428 ?
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 250
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428 ?
I found a guy locally that says he has 4 428s that were irrigation motors that were propane fueled. he says they were running when he got them. I'm debating whether to get one for $650 and rebuild it for my truck or just rebuild my 390 with higher compression pistons. It has about 10,000 miles on it and only puts out about 200 hp. Any suggestions?
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,624
Likes: 8
From: Missouri
428 ?
HMM.... I'm thinking 428 all the way. The engines are complete and need rebuilt and he want's $650 a piece? You can't get a 428 crank for less than $400 unless you really strike a deal somewhere. Is it the irrigation motors that were reverse rotation? Not a problem anyway since you will be replacing the cam.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,931
Likes: 12
From: SW Michigan
428 ?
Well, they are certainly worth looking at. I know ford sold industrial 428s for several things, water pumps, frost preventers, even powering combines. Don't worry about the low power rating, your only really interested in the block and crank anyway, for heads you can put on anything you want. Check the stroke before you pay for anything however, the 390 was sold for industrial use also, there were industrail 427s too, but most of those have been grabbed a long time ago. Where are you ? If the guy has 4 of them, I want one too! DF
New User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 18
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From: santee
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,188
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From: yes
428 ?
>Take the pan off and look for a casting number on the crank.
> It should Be 1U or 1UA or could even be a C???-? number.
>Good luck.
couldn't it be 1UB also??
> It should Be 1U or 1UA or could even be a C???-? number.
>Good luck.
couldn't it be 1UB also??
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New User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 18
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From: santee
428 ?
I was just kidding, i am looking for a fe block though, i have a 74 250 highboy that, after a fresh rebuild from a reputable shop, started getting oil into the coolant. I brought it back to him and he supposedly ran some kinda dye in the oil or something like that to find where it was leaking from. He said it turned out to be a casting flaw of some sort and said i needed to replace the block. You guys ever heard of something like this?
74 250 highboy 4x4 390 c6
77 bronco uncut and rusty
78 150 2wd 4v cleveland c6
00 250 4x4 powerstroke
74 250 highboy 4x4 390 c6
77 bronco uncut and rusty
78 150 2wd 4v cleveland c6
00 250 4x4 powerstroke
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 0
From: Paola, KS
428 ?
>started getting oil into the coolant. I brought it back to him and he supposedly ran some kinda dye
>in the oil or something like that to find where it was
>leaking from. He said it turned out to be a casting flaw of
>some sort and said i needed to replace the block. You guys
>ever heard of something like this?
>
>74 250 highboy 4x4 390 c6
>77 bronco uncut and rusty
>78 150 2wd 4v cleveland c6
>00 250 4x4 powerstroke
Wow! Somebody else that has run into this problem. I had a 390 that did the same thing.
I was told be three machine shops that the oil passage that runs up the block to feed the heads develops microscopic cracks in them. This in turn allows high pressure oil to be pushed into the water jackets, but it will not allow water into the oil since water is never under the kind of pressure that the oil is.
All three shops also told me that a SB Chevy (I know it's a cuss word sorry
) pushrod sawed off to a length of 5.7" can be pressed in to the oil passage which solves to problems, one being the oil in water, and it restricts the flow of oil to the valvetrain allowing more oil to go to the bearings.
Brian
>in the oil or something like that to find where it was
>leaking from. He said it turned out to be a casting flaw of
>some sort and said i needed to replace the block. You guys
>ever heard of something like this?
>
>74 250 highboy 4x4 390 c6
>77 bronco uncut and rusty
>78 150 2wd 4v cleveland c6
>00 250 4x4 powerstroke
Wow! Somebody else that has run into this problem. I had a 390 that did the same thing.
I was told be three machine shops that the oil passage that runs up the block to feed the heads develops microscopic cracks in them. This in turn allows high pressure oil to be pushed into the water jackets, but it will not allow water into the oil since water is never under the kind of pressure that the oil is.
All three shops also told me that a SB Chevy (I know it's a cuss word sorry
) pushrod sawed off to a length of 5.7" can be pressed in to the oil passage which solves to problems, one being the oil in water, and it restricts the flow of oil to the valvetrain allowing more oil to go to the bearings.Brian
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 593
Likes: 1
From: Texas panhandle
428 ?
I used to run 428 industrials on my irrigation wells. They were CJ block assemblies with 361-391 heads and intakes bolted on. The flywheels and bellhousings were off the 391 also and had 13 inch clutches. We ran them 24-7 all summer, changing oil in them once a week. Some of the engines were doubled up, tying the cranks together. This wasn't too succesful as the rear engine usually ended up with a broken crank (just in front of the cam sprocket). We remedied that by using a 391 for the back engine. They sure sounded good when you got them synchronized. I still have some of them (don't call) in the barn. They make good pickup motors if you put the right parts on top. I'd jump on those 428s but plan on rebuilding them. Sounds like a reasonable price. The 391 FT heads and intake make good boat anchors but if you use the pickup for towing, the 13 in. clutch is a useable option. The flywheel is heavier so the engine will be slower to wind up but it works good for towing as it will help maintain rpm on hills. The 391 flywheel has a counter weight similar to the 428 and seems to work fine. Good luck with your project.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 479
Likes: 0
From: Miami U.S.A.
428 ?
I think all the industrial engines cam in reverse rotation only. That can be remedied fairly easy. Just need to have the crank ground for the proper rotation. Most of the other parts can be interchaged no worries. If you have a (or can find a) 428 forward rotation crank that will save you that. And you could probably get a good price out of the reverse rotation crank.
I would definitly go look at them though. Check everything and get the very best one you can.
Scott
I would definitly go look at them though. Check everything and get the very best one you can.
Scott