Thread: 428 help

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So i'm getting ready to build a 67 Mustang my grandpa has an old 428 sitting around he said I could have if I wanted to build it. I've overhauled many engines but never a build like I want with this motor. I'm not 100% sure if the motor is a FE or a FT but I was wondering if it can be built into a CJ? Is it worth messing with if it is a FT and if so is there a website that I can buy everything I need for the build? If it is a FT and I do build it does any know if it will fit in a Mustang? Thanks for the help.

Originally Posted by quincyp2003

So i'm getting ready to build a 67 Mustang my grandpa has an old 428 sitting around he said I could have if I wanted to build it. I've overhauled many engines but never a build like I want with this motor. I'm not 100% sure if the motor is a FE or a FT but I was wondering if it can be built into a CJ? Is it worth messing with if it is a FT and if so is there a website that I can buy everything I need for the build? If it is a FT and I do build it does any know if it will fit in a Mustang? Thanks for the help.

Join up over here for FE info - FordFE.com a huge amount of info there.

If it is a 428FE that'll be a cool package to put together! Some of the FT engines can make good power and others are less than desireable. So you must first figure out what you have, there are many books and websites with a ton of info on the FE motor, but you'll need the measurements and numbers found on the parts. So tear it down, clean it all and gather the info. Once you find out what you own and it's condition you can make an educated decision.

Don't forget to share with us along the way!!

Survival Motorsports, Barry is the FE Guru!!!!

if it is a 428fe and you want to do a CJ type build, I would suggest a set of Kieth Craft ported Edelbrock heads and a n aluminum ntake manifold--heads are better than doing guides/seats on an old set of iron heads from the 60s and also use a set of modern H beam rods---------the crank, if decent or suitable for a regrind will do for the job intended---I don't suggest the use of a stroker as the 428 is already 3.98 and with those big rod journals take up a lot of swing area------

If you rebuild it I would suggest using valve lifters with the edm micro hole to oil the cam lobe and even go so far as using a set of lifters for hollow pushrods to oil the rocker train

I been doing FE stuff since 58 and made a lot of gm guys cry----------If you are going to do stick shift--plan ahead for a modern clutch/flywheel(weighed external balance on 428) and also do a modern small gear reduction starter-------headers will be minor problem on the left side near the steering and tall valve covers will be very close ( finned Cobra will need some de finning) near the power brake booster----

DON"T use underdrive pulleys on it as you need the OEM waterflow for street use----

Originally Posted by quincyp2003

So i'm getting ready to build a 67 Mustang my grandpa has an old 428 sitting around he said I could have if I wanted to build it. I've overhauled many engines but never a build like I want with this motor. I'm not 100% sure if the motor is a FE or a FT but I was wondering if it can be built into a CJ? Is it worth messing with if it is a FT and if so is there a website that I can buy everything I need for the build? If it is a FT and I do build it does any know if it will fit in a Mustang? Thanks for the help.

You need to do some reading. Barry Rabotnick of Survival Motorsports is known to be a whiz with these FE/FT motors, so read what he has to say before you ever lift a wrench.....
How to Build Max-Performance Ford FE Engines (Performance How to): Barry Rabotnick: 9781934709153: Amazon.com: Books
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thanks for all the help and I will buy the book today. I was wondering is FE and FT the same as far as the block goes but the FE was built for cars and the FT for trucks?

Quite a bit of good information on this Wiki link - Ford FE engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Originally Posted by quincyp2003

thanks for all the help and I will buy the book today. I was wondering is FE and FT the same as far as the block goes but the FE was built for cars and the FT for trucks?

I'm no expert on these motors, but yeah, same block. FT used a forged crank with a larger diameter snout, a different water pump and I'm sure many other differences that I'm unaware of.

I seem to remember that the water pump had some casting for the air brake compressor mounting??????????? and the distributor had a govnor? to limit rpm???
and some would of had different oil pans to clear suspension plus remote oil filters------------

Update on the 428. since I started reading the book How to Build Max Performance Fords FE Engines it's open my eyes to a lot of work I have in front of me and getting me excited. But when I went to work on the motor and try and find out for sure what I have I find out it was used for irrigation and this thing is froze up starting to get disappointed and wondering if it's going to be worth it because of how rough it is. I really want to do the build but looking at after market blocks that route is starting to look like maybe the way to go. Any good advice?

Have you measured it? I don't remember 428's being used for "irrigation".... there were many shortages of the castings and even Shelby had to install 390's because he couldn't get the 428 blocks.. In any event, you need to decide the goal(s) and the budget! An aftermarket block has some advantages for sure!! Same as aftermarket heads/ intake/cam etc. but can your budget support that?

If this isn't part of a "numbers matching" type restoration, and the car you're assembling doesn't require it, I'd really consider the new block/heads!

Also, at that website I linked for you, Barry R. is there constantly, discuss your plan with him as he really is the FE Guru!

In your area there were a lot of big block engines bought new in a crate from the local car dealerships to drive irrigation pumps back in the mid to late '60's. I don't know about 428's, but I was in a Tulia, TX Chevy dealership in 1965 and there was a 409 crate engine sitting there waiting to be loaded. I was drooling over it, and one of the locals laughed and said, "Boy, it's just a dadgummed irrigation engine. Nuthin' to get excited about." As I looked more it was a truck engine with a little 2-barrel carb on top. Later we were out at an uncle's field, and he had a SBC driving his pump, running hard on a governor at about 3500rpm working hard to pull the water from nearly 200' down, and he said he was trying to get by without buying a big block as long as he could, using junk yard small blocks.
You might pull it apart, marking all of the parts for location, and take the block to a good machine shop to have it cleaned up and checked, with an estimate of what it'll cost to get a short block (or complete engine) put together the way you want it. Then you can compare costs to the crates available.

Texas panhandle had a lot of big block Fords sitting in the fields pumping water. Once in a while an old Hemi, BBC were common later on, and even some big block Mopars. They needed water and were willing to use whatever brand they liked to get it there. Area around Lubbock had lots of them. Not that this helped you any in your build.

If spending the bucks doesn't scare you, get a Genesis block, then have Barry at Survival get you the rest of the parts......Guaranteed you'll have yourself a pounder!!!!!!!

this motor was on what i'm guessing was an irrigation stand I took it off of that and got it on a work bench. Haven't measured it or even got to taking anything off such as heads or oil pan to find casting numbers. It was more of a hassle than planned. It's a big motor and my grandpa swears up and down it's a 428. And the more I look at Genesis blocks and Pond the more that seems the way to go. I'm not going to call it quits on this motor just yet though. Not going to put any money into it until I get it opened and see what I've got for sure and how bad it is it's seems like it's been froze up for years