Well.
In favor of the FE, the low, medium, and high rise heads offered from the factory were rather sweet options, and as for the "no replacement for displacement" statement, if you got a 427 block @ a 4.23 bore and installed the 428 @ a 3.984 crank, you could get just under 450 cid with the standard bore

4.23 X 3.984 = 448
and with the recommended maximum .030 over bore gets you
4.26 X 3.984 = 454

That's only 6 cid shy of the stock 460.
4.36x3.85 = 460

Install the high rise heads, intake, and a few other go fast goodies and I think a 454 FE could give the 460 one H3LL of a run!

Stroking the 460 is another thing!

 

All that will only cost you 4 times what the 460 cost. Not a reasonable way to go.

 

"Built in the same manner" would not mean a custom, high performance 390 or 427--now that you're talking 4.23 bore, it's not a 390--vs. a stock 460. I can find enough stuff on line in 90 seconds to do the same things to a 460, bringing it up in true mountain motor territory, and far outpowering your examples.

 

if we're talking about 4x4 though....

and i've got an NP205 t-case...what's performing better at 0-30 mph...more torque and power?
I understand that the 460 without a doubt is gonna outrun the 390 on the highway or race settings....but whatabout street and off road??

tuning, efi and cam all the same let's just say or at least setup the engines with this in mind....
Am i missing something here or just pulling for the 390???

 

The FE series engines were around winning races long before your 460 was even in it's diapers!

Have some respect for your elders!

Don't make grandpa go get his walker and run your toe over!

 

1968--428 cobra jet 335hp. 440 tq. 1969--429cobra jet 365 hp. 450 tq.

 

never believe all you read..

 

If you want to compare Hi Riser drag motors or Le Mans motors to low compression pillow barge 460s, go ahead.

As for low end and drivability, again, if you build both engines the same way, the 460 has more low end and both drive just fine.

 

Really the only advantage the FE has is less weight. Like has been said, if they are built the same the 460 is always going to beat a 390 (in every way) and it's going to do it for less money.

It's not as cool though!

 

Swapping from a 400 to either an FE or 429/460 really comes down to which parts are more easily sourced. For pre-79 trucks, the FE stuff is far more plentiful (mounts/towers/radiator&hoses/accesorries&brackets) whereas the 80+ trucks have more 460 parts available.
Some of the newer 80+ parts can be used for assisting a 460 swap into an older truck, but not all.
Of course, the 400 shares the bellhousing pattern with the 429/460, so that takes away one hurdle right off the bat.

I agree with sleepy though, the FE is cooler, even if it doesn't have quite the power potential of a well built 460.

 

The FE is cooler and more retro. I'm running a 428 cj in my mustang. However if not trying to stay stock or period correct the 385 block has many more options available at better prices. 460 ci. stock is much cheaper than bringing a 428 to 460 ci standards. Do the math and determine what your end goal is.

 

DUDE!! you forgot to mention that because this is the FE thread we get a 50 point lead and any other engine gets a 25 point penalty, so the FE is 75 HP ahead before the key is even turned!

 

If you don't mind the thread hijack, what kind of mixer are you running on your propane 428? Just a single Impco 425?

 

yup just the little single right now ..but I do have a duel mixer I want to try after I get a locker for the rear ..that should find the next weak part..for the record ..I LIKE MY 428 !!! and my 7.3 diesel .and the crappy little 1600 cc in my ford Anglia was fun too..build what you want ..enjoy.. don't waste time you can play with getting annoyed with someones preference,your motor your choice ..enjoy ..I am gonna go play with my 54'flathead..all 239 cubic inches...lol...

 

That's kind of surprise. I've got most of the stuff to do a propane conversion on a 400, but was wondering how to let that much motor breathe because I just want to use a single Impco 425 to keep things simple. Was thinking of just leaving the motor a 351M to prevent undercarburetion even though I didn't really want to do that. Your 428 feel like it runs out of air before it does cam?