Hello all,
Hey, I have a set of these rods out of a 428 C6ME block with the 1U crank. The engine is supposed to a 428PI. Date code on the block makes it a "67".

All of the rods have the same casting number. But on the other side from the casting number, there are five different date/plant code numbers? That is what has me curious. The numbers I have are as follows,
3 VN
53 L B16
5 AAJ
59R A
11U A

Does anyone know what these codes mean? Also, the bolts on these rods are 3/8". I thought all 428Pi engines had the 13/32" bolts. Can anyone chime in on this too?

I am going to use the engine in my 69 Mach 1, which is a factory R-Code car to begin with, which is about 1/3 of the way through restoration. The car is what has become known as a Double-R code car. Meaning the assembly plant code is R for San Jose and the engine code is R for 428CJ ram-air.

Bruce

 

Before you go any further, you should seriously consider selling that '67 date-coded 428 stuff, even if it's not a PI, as it's pretty interesting to the Shelby crowd, as the '67 GT500 engine was based on the PI, with a number of changes- but if the date on your block fell in the right place, and it hasn't been modified or machined on by any Chebbie-type guys who tend to hack up FE's, you could easily get a large amount of coin for it and get a correct CJ block for your car. Some of the CJ's actually came with the 1U crank, so if yours is nice and standard or .010, I'd keep it. The rods aren't right, but the right ones aren't hard to find, I think I have a couple sets, ARP bolts and you're ready
BTW, I also have a number of sets of CJ heads and a couple blocks

 

Thanks MeanGene,

The block is standard. The only mods I have done are the oil passage from the pump to the filter housing and tapped the oil gallery plugs. Other wise it is in great shape. I'm sure it will need to be bored .020 over to clean up the cylinders. It has been rebuilt once before, as the bearings were marked Std. Which also says the crank is standard rods and mains. I know these rods are not CJ rods, but with top of the line ARP bolts they should work just fine. I have a set of CJ heads that I have already rebuilt and wrapped in plastic bags waiting to breath fire again. Bruce

 

I guess you missed the point about making your car "whole" again, as it is an R code car, which you should be able to do quite easily if your block falls in the right dates for a Shelby- even some '68's had the non-CJ engines, and the later KR's would have been CJ's, so even a late '67 plain block could be Shelby fodder- and the proceeds from a Shelby block should more than pay for a '69 CJ block- I've got one out in the shop with a partial VIN that should be from a San Jose car, as I got if from a swap meet in Pleasanton- and there's actually quite a few correct blocks to be found for sale. And the 13/32 bolt PI- 406-low riser -CJ type rods come pretty cheap, no need to settle for 390 type rods- and yours would be correct, and stronger.
Wouldn't you like to make your car correct while you're doing it? That '67 block might be your stepping stone if it's dated right