I'm restoring my 66 custom cab short bed. I have 2 choices for an engine. A 1972 351 cleveland 4 bolt main with 4v heads or a 428 out of a 68 or 69 mustang. Not sure what to go with.

 

I would not put the 72 cleveland in if it were FREE!

A very very few 1968 Mustang's had the 428 and all would be CJ's (68 1/2 Cobra Jet) In 69 & 70 is when ford put them in the Cobra Jet Mustangs either CJ or SCJ.

Do you have the engine's on hand or have to buy them?

Seldom do you see people advertise exactly what they have. You need to know some specifics and how to tell you are getting what you are told.

Practically everything sold is a Cobra Jet, Boss, HI-Po, "Cammer Super Cobra Jet Side Oiler 4bolt Quadrajet posi".

There are many 390 blocks that have been bored to 428 and try to be passed on as CJ's. Many 428's that have turned into CJ's,

Please give more info:

The value of truck with a true 428 CJ vs a 72 cleveland . . . Actually I would not put a 351 Cleveland in a veh of mine if it were free and someone paid me to do it. You might as well install a LS Chevy. The cleveland will weigh about the same as a 428 with aluminum intake so why bother installing a boat anchor that has so much fewer cu in.

A 1968 Shelby could have a regular 428 vs the CJ. Sounds to me the people selling have no clue what they really have.

What is your engine budget in $$?

A 390 block with a 4.25 Crank with good cyl heads will give you more HP~TQ than a basic 428 CJ by a LONG SHOT!

Never~Ever buy a engine that is READY TO GO, without having receipts etc from a reputable shop and actually checking engine out. A typical rebuild normally consists of a 3.00 can of spray paint. Then when it starts knocking, overheating and blowing smoke they tell you "thats what the other guy told me"

 

I ran numbers on cleveland. The best I can figure is its a cj. So you are saying 428. I haven't read numbers on 428 yet. Pretty sure it was said to be a cj. But its definately 100 % 428.

 

There are no numbers on the engine to determine if it is a 428! If CJ heads and intake yes they will be C80E & 16 bolt pattern on the heads exhaust.

Without popping out a frost plug to look for 428 in casting and measuring bore and stroke there is no way to determine if its a 428 or if a 390 was bored to a 428.

 

Boss9f100 Thanks for your help. While I'm thinking about it. You wouldn't have a good hood or tailgate for sale. I live in indiana and seems like they are all rotted or have been crushed

 

About the only sheet metal part I do not have extra of is right fenders. Just that I have 5 of these trucks and like to have spares around.

The parts in Washington~Oregon are very plentiful and super cheap.

Here there are plenty of parts but a dealer type has them and wants big bucks.

I should be scooping them up off CL as some times have seen fenders go for 65.00 Hoods for 100.00. Dealer types get 300+ for fender and prob 500.00 for hood.

No doubt I could find you one but shipping is a bit pricey.

If you need doors I do have a few nice ones I could sell as have 6 extra's.

 

Doors and fenders I'm good on. Got a good tid bit for you. About 3 months ago I seen a 66 cival defense truck setting. Pulled over to look at it. 35000 original miles PERFECT DOORS on. The guy wouldn't sell doors because he was taking truck to crusher. Truck was f 500 I think. I offered him 400 a piece for doors. Said no he didn't have time. Made me sick to see truck being loaded on trailer

 

I got a new tailgate from Dennis Carpenter stamped with the original dies for $415 including shipping.

 

Pretty sure that gate is a 67-72 gate not correct but will work. Completely different stamping. Very misleading info at carpenter and others, its buyer beware. If it bolts on its good per them.

Original dies for a 67-72

 

Few of these trucks have "value".

You can "invest" a ton of money in an old truck and easily get 25% of it back.

Im not sure how someone can call that an investment.

That said, If I were changing engines I would look for a 302/351W. They are plentiful, lots of aftermarket parts available, and much more inexpensive to build than a FE, not to mention way more transmission choices.

Resale value will be no different. If I were looking at two indentical trucks, I would go for the one with the 302/351W before the FE.

 

Boss is correct. The gates from DC are for the 67-72 models.

 

He said he had 2 (two) choices of engine. A 428CJ or a 351c

No doubt the 428CJ would have far better resale than a 351c or ANY 302/351 you would install.

 

What possible chance is there that an engine from 40+ years ago is "original" or even if original, worth installing without an overhaul?

Most 428CJ motors were run into the ground in the first 12 months of ownership. That's what they were made for.

A '72 351C would have been worn out three times by now as well.

Buyer beware

 

Boss, you said it yourself. What are the chances that a 428CJ is just sitting around waiting to be put into a nearly 50 year old F100?

Im betting that a rebuildable 428CJ is worth a lot of money to someone looking for a engine with a particular date code.

 

Yes both have to be rebuilt. 351 is tore down. 428 is complete setting on engine stand. This is a slow progressing resto. I'm not rich but I'm not going to take any shortcuts. It will be done right