Heads for 427

[dandascott]

I am in the process of assemblying a 427 s.o. from parts that my father n law accumulated in the late 60's but never assembled. Among these parts are cast iron heads with the casting C5AE-P. I do not believe that these have had any modifications. I am trying to decide whether to proceed with these heads or buy some new aluminum heads. Any advice ? Can anyone tell me anything about the casting number ?

Thanks,
Darrell

[BFBurk]

I have C5AE-F heads on my sideoiler. It has the intake and exhaust port sizes like the Cobrajet or low riser. I have a book"How to rebuild your BIG-BLOCK FORD" by Steve Christ and it does not have the C5AE P or F listed. It does have C5AE A and E for the 65 427 top-oiler and the C5AE D, B and H for the 65,66 427 Side-oiler. My block is a C5AE-H. I hope someone who knows Ford casting numbers jumps in here because these casting numbers seem to be all over the place. From what I've heard 427, 428 cylinder heads are worth quite a lot of money. If the heads are undamaged you may have hit gold. Plus a good side-oiler block is worth a lot. I'd try to keep the engine as close to original and you may have found a goldmine! Good luck.

[dandascott]

Thanks. The engine block casting is 427-66 so I suspect the heads are also from 66'. From what I understand they have not been used (nor has the block). I will doublecheck the letters on the head and make sure that the last one was a "P". When you say that the intake and exhaust port sizes like the Cobrajet or low riser - is that factory sizes or modified ?

Thanks again.

[BFBurk]

The ports are factory sizes. I had the heads off several years ago and had to order new intake and exhaust manifold gaskets. The intake ports are 2.34" high by 1.34" wide. One of my books say these are low and Cobrajet port sizes, the other book says the port sizes are medium riser and Cobrajet sizes. So I do not really know what heads I have! If your block and heads are unused, you have a goldmine!

[chuckbrandt]

I'm pretty sure C5AE-F are Medium Riser heads.

Chuck Brandt

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by dandascott

Thanks. The engine block casting is 427-66 so I suspect the heads are also from 66'. .

That may be just part of the mold, used for casting many engines of different sizes for many years. You need to check the date code on the block for the original casting date.

The heads have a date code as well, on the head, under the valve cover, there should be a date code.




the date code indicates 5-11-68 ( 8 E 11 ). These are 68 1/2 CJ heads that came from a 68 GT500KR.





Here's the matching intake, cast date 8 E 7, meaning 5-7-68.

[BFBurk]

Thanks for the info guys!

[dandascott]

Talked to father - n - law and confirmed that they are medium riser heads. I have studied the casting number and it appears to be C5AE-P. The "-P" is what I can not confirm was an actual casting for this.

I dug out the connecting rods and they are C6AE-E (I believe LeMans forged rods). I can't believe the great condition of the original parts. I can't wait to get this thing assembled.

Thanks for everyones help.

[HSSS427]

You might give Bill Parham at Southern Automotive in McDonough a call. As he put it, he has "an un-natural love afair with Ford FEs." I bet he'd have an idea and probably may have any missing parts you may be looking for. Of course, he'll probably also want to build it for you, in which case you'd be in good hands to get it built back as close to original as you wanted it.