10 Ways to Identify a Ford 428FE!

Some Good Websites for FE Identification
www.diyford.com/choose-ford-f...
itstillruns.com/identify-ford...
Great Facebook Groups
Ford FE Fanatics
/ 331841457196501
Ford FE Engine Group
/ 358109257646873
Ford Fe Engine Enthusiasts
/ 478324655612625

[@BrandonLeeBrown]

Replacement parts, including engine blocks, were available from Ford for at least 10 years after the last year of production for each part. The service replacement parts can interchange, but aren't always exactly the same as the original parts. For replacement cylinder blocks, the 428 replacement blocks after 1970 were 391 truck engine blocks, bored out for 428 pistons and had a plug in the external oil line connection on the truck block.

[@OmarRamirezGalaxie]

Great info thanks Brandon

[@stanleyallen6359]

I have been a FORD man whole life. There is one thing about a 428 that most Ford guys don't even know. On the right side of the block the middle freeze out plug take out the freeze out plug and you will see a big 428 stamped inside the wall!! All 428's will have it. FORD!! A better ideal!!💡

[@dumpsterchicken6287]

Great info, thank you. You have a lot of great old engines.

[@wkjeeping9053]

I have a 25k low mileage 391 fe in a 65 Ford f250. My grandpa ordered it and only used it to pull his 5th wheel trailers until the 93 when he got a 460 Ford f250, 5 speed. I have it now and drive it very little. It helps the wife and kids can't drive a manual.whats sweet about it the Interior is mint condition. It was always covered by a blanket over seat and dash.

[@garrettduncan3227]

Solid, Omar. I dig your style. Keep up the great work.

[@OmarRamirezGalaxie]

Appreciate it

[@428eliminator3]

Great information, also the Flywheel or Flex Plate will have an added counter weight if the engine still maintains factory balance. Pretty easy to spot on an Automatic one.

[@drtb69]

Thank you for the knowledge, I'm old and needed a good refresher course. Just i.d 'd my 410 FE crank

[@JA-sm9zf]

Good stuff - very helpful! Thanks

[@taylormach1699]

Thanks for the information.

[@daveogarf]

Thank you! VERY helpful.

[@rickdemorgan8951]

There were some 1962 - 1964 406 blocks that had the 4.13 bore (same as 428), 2 bolt motor mount.

[@VegasRT500]

I have been looking for over a year and still have not found a good Ford 428 engine. This is a great video and will definitely help.

[@OmarRamirezGalaxie]

Good luck! I love chasing these old FE iron blocks.

[@mkowboy13]

This is awesome

[@russschubert6709]

Many of these blocks are long gone. It’s great that you found old iron and found something that’s not cracked ! The last 390 I built it took me 6 blocks to find a good one .

[@OmarRamirezGalaxie]

Wow 6 blocks. I’ve heard of the 390s having problems

[@timrayburn2461]

Great video

[@bobwhite4344]

great vid.

[@robertdavis6708]

I've got an unmolested 427 fe that came out of 67 factory fairlane. So many of these engines were bored , honed decked and crammed full of piston compression. I think they were under rated in their time. The fellas that built and ran good knew how to tune these engines. The tunnel port headed 2X 4 barrel were a bear to get right. But once they found the sweet spot, the engines screamed.

[@OmarRamirezGalaxie]

Wow that’s awesome robert. I’m waiting to come across one someday, I’m sure I’ll own a 427 one day!

[@charliegraeser6638]

yeah my 410 has been a nightmare to tune and keep right. But man, when it’s right, it screams.

[@stevestubner535]

@@charliegraeser6638 had a buddy with a 410. Him and the last 5 previous owners thought it was a 390. He ran a 4 speed granny... I told him to put a 410 externally balanced flywheel on it. He didn't agree. When he finally came around... She never ran better! Maybe that will help! Cheers!

[@michaelshinlever4746]

​@@stevestubner535 up in in

[@jamesdamron2065]

You can still find them,,,I found two 427 s in a pleasure cruiser boat!!,,sold them both to a guy who builds kit cobras!! & he was stoked

[@charliegraeser6638]

another good one is the externally balanced crank

[@RoninDosho]

Nice one Omar👍🏼

[@OmarRamirezGalaxie]

Thanks!

[@jg2730]

Cool man, good video👍

[@OmarRamirezGalaxie]

Thanks!

[@michaelotten2724]

Thanks kindly!

[@Bbbbad724]

Great job info Omar, Bill B here. I hope yours is burning down tires.

[@scottmcgregor2757]

Sweet. I love my 428 cj

[@johnwilkerson2195]

I'm a Ford guy good information great video!!

[@OmarRamirezGalaxie]

Appreciate it!

[@Mike62501]

Mid 1965, up with small intake ports and regular main webs. Only if no one has opened the engine up. CJ/SCJ all have big low riser intake ports. Plenty of good information but you need to take your $100 sonic tester with before you buy any blocks period!!!! Even if it has 428 cast into water jacket you always need to Sonic test wall thickness.

[@cyborgbudda3374]

You also have the dual identities block. The 410 / 428 designator, built for mercury 410 and ford 428.

[@timdixon9224]

I believe the FE engine is the best design over all to anything to date. There are FE engines still out there running from the early 60s and beyond that have barely been touched.

[@OmarRamirezGalaxie]

Very true, I think the FE is just awesome. So versatile

[@lancelot1953]

Hi Tim, actually, the best "classic" big block design from that era was the 385 (the 429/460/494 family) with the 429 Cobra Jet/Super Cobra Jet/Boss/Nascar being the ultimate. Ciao, L (former FoMoCo engineer from 1970s)

[@matthuitt1004]

⁠@@lancelot1953Obviously you are entitled to your own opinion mate but each to their own, my personal opinion is that the FE is a total LEGENDARY ENGINE that even beat farriers at Lemans !!! , a versatile engine that did everything from work horse to drag / racer !!!!!!!

[@lancelot1953]

@@matthuitt1004 Hi Matthuitt1004, my comment was referring to the "design" of the engine (engineering and power potential-wise). In 1970, Ford withdrew from most racing/high performance activities and R/D. Our world (USA) was changing rapidly - EPA, insurance, liability, gas prices, ... Bottom line, the "Legendary" years were gone - at least for my generation. As far as the excitement, thrill, and historical heritage - I fully agree with you, the FE series and the V90 (289HP/Boss 302) series were the epitome of driving excitement. Ciao, L

[@v1-vr-rotatev2-vy_vx31]

Built a few of these back in the day with the. Tri powers, ez to get over 425 hp with stock parts and stock pistons...

[@1951RKP]

All 428 aren’t Cobra Jets. CJ came out mid 1968. I had a 1966 428 that came out of a 66 Ford Galaxy 7 Litre. It came with a solid lifter Cam with adjustable rocker arms with the cupped pushrods. Had really tall valve covers to clear the adjusting nuts. That was all stock. CJ heads had the staggered exhaust manifold bolts. I had both back then. The 428 Cobra Jet I had I put it in a 1966 Ford Country Squire Station wagon that I used to tow my trailered race car.

[@nellaob4229]

I could see the 428 in that water jacket - watch your video, it is fairly easy to see. Your video recorder caught it. Also... My 428 has a casting date of: April 13, 1965 - It MAY be one of the very first 428 blocks to be made.

[@grannylow7073]

Love ur channel man , I believe I have a 428 industrial running engine that came out of a ford truck I’m sure it got later replaced. What are the power ratings for an industrial 428. I used your keep points to figure out what I could have. I got the ribs , stroke and the 4 screw holes on the motor mounts

[@OmarRamirezGalaxie]

Much appreciated. The plain jane 428 had 345hp but I’m not really sure if that is the same with the industrial engines. I would check the stroke to confirm if it really is a 428!

[@scottscheuerman8714]

I am going to build a 390 fe my cousin has in a shed I bought a 73 f250 highboy 4x4 and it had a blown up 360 with it I took it apart and the block was broken from throwing a rod I figured I might as well put together a 390 being my cousin has one I have been told was good motor

[@stevegabbert9626]

I HAD a couple of Cobra Jet heads, but they got destroyed when one of those huge intakes, on those skinny valve stems, broke off and ricocheted from side to side and beat up both heads. But I'm over it now. 😉

[@bradleynelson5915]

An intake valve dropped and took out both heads? Never heard of that, but I guess if you ran it long enough, it could go down through a piston on one bank and work it's way up past a piston on the other bank.

[@pughoneycutt1986]

And then there's the warranty blocks, that are really truck blocks, but if you needed a new block under warranty it is what you got whether it was a 352 or 428 ,it was the same block just bored to the right size

[@drtb69]

I recall some differences between 390 406 410 428 crankshafts on the flywheel end , like a V notch.??

[@sydrider6023]

And to winning Le Mans!

[@user-vq7ou8dg7i]

I just inherited a car from my dad. Supposed to be a 428 ,any help in identifying would be awesome!

[@WesAdams-HillsideAuto]

For the water jacket on the deck has to be a 1970 and earlier! To make sure it’s a 428 after that, makes it tough because the later 360/390 1971 and on use the same water jacket on the deck as the 428

[@OmarRamirezGalaxie]

Thanks Wes, the more Information that can be shared the better!

[@jeanlawson9133]

I put one in a 700 series Ford spreader Truck.... Ain't it just ain't it 😎

[@JacobWielenga]

How about the 430 Lincoln? A friend and I stuffed one of those in his 57 Fairlane. It was proof that bigger is not always better!

[@scottscheuerman8714]

My dad had a 430 block out of a Lincoln car that was a completely different engine block mercury also had those with a shorter stroke and it was a 383 cubic inch engine and Lincoln also used the same block to make a 462 cubic inch motor I don’t think it was made very long

[@mry82]

👍

[@dpierson489]

On the crankshaft! He didn't show how to quickly identify it, the center main has a small counterweight, and there 3 different casting numbers for that 428.

[@bryangillis5183]

The dates you said are wrong……they did cast them in 65 but for the 66 model year…….the last 428 was installed in 1970…….not 1974.

[@OmarRamirezGalaxie]

Yes, they are cast in 65 for 1966. And you can find 428 blocks with a 74 casting date

[@bryangillis5183]

@@OmarRamirezGalaxie if you have any proof I’d like to see it. I’d like to see the sources of your claim. They stopped Casting 428’s in 1970 per ford and Barry Robotnik. It was replaced in 1971. Maybe you’re mistaking some numbers for date codes. A lot of fe blocks don’t have a date code and more often than not the external parts separate from the blocks have been replaced or mismatched. I’ve been building fe blocks for 20 years and have never come across a 428 with any later than a 1970 casting. My own personal 428 pi included.

[@428eliminator3]

@@bryangillis5183 The last year for a 428 in Production Cars was 1970. Service/Replacement blocks were available until at least 1974.

[@wsu0702]

@@bryangillis5183 They did indeed cast 428 industrial and service blocks (427 service blocks too) all the way up until mid 1974 when the Dearborn Iron Foundry (DIF) closed for good. I can get you pics I have had a few 428 service blocks cast in early '74. Also I am 95% sure that Barry never said that Ford stopped casting 428 blocks in 1970. If he did it was a long time ago because I know for a fact that he knows better now.

[@paulpruitt2776]

Later 428s and replacement blocks with the external ribs are heavey truck blocks not 428 blocks have a galaxy 69 police car it is all original ordered by constable 428 police interseptor it has the 4 bolt exhaust flanges it has a cast iron intake and proper gaskets to fit when i had the valves done were for a scj most of the books on this stuff is common but unreliable in other words not all interseptors had aluminum intakes

[@edge2sword186]

If t.he flywheel has a counterweight it's an external balance 410 or 428 if it has a front counterweight on the spacer it's a SCJ 428

[@jesse75]

This is true. My 427 uses a 428 crank, but had to be internally balanced.

[@outinthesticks1035]

​@@jesse75what cubic inch does that end up ?

[@mikelynam3582]

Only listed 2 ACTual identifiers! Most 428s have the ci cast inside the water jacket. Can be seen with the core plugs removed from the sides of the block.

[@OmarRamirezGalaxie]

They will all really narrow down a 428. A quick look at the engine mounts while it’s in the car will save a lot of time

[@Mike62501]

Yup

[@wsu0702]

@@OmarRamirezGalaxie Apparently Mike Layman does not understand the "process of elimination" principles.

[@goose9094]

Whats the website you mentioned that I can search the vin on for a couple bucks?

[@OmarRamirezGalaxie]

Marty auto works

[@Die-CastBoulevard]

Do you have any recommendations for a good machine shop in California? I have some 390ft heads that I would like to get redone.

[@OmarRamirezGalaxie]

I had machine work done in Azusa by Steve’s machines shop but it took a long time to get my block back. I’ve heard some good stuff about L and R engines Santa Fe springs. I’ll be taking a block to try them out

[@jesse75]

I live in NorCal. I take all my blocks up to Medford. Takes about a week to get them back. Sauyers Machine. So I make a fishing trip, Rain Rock casino, at the same time.

[@ProjectMercuryMarauder]

Lots of hospital generators too!

[@OmarRamirezGalaxie]

Wow I had no idea they were in hospitals. That’s crazy

[@wsu0702]

My dad and I used to buy 428 industrial engines that were used to power orchard wind machines at auction back in the mid-'80s. Our stop bidding price was $200 if it went higher than that we bowed out.

[@fastshelby5226]

I was told that you could pop the center freeze plug out, and there's a 428 that you can see through the center freeze plug hole? True or False?

[@OmarRamirezGalaxie]

Yes some will have it, some won’t. Also in the rear water jacket

[@devinhester1127]

What book are you using to identify the 428 cj ?

[@OmarRamirezGalaxie]

Barry rabotnicks how to build a ford FE engine. It’s a great book

[@5.8torrie46]

I think i might of accidentally bought a 428 with the 4 speed manual for 400 bucks lol I thought it would of been a 360/390 at most but now coming into realization but I’m still in disbelief

[@jesse75]

I bought a 67 mustang with a FE in it. Turned out to be a 427. That's the weird beauty of a FE. Could be nearly anything.

[@mustangswede]

a friendly advice - Do the 'Drill bit Test' (one identifier which omar did'nt mention) Google 'ford fe drill bit test' and you will find out how to perform it. Best of Luck!

[@jeffholland529]

Our 69 scj had leMans rods in it. Is that normal?

[@fastmz3]

Yes

[@brianlamb7937]

Dont know if its true or not Omar but i have been told that all the FE's have that 352 casting mark you showed.

[@OmarRamirezGalaxie]

Yes pretty much most of them will have it. Probably more rare if it doesn’t haha

[@ProjectMercuryMarauder]

Every FE motor I’ve encountered has the 352 casted in the block. The newer modular motors have “540” on a sticker on the front of the engines i’m thinking it’s a identifier for production just to tell a worker that it’s a certain engine family.

[@frizzellracing]

No. Not all FE’s have the 352 cast in them. Some have the mirror 105 and some don’t have anything in that spot

[@ProjectMercuryMarauder]

@@frizzellracing I didn’t say every FE ever made. I said every FE I have encountered. I’m only around 1963-1968 full-size Mercurys…

[@jerryparks6123]

Originally the FE was 332 ci !

[@frizzellracing]

The engine mount bolts don’t really tell you anything other than it was maybe before or after 64, same information you would get from the date code on the block. And some Dearborn blocks do not have date code cast into them.

[@HeadFlowInc]

So, he is correct in saying “One identifier” is the block should have 4 mount holes/bosses to be a 1965+ 👍

[@OmarRamirezGalaxie]

I figured it takes 5 seconds to check under a car. If it’s got two bolt holes then automatically it’s not a 428, saving you time.

[@garry3013]

That flashing on the ribs of the Block is horrible

[@richardstambaugh744]

Put a 1966 428 Merc engine in my 1970 f 100 service truck and its for sale

[@Mike62501]

Both of Barry Robotnic’s books and Jay’s intake manifold shoot out book. Start spending $$$$ here first

[@wsu0702]

The Steve Christ FE rebuild book started it all. Published in 1989. It did have some errors though that were mostly corrected in Barry's and Jay's books.

[@OmarRamirezGalaxie]

I need to get that manifold book! Some cool stuff

[@wsu0702]

Best $60 dollars that you will ever spend.

[@jrealist1]

mine has the 4 bolt holes and is stamped 4c20. what's does that make it?

[@wsu0702]

Are there two dots under the "4" in the casting date code?

[@jrealist1]

@wsu0702 yes 2 dots under the 4

[@wsu0702]

Most likely a block from that final large run of 428 service blocks back in the Spring of 1974.

[@jrealist1]

@wsu0702 also the one in the car now has 4c18 with the 2 dots under the 4. I'm new to this so I'm not sure what they are.

[@jrealist1]

@wsu0702 ok. So the spare block I have is a 1974 then?

[@darrellbanks4998]

You also need to know that the 428 and 410 both have the same stroke and the 390 and the 4.27 boats have the same stroke

[@jerryparks6123]

Ford NEVER made a 410 FE block! They had a 406 FE !

[@jerryparks6123]

Tony Stewart made a 410 ci engine based on the Windsor block ! Not FE series!

[@darrellbanks4998]

The 410 engine was FE. Had the same heads and block of A 390.

[@davemccumbers6353]

@@jerryparks6123 ur wrong lol

[@jerryparks6123]

@@davemccumbers6353 Wrong about what ?

[@artemischucci3478]

No sir

[@artemischucci3478]

It's not fe