428 Flywheel help

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Apr 24, 2005 | 03:14 PM

GIDEUP

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428 Flywheel help

Hi, I am new to the Ford FE motors and need some help to make sure I get the right flywheel. I purchased a 1966 428 from a Thunderbird and plan on putting a 4 speed behind it. I will be putting it in a 70 Mustang ( I know it's not a truck, but this seems to be the best site for FE info that I can find). Am I correct in that the 66 model 428 is internally balanced that would require a zero balance flywheel? Also I read in another users post that some do not recomend using a 40 pound fywheel. I was thinking of using the hays steel billit flwheel which is 40 pounds. Or, would a cast flywheel be just as good as the billit? I do not plan on racing the car and would likely limit the RPM's to 5500 for short blasts for a little fun here and there.
Thanks for any help that anyone can provide.

Apr 24, 2005 | 03:35 PM

RustyTrustyF150

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Joined: Jan 2005

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From: S.C. North Dakota

Whoa there ,,, that 428 crankshaft is only internally balanced if someone spent
a few $$$ on having it rebalanced , otherwise it is a externally balanced
crank needing a flywheel to match the crank .

Apr 24, 2005 | 04:16 PM

"Beemer Nut"

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From: "Islander"

Do you have the old flexplate with counter weight from the motor as T-birds were autos? Find it's history. I would guess it's 99% external (stock) balanced. You will have to locate a 428 flywheel, it will be "close" in balance but not perfect. It takes very little to make a shaker with large diameters your working with.This is why I believe in internal balance, you can swap flywheels and flexplates as long as you have them zero balanced and you'll have a smooth sweet motor. Many new flexplates be it a 390 or 428 are of low quality (out of round) and thinner stamped material that can crack. I have placed the weight from a wasted 428 on a new 390 flexplate. Sorry, off subject. I would purchase a 428 flywheel, install it without the clutch and trans and run the motor to check for vibration, if good get a balanced clutch and pressure plate. I said balanced as I have redone work where the pressure plate and disc were out of balance and installed on fully balanced motor making it a shaker.

Carl....=o&o>....

Apr 24, 2005 | 04:29 PM

dinosaurfan

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From: SW Michigan

428 flywheels

Gid, all of the 428s were external balance. There is a ford 'tech manual' out there that says the '66s were internal balance, but that is not correct. You need a flywheel setup for the 428. But you don't need a '428' flywheel. Don't spend any more money on it than you would for a regular 390 wheel. The normal zero balance 390 wheel can quickly and easily be drilled to match the weight of the 428 wheel. And yes, 40 lbs is way too heavy. Try something like 25lbs. Tell us about your 428, was the flywheel missing ? DF

Apr 24, 2005 | 04:51 PM

rusty70f100

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From: Iowa

I think the best option would be to have the 428 bottom end internally balanced, then use a standard 390 flywheel.

Apr 24, 2005 | 05:05 PM

GIDEUP

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The original flexplate from the C6 was a 2 part. A stamped steel plate with a starter ring bolted to it. It has no counter weights, but is drilled in a couple of places as if it was balanced. The 66 428's have no harmonic balancer if that make a difference. I have read that the 66's were internally balanced, but then have heard differently. I have also seen new flywheels for the 4 speed advertised for the 66 as a neutral balance flwheel. Seems like the more I ask, the more confused I get.

Apr 24, 2005 | 06:28 PM

dinosaurfan

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From: SW Michigan

flywheels

Gid, take the 428 flexplate and a 390 flywheel to the machine shop. Your machinist can balance the flywheel to match whatever balance the flexplate had. Then keep the flexplate someplace safe, and you'll always have it for referance. Have you measured the stroke on this engine ? To see if it really IS a 428 as claimed. Not everyone can tell the differance, and even if the man you are dealing with is honest, 1966 was awhile ago, and it could have changed hands many times times before he got. You crank should have a casting number 1U, 1UA, or 1UB. any other numbers, and its not a 410/428 crank. Let us know what you have. DF, @ his Dad's house