck!

[cobralee]

I agree with everyones response, but to me, 427FE goes hand in hand with a Cobra. I can believe there are more 428's in original Cobras than 427's, but people looking at a Cobra expect a 427. If you're going to say its a 427 when it really isn't, you might as well throw in a 390 or a 406, both great engines, but to me, a Cobra is a 427FE.

[R U YELLA]

Thanks for the info guys! I have heard that the 427 overheats. Living in the DC area there is a lot of gridlock everywhere - even on the weekends. Is there a problem keeping them cool? What about tweaking them? Is there much to do about maintaining them. As far as cost is concearned, I can probably find a block for both at no cost!! But the internals I would have to buy & I know that the 427 stuff is getting more scarce. What to do? What to do?
Thanks - Ed

[R U YELLA]

This is a test to see what my profile looks like on the left! The one prior is not me!

[R U YELLA]

Thats better

[Tom T.]

It's my impression that FE parts are actually becoming more, not less, available. In addition to Shelby's FE blocks, an outfit by the name of Genesis is now making aluminum and iron blocks. The demand for things FE is on the upswing, due to the fact (I think, anyway) that more and more guys who used to drool over FE's in younger days can now afford (sort of!) to indulge themselves. Yes, FE hardware is rarer than parts for modern production engines, but if you look you can almost always find what you need.

There's no question but that FE's can overheat, especially in Cobras. And, I've heard the problem is somewhat worse with the 427's because the cylinder walls are so thin. However, many of us are able to run 427's without terrible overheating problems. Some suggestions: Never go past an .030 overbore without sleeving back to stock. Airflow is critical. Aluminum sheet ducting in the nose cowling helps. Blocking gaps between the radiator and the cowling is a good idea. Two pusher fans (like the originals) in addition to one big puller (mine's 16 inches, I think) give me plenty of airflow, even at idle. A high flow aluminum water pump can help--I've got an Edelbrock. Also, I run three bottles of RedLine watter wetter.

I'm sure some other members have more tips. Just take your time and get all the information you can, and you'll make the right choice for your application.

Good luck,

Tom T.

[mrmustang]

Saw this on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cg...353394&r=0&t=0


No, it is not one of mine .


Yours in Fords,

Bill S.

[Steve R]

RU,
Me and my 427 s/o live in Houston,- no overheat problems here. I think this is mainly due to the griffin radiator, and the std bore block does'nt hurt either.
Cheers,
Steve R

[btsai]

Tom T --- you mentioned Geneis Manufacturing. Are they actually delivering any products yet? Last I heard they were still finalizing things to get them right. Anyone bought anything from them yet?

Ben

[BJGreen]

I find that being stuck in traffic, not moving at all, will cause overheating. Any forward motion at all, however, will begin to allow the temperature to come back down.

I have a fairly stock 427 with a larger than average Griffin radiator(18" x 29" I think, with two rows of 1 1/4 tubes) and have no problem in 100 degree weather if I can stay moving. With the car stopped it will soon overheat.

[Tom T.]

Ben,

My last edition of the FE Club of America bimonthly mag indicated Genesis was about to start shipping some iron blocks. However, I've not checked to verify this. It's gonna be great having a source for new blocks, though. Someday, someway, an aluminum block FE for me!

Best regards,

Tom

[btsai]

Tom,

Thanks for the response. I figured as much -- I've been hearing the same since at least December. Oh well, good things come to those who wait. An ALL aluminum FE sounds good to me too!

Ben

[Traveller]

A 428 crank in a 427 block yields 447 cubic inches, not 454

[John 550]

If you can get hydraulic lifters in your engine , you would not have the mantainence of lashing the valves . You may be less likely to bust off a valve shaft end .

[Rick Young]

If you change the 427 by installing a 428 crank, do you also have to change the rods or pistons, or both, to accomidate the longer stroke?

[chuckbrandt]

My vote (and decision for my car) is a 427. I've been a ford nut for a long time and have always, since I was a little kid, wanted a car with the legendary 427 in it. Until now I did not have the means, luck, priority, luxury, or whatever to have one. But now I'm building one and puting it in a cobra replica which has to be the coolest platform to put one in. I just want to have the real deal (or a close proximity). For me not doing that would compromise the dream.

Just one jokers opinion,

Chuck Brandt

[Naumoff]

I had a 63 1/2 Galaxie I built in High school. Dailey driver 427 top oiler 2X4 C-6 411 gear. No over heating problem then anded a oil cooler with the oil cooler never went over 180degrees even at a traffic light. I live in DC area. Had lots of big block ford freinds at the time. Driven 428 Mustangs and have to say I was not impressed with the 428 compared to my 427 and was in a car 1000 pounds heavier. I love 427!!!!!