Finally got together with the seller today.

428 block, bored .040" over.

CJ crank (1U), new speedpro .040" over 10:1 flat top pistons on stock rods.

Crank was machined when the block was bored (cylinders and line), all was greased up bagged and put away so it's unassembled.

Heads are CJ and have new oversized valves ready to install, but if I went this route I'd probably leave the heads and look toward aftermarket like the Edelbrock or something.

No cam or intake or carb, so I'd need some help from y'all figuring out what to match up with those A/M heads and a .040 overbore.

New in box high volume oil pump (Miller I think it was?) and a Cloyes double roller timing set also new in box.

Needs rings, bearings, seals, gaskets, lifters and pushrods.

Guy wants a grand for everything if I leave the heads. Is that a decent price?

There are no visible cracks anywhere, looks like the only thing I'd think about doing to it would be a good decking and whatever oiling mods to the lower end are popular.

I know we talked a little about the 445 stroker and a couple other options, but honestly we're not looking for a stump-puller or a bracket racer. Just something with a little more punch that would tow a trailer dependably.

What would be a good cam/carb/intake/heads package to accomplish that, fellas?

Thanks guys, we really appreciate your help and your opinions.

*360 runs pretty good, has true duals off stock logs but leaks oil and to my knowledge has never been refreshed so it's not instilling a sense of confidence to tow or even get away with. If we end up putting this 428 together, we'll probably set the 360 on the rack and go through it down the road to have a good dependable engine to put in something else or help someone else out if they're hard-up.

 

It is not always possible to see cracks in a block or heads. The best way is to magnaflux them. Your oil pump is probably a Melling. As for the rest of your build, many others will give you some good ideas.
All my builds are for racing, and that is not what you want.

 

Roger that. I remember NDI school in the Army, learning how to magnaflux was pretty cool.

Melling was the name on the box, you're right.

Racing definitely isn't where we're heading, but man I'd sure like to see that 511 of yours in action someday!

Thanks for jumping in, Maxtor

 

Edelbrock heads and Performer RPM intake would probably be hard to beat price wise for that setup.

$1000 for essentially a fresh short block sounds like a smoking deal to me.

 

Right on.

Seller isn't attached to the engine, came done as described in a trade that he really just needed the car for so right now he's really just looking to free up some room and put a couple bucks back in the kitty.

Wasn't sure if the deal was a good one or not, thanks for the thumbs up. I'll give him a call this afternoon.

Now, into the crazy world of cam selection... Ugh

Lol

 

I see the guy got the engine with the car and doesn't know much about it, like 427's some 428 blocks don't take well to large over bores due to core shift. My block is still standard but when I cleaned it up I had it sonic checked, number 8 cylinder is thinner than the rest and for performance apps .020 over would be max and not over .040 for a daily driver.
It would be best if that block was sonic checked.

Are those Speed Pro pistons cast or forged, cast is ok but forged would make it a much better deal due to their higher cost plus they're more durable.
Stock rods? 390-428 style stock rods or 428cj style stock rods with the heavier beams and larger bolts? easiest way to tell is by the nuts that go on the rod bolts, 390-428 style use a 9/16 socket, 428cj uses a 19/32 or 15mm socket.

How much more does he want for the heads?
What casting number do they have?
C8OE-N 428CJ heads have a decent value to collectors and guys doing numbers matching restorations.
If he's not to high you may be able to turn a profit to use toward a set of aftermarket heads, or you could just run them.
If their not 428CJ heads with the 16 bolt exhaust flanges their not worth much.
These heads come with 2.09 and 1.66 valves so not sure what is meant by over sized valves.

I ran a 428CJ in a 73 F-100 years ago, it was a very strong engine with good towing power, maybe not a stump puller like todays big strokers but way better than a 360 or 390.

 

Sooooo, the seller flaked out.

Told him I'd take what we'd agreed on at the full price he set (1 grand).

He replied with "his friend who knows a lot about CJ engines said it was an early CJ and to not sell it pieced out or for less than his full price".

He was looking for 3 grand complete with those heads, which I think is a bit much for what it is.

Anyway, figured I'd let y'all know and again thank you for jumping in and educating me a little.

And now, back to the drawing board

 

What a ********.

 

It's all about numbers-matching as in casting numbers.

About the only thing that might make that CJ a little more rare than a later CJ is the head casting number, and maybe the block casting number. But I don't think either of those is especially "special" - heads are cheap, there's a set on ebay right now, C6AE-R heads, for $450. That's not rare whatsoever.

It might have some extra value to a T-bird owner looking for exactly the right engine, but they could "dummy up" one and no one would be the wiser.

Wonder how long that friendship will last

 

Yeah, it's kind of a bummer but hey it happened for a reason and all I can say is I try to live right and practice every day what my elders preached all through my upbringing in North Carolina.

One of those things is don't shake a man's hand unless you mean it.

My guess is the seller didn't have that same upbringing...

Krewat, I honestly didn't see anything there on his floor as "rare" either other than it was a 428 and they don't come up often around here - especially as clean as this one was all packed up from the machine shop.

As far as his "friend", my bet is he ain't got one...

Thanks fellas, keeping my eye out for the next one.

 

Build a 410 out of your 360. 428 Crank, and put some Edelbrock heads on it (because redoing a set of stock 360 heads is going to cost almost (or more) than the Edelbrocks.

Or, go the whole stroker route.

360 blocks are cheap - lol

 

Right on.

I'd thought about just refreshing the 360 that's in it, then evolved into another engine - the idea was to have it (428) together so I'd do the swap over the weekend rather than pulling my 360 and being down the truck while working it over.

I'd kinda like to stick with that plan, seeing as how my Wife drives the truck nearly every day.

Happy Wife, happy life eh? Lol

 

Absolutely.

Which is why I said 360 blocks are cheap. Get a 360 block and a set of C8AE-H heads and do oversize exhaust valves or a set of Edel heads, and you should be able to cobble together everything else to make a brandy-new drop-in engine.

Either go 410, or 390, or the stroker route.

Ker-plunk.