I am not familiar with a 428,I am running a 390 in my truck right now but have the chance to pick up a 428 for around $1000. I have a few questions-Will it be much worse on gas (provided I keep my foot out of it) and will the parts from my 390 interchange (heads,intake)?

 

The 428 was the largest FE offered. All FEs look the same on the outside, the differences are on the inside.

Is the engine running? $1000.00 seems a little high to me, but someone esle might think differently.


For my 2, if I had a good running 390 I'd keep on keeping on. An after market intake should swap, heads should bolt on.

A 428 crank in a 390 makes a 410 used a couple years in Mercury, and one hell of a towing motor.




John

 

So just the crank will get me a 410,I don't need the rods?

 

Crank and pistons. Rods are the same, difference is made up by piston.

FE Series Engine Specification Chart

 

What about the build options? With a 428 what is the highest compression ratio you can build and run on premium pump gas?

OJ

 

I wouldn't go any higher than 10.5:1 when using iron heads; that way you can still run a decent ignition advance. Personally, I would go with 10.0:1. Generally speaking you can go one full point higher when using aluminum heads on the same octane of fuel. As far as build options are concerned, it really depends on what your goals are for how you are going to use this truck. You're splitting hairs when it comes to gas mileage differences between a 390 vs a 428, there is only 4.75 cubic inches per cylinder volume. On another note, it also depends on parts selection. Does this truck have an automatic or manual transmission? What gears are in the back and what size tires do you have or plan on having? Is this truck going to be a muscle truck, off road rig, or a heavy hauler? We don't want to steer you in the wrong direction and you have an investment that you are not satisfied with. That price for the 428 is really not that bad once you go on ebay and price out the indiviual parts. Just beware of it's condition. Has it already been rebuilt and how many times? Did it run when it was pulled? Used motors are kinda mystery until you tear it apart and actually see what is inside of them and what condition all the parts are in.

 

Well the 428CJ came with a 10.7 to 1 compression from the factory so you can at least run that much. Back in the day my rebuilt 428CJs all ended up at 11 to 1 compression or higher for the race only motors but we had real gas back then. With today junk fuel I would stay in the 10 to 1 ball park. That said most 428CJs offered for sale turn out to be a standard 428 or a 390and a standard 428 usually isn't one either, so before you hand over money make sure you are actually are getting a 3.98" stroke motor.

 

i was thinking the same. i was trying to find a running 428 about 9 years ago and all i could find was 390's and cobrajet heads. had a hard time finding junk 428's. the internet fudged finding real deals for the most part

 

Actually,everything is disassembled,so checking specs won't be a problem.As far as mileage is concerned,if it isn't a big jump in difference,I don't care.
As far as use,call me a knuckleheaded hotrodder,but it will be 99% street driven,though it is a 4x4.Just get sick of people with $30,000+ rustbuckets running their mouth about their "real " truck-coming from idiots who don't even know what an FE is.
Oh,btw its a 4 speed w/granny low on 31" cooper stt's,not sure of the gearing,but not exceptionally low.

 

You know this the USofA and you are welcome to spend as much money as you have, but I would suggest staying with the 390 if that is what yours is.

If you had a 352 or 360 the 428 would be a nice upgrade. It is gonna be hard to pull out the extra over a good 390. IMHO




John

 

I find $1,000 rather cheap if the block is a good core not counting the crank, this is not the 1930's wake up times have changed gramps. The 410 was a optional motor for the Mercury Marauder for 66 to 67 years only plus rather rare as most were ordered with 390 engines.

 

A properly built mild mannered 410 or 428 would spank any 390 unless the 390 were pumped up quite a bit, place each motor in a 4 x 4 and see which one craps out first pluuing a grade off roading. How many 352, 360, 390, 410, 427 and 428 engines have you build the past 45 years I must ask you to come up with these replies?

 

I can tell you why the 428CJ is so hard to find. The CJ and SCJ ran "CAST" pistons that had a very nasty habit of breaking at the wrist pin. Then the big old meaty rod would swing around that 4" (3.98" is close enough to call it 4") stroke crank and do it's damned best to cut the block in half. I did that on my first 428CJ and the only things I salvaged were the heads, intake, 6 rods and believe it or not, the crank. The block, windage tray and oil pan were cut in half. There weren't enough big pieces of the cam and lifters to bother with. Besides that there weren't that many of the 428CJ's made to start with. The standard 428 was also uncommon as in most cases it was an option and not a cheap option or they were in limited production cars.

Oh and I prevented the broke piston thing by doing a tear down and installing forged pistons and never lost another 428CJ again, including my two race motors which saw 7000 rpm a lot.

 

Your lack of knowledge and real experience with the difference in the abilities of the 390 and 428, especially the CJ versions is glaringly obvious. I even had a 3X2 390, the 401 horsepower version not the wimpy 340 horsepower T-bird version, that didn't hold a candle to my 428CJ. Oh and I've been running and racing FE's since 1965.

 

Your dealing with 10.5 CR with the 410 as well the 428 it is not going to run on todays swill unless you know your dynamic compression as well the torque range you want to operate the motor in. The vehicle type 2x4 or off roading a 4 x 4, tire diameters and gearing you can get good gas mileage if not better. It has to be a fully designed engine from carb to tailpipe all working together you will be happy with the 3.98" stroke. Look into the 4.125", 4.250" or a 4.375" aftermarket crank kit. Survivor Motor Sports comes to mind from last year by a FE 68 Camper person I met. He has a rather mean 414 motor and a big custom exhaust system he built. I tested him at a stoplight he went up in smoke with his 12:00 tires at will, I was spanked but found a real gearhead friend who lives on an island. He has given me pointers as well some extra performance engine parts free. Thinning out the heard he told me plus he has much more in storage.