I recently bought a 76 f250 highboy, and it came with a mystery motor in the back. Ive done a bit of research, and i think that it is a 428 cobra jet! im not 100% sure. The valve cover which would have the emissions sticker is missing. it has a 5 bolt valve cover, the water pump VIN matches up, firing order (which is cast into the block) x for high nickel content, backwards 501 behind where the fly wheel would be, once again im certainly no expert, so can y'all help me with this?
the VIN that is cast into the block by the intake is D4TE9425CB once again, thanks for your help!

 

appears to be a

troll

 

appears to be a

troll

 

your intake casting says its a 74 or newer truck FE most likely a 360

 

Welcome to FTE. You do not have a 428.

The "D4..." numbers are casting numbers. Ford uses the first letter to indicate the decade, the second number to indicate the year. "D4" = 1974.

360 or 390, probably 360.

These are casting numbers, not VIN numbers. Ford did not stamp VIN numbers into engines, with the exception of some 1960s hipo stuff.

The numbers you reference are CAST into the metal. No one ever cast a VIN into a block or manifold. That would mean a casting for each vehicle. VINs were stamped into the metal.

Since it's a mystery motor, it's got to come apart anyway. Pull a head and measure up.

 

To expand a little further, D is 70s while C is 60s


D4TE9425CB


D ......... 70s era
4 ......... 1974
T ......... truck
E ......... engine (I think)
9425 ... intake manifold
CB ....... revision (something somewhere changed)






There is a method to the madness of the codes, LOL

 

So just seeing these makes me envious ??/ running a 390 FE in a V-Drive boat ??/ any idea on if you can run none leaded gas (Fuel) with these heads ??/

 

Usually it's best to start your own thread for new questions.

Heads with casting numbers "D2TE.." and later (D4 for example) were made with hardened seats. These are all old, and some still have the hardening, some have it worn or ground out. If the hardening is still there, you are good.

Some older engines seem to digest unleaded without a problem, even with the supposedly buttery non-hardened seats. Some suffer valve recession in not many miles.

If you run the motor hard, expect valve seat wear in short order without hardened seats.

 

A factory 428 cj will have a C welded on the back of the block. A service block may or may not have it. A factory cj will also have extra webbing cast into the mains. The 428 cj was discontinued after the 1970 run. It was never factory in a pick up. You could get it in the Ranchero.