Ford 427 FE Top Oiler Teardown Part 1

Buy this engine on eBay here:
www.ebay.com/itm/324199559957
I'll be selling my 427 engine soon and in this video I take it apart to show the condition of the internals.

[@winki51z]

WOW, The holy Grail, to a Ford person. I am impressed

[@Marco-fi6gv]

🎯

[@andy347495]

Wow, I can't believe you sold it!

[@v1-vr-rotatev2-vy_vx31]

A diamond in the rough. Built a few of these for myself back in the day with O.E. tri power. For my 1961 Ford country sedan station wagon. And 1967 black fastback Mustang.

[@wkjeeping9053]

Chevy started using the side bolt designs cuz they were buying cheap cast block that kept breaking crank bolts from the cheap casting material. Ford did that in the 60s to make there blocks last longer while racing and beating on the bottom end

[@edsel6818]

That was pretty cool, 😎 👌😁👍

[@dandunning4409]

Those are solid lifters.

[@dieselyeti]

Very cool. Many years ago I bought a running 427 top oiler out of a boat. It was a 300hp version with mismatched low-riser aggie heads and a 60lb cast iron oil pan. It was going to be the basis of a Cobra project but I sold it for what I had into it later on. What amazed me about that motor is the lack of wear in the cylinders and how clean the bores were. I used a gauge and measured less than .001" taper in the bores. Had I kept the engine I would've just honed it; no need to bore it out.

[@jerryparks6123]

63 Ford Thunderbirds had 390 4vs that were 300 hp ! That 427 was more hp than that GAURANTEED!

[@jerryparks6123]

Boat motors don't get many miles or Knots put on them .

[@OHUQTU]

@@jerryparks6123 - you are incorrect - the standard Ford 427 marine engines were rated at 300 horsepower (I guarantee it). From D. Shoe: "Marine 427s are typically of the 300 horse variety. The largest contract by far was through Chris Craft, but many other sources were also available. These are all center oilers, though many will be cast as side oilers and drilled as center oilers. There was also a 400 horse version, but these are not particularly common. I suspect these may be all side oilers, with the associated forged crank and LeMans rods that are part of the sideoiler formula, but I've never yet seen one, so I can only guess. The 300 horsers have solid lifters, standard FE valves, the heads are most often a C6AE-R casting with marine casting number. I like 'em a bunch for performance, particularly since they have bosses cast in which allow easier header bolt access in Fairlane/Mustang applications. Note that C6AE-R heads were found in about a third of all 1966-67 FE vehicles, and the design continued to be used in marine/industrial apps for years after this. The intake is typically the "T" marked iron 4-barrel, which is basically an emissions version of the common 1958-65 FE intake. Crankshaft is standard 390/406/427 nodular cast iron. All FE cast iron cranks are performance worthy, and all FE cranks are cast of the same alloy. Rods are the 390PI/428CJ style, which is the same as a common 390 rod, but drilled to fit a larger bolt. I tend to prefer using standard 390 rods with ARP bolts, instead of the 13/32" rods, though if the rods look nice, and the bolts magnaflux showing no flaws, then it's fine to use them in performace applications. All FE production rods (and most factory FE racing rods) are forged of SAE-1041 steel."

[@cooperparts]

Ran a 66 fairlane 427 many years drag raced pissed a lot of money

[@jasonmenard1073]

Its called a good seasoned block and the valve cover gaskets looked like they sealed the 427 up good for having a intake gasket in the way I do t see no oil down the back side of the block nice engain

[@invoxicated]

ThunderBolt Fairlanes got the 427 Hi Riser motors.

[@1951RKP]

All these old 427 came with solid lifter camshaft which explains the adjusting nuts on the rocker arms. It does have the cross bolt mains which confirms it being a 427. If does oil the lifters first then mains and rods. Timing chain is standard stock chain. This definitely looks rebuildable and will make a great engine for a collector. We raced a lot of these back in the 70’s.

[@Frank289100]

I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF SUCCESS YOU HAD RACING THESE 427'S BACK IN THE 70S, AND WHAT DID YOU RACE. WERE THERE RACE PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THESE 427'S AND WERE THEY EXPENSIVE?

[@Dukers2300]

@@Frank289100Jesus Christ turn your caps off and calm tf down dude lmao

[@Frank289100]

@@Dukers2300 THE CAPS EDUCATED YOU.

[@Dukers2300]

@@Frank289100 Nah, they asked some dumb questions though lol

[@Frank289100]

@@Dukers2300 THIS IS THE COMPLETE BASIS ON THE CHEVY LS ENGINE TODAY. NOT ONE DESIGN ASPECT OF THE OLD SMALL BLOCK CHEVY LIVES IN THE LS. THE LS IS 100% FORD IN DESIGN.

[@r.b.1613]

I'm genuinely surprised you were able to find one that wasn't locked up or wore smooth out. In Webster's dictionary under landmark RARE engine's there should be a pic of this beast...

[@jasonmenard1073]

He said his dad owed it since the 60s it was in Galaxie he has

[@wintermachine]

I had a 70 428 which was the best sounding engine i had. I also had a 64 427 HP but I never built it I sold it later as I was not going to use it. I would get it to idle about 650 rpm it would turn 3 revs then bark the tires and 3 revs and bark again lol

[@chrisdaigle5410]

Don't mention engines from that bow tie company. However, the modular Ford engine uses cross bolted main bearings too. Starting with the 4.6 liter to the 5.2 Voodoo. That original air cleaner alone is worth a lot.

[@cooperparts]

You can only use solid lifters in the center oil block no screw in freeze plugs

[@Imnotyourdoormat]

That means this is a 427 that feeds the cam bearings and lifter gallery before it feeds the mains and the rods like 390/428s... The oiling system can or could be reworked, to aid in oil flow priority, but I wouldn't do that to this motor. Just freshen it up maybe warm it over that's it. May find its way into a nice Cougar or something somewhere. Swapping this 427 in place of a stock motor shouldn't hurt the value of most FoMoCo's, the 427 was available as a dealer-installed option on any FORD of the day.

[@willthetrill4849]

This would be a cool to put into a 63 or 64 at the latest full size mercury and make into a Mercury Marauder tribute

[@wwrunk5551]

That would be dang nice !

[@mikehrdlicka8635]

If that is like my 406 don't think lifters are oiled? (Solid lifter)

[@mikesmithey1892]

My dad had a 65 Galaxie 500 390 Fe I remember that thing taking a couple 426 Hemi 396 Chevys especially at high-end speeds it had a tall rear end speedometer went to 120 we would pay get out and no time and it would get off the line and no time ticket to the dragstrip Place, raisin city in California he raced a Corvette and beat it what back another time and raced a 340 Duster Beat It a great car but got lousy gas mileage

[@GaryH-pw9cm]

My cousin had a 1961 Ford back in 63 that blew the engine. No problem. He put a Lincoln 430 with a Turbo drive in it. Worked just fine except the hood would not close all the way. No problem. He tied down the hood with a log chain. Things were so much simpler back then. 😊

[@larrymac2093]

I found one in the dirt last week in a junkyard. I almost walked by it but noticed the cast iron headers. It's lock up. Still investigating to see what I found. The date code on the headers are c5ae-9430-h.

[@OHUQTU]

c5ae-9430-h is not a date code

[@grandcrappy]

JFK era. Quite old for automotive engines. But Kaase keeps the venerable FE alive and better!!

[@paulpruitt2776]

Find more fe parts at survival motor sports Barry is a class act also dove engineering Jim dove and Robert pond still making blocks heads etc

[@jamesbarton3165]

How much $ . I'm interested in it for my 66

[@Axeman428]

I knew it was real as soon as I saw the cross bolted mains.

[@alonzowitt5931]

Side oiler!!! This is the detuned 427 thunderbolt

[@marcattoma7090]

Still for sale?

[@johncollins5815]

HOW MUCH ???TY JOHN

[@jackierandall2230]

So far its a bone stock 63 top oiler all the numbers match.

[@Mick_A_Knuckle]

1:35 Cross-bolted mains, not "side screws".

[@guglielmodicarlo4139]

why would you take that apart, then sell it?? LOL strange,, I have two of em, running if anyone else is interested, they were marine version 1968

[@jeffschwartz5199]

What do you have ? I'm curious 🤔

[@guglielmodicarlo4139]

@@jeffschwartz5199 I have twin 1968 427 FE in my 35 ft chris craft boat

[@OHUQTU]

I have paid too much for FE's in the past, because I trusted the sellers claims - I will never again buy any engine without seeing it dissambled, first.

[@quagmiredavis4117]

Also torque rocker shaft in increments careful not to bind shaft

[@GaryH-pw9cm]

Yes, good point.

[@jimhernandez5175]

i have one out of a boat late model it looks clean still has all the marine on it i would sell it i am in california

[@normanjones5167]

Dude if the crack you are referring to is from the head dial pin to the water jacket on the block you won’t find one that isn’t cracked he is trying to get that engine for cheap. Top oilers are good engines sure on a nascar track at 6500 all day it needed improvement. Keep firm on your price

[@notme810]

IWANT!!!!!!!!!Dont take apart!!!!

[@damianbrennan2258]

Y would u sell a buitfull factory rear 427

[@stanleyallen6359]

Yeah I remember when Ford Kicked Ferrari ass!! In 66 67 68 69 they got bored and left!! Oh yeah and for the 50th anniversary and won it again!! FORD!! A Better idea! 💡

[@tomwinkle1597]

Why not try to start it before tearing down? Insane

[@OHUQTU]

Why try to start it? INSANE! He only wants to sell it!

[@LoneWrencher]

dont know why you wanted to take it apart.would fetch more money complete in one piece.i would have wanted it un molested instead of in pieces

[@pivotmaster9556]

PUTIT IN THE OBS

[@jaybird57]

Roller chain?... what.... do you even engine dude?

[@OHUQTU]

good catch - the timing chain is a standard FE link-belt type, with the standard FE Nylon tooth cam sprocket.

[@GaryH-pw9cm]

@@OHUQTU Yeah those Nylon cam sprockets. I rebuilt a 289 once and the Nylon sprocket only had about 12 teeth, but the engine still ran. I just lifted the chain off with one finger.😊

[@carmiethompson2676]

So you have no idea why your Dad installed a 427FE crate motor in the Galaxie for only two years? Then spent 55 years under a bench?!? Something isn't copasetic. Being a '63 'R' code motor sitting that long, I would think there is a lot of corrosion(pitting) on the mechanical tappets, cam & other components that you won't be able to clean up. Well, at least it's NOT a side-oiler. If a buyer wanted to race the motor, they're starting off right.

[@WilliamPatrickFrye]

He put the 390 back in the Galaxie when he started dating my mom. After that it was her driver. I didn't pull the cam, it may have pitting as you suspect. I didn't end up selling this engine since I cleaned if the deck surfaces and found cracks between the head bolt and weather jacket in both sides. Bummer. They are hairline, but I think they need to be welded. These days I'm thinking of doing the rebuild and putting it in my old Ford truck that has a 390 now.

[@carmiethompson2676]

@@WilliamPatrickFrye I hope you can find an artisan that can make the repair. Those guys are few & far between. I've heard Dove Manufacturing is one of the go-to places for the FE. You're going to have one cool truck. Best wishes, thanks for the reply & video.

[@briana3467]

@@WilliamPatrickFrye that's what I did with mine., now I have the best sounding truck in town.

[@randomologist77]

@@WilliamPatrickFrye I used Crow Custom Cast Welding in Wisconsin to weld my dad's old 427FE which had a hairline crack from freezing. The crack was pretty dang long, but very difficult to see. In fact, the corrosion in the crack over the past 40 years had the cooling system actually holding pressure under testing before it was cleaned, haha. Castmetalwelding.com Best of luck on the project!

[@OHUQTU]

@@carmiethompson2676 - DOVE engineering has not supplied FE parts for many years

[@MikeSki-w3b]

This engine is a regurgitated Buick nailhead.

[@WilliamPatrickFrye]

Does that make it good or bad?

[@BillyLintzenich-wf7sk]

How do you figure that? There isnt anything even close to a nailhead. I have 3 of them btw. The 425 is actually sitting in a house. Haha

[@Frank289100]

THIS IS THE COMPLETE BASIS OF TODAY'S CHEVY LS MOTOR. THE LS IS A REGURGITATED FORD 427 HIGH RISER. THOSE CLOWNS CALLED ENGINEERS AT GM GOT AWAY WITH COPYING A FORD LEGEND AND THE CHEVY GUYS ARE THROWING A PARADE DOWN 5TH AVENUE YELLING "CHEVY IS THE BEST".

[@OHUQTU]

Your use of all capital letters shows that your lack of internet protocol. So, you think that GM engineers investigated Ford's 1950's and 1960's FE design features, and concluded that they should respect Ford's slide-rule engineering technology, and copy it?

[@Frank289100]

@@OHUQTU GIVE ME ONE DESIGN ASPECT OF THE OLD SMALL BLOCK CHEVY THAT LIVES IN THE LS??????

[@OHUQTU]

@@Frank289100 - only ONE? How about twelve?... Both are a pushrod engine with hydraulic lifters, rod bearings, transmission-to-block bolt pattern and bore spacing in common with the Generation I and II engines, cast iron cam-in-block 4.4 in bore spacing, the same connecting rod bearings and valve lifters, 2 valves per cylinder with aluminum heads.

[@Frank289100]

@@OHUQTU MY LAWNMOWER HAS THOSE THINGS. I WILL ASSUME YOUR IQ IS HIGHER THAN THAT OF AN EGGPLANT. GIVE ME SOMETHING MORE CREDIBLE.

[@OHUQTU]

@@Frank289100 - you think credibility is importent? Should respect your obvious great intellect? So, your lawnmower has hydraulic lifters, rod bearings, transmission-to-block bolt pattern and bore spacing in common with the Generation I and II GM engines, cast iron cam-in-block and 4.4 in bore spacing? Your juvenile use of eggplant rhetoric is typical of deflective argument - ie.: "When you have no basis for an argument, abuse the plaintiff" Marcus Tullius Cicero: 3 January 106 BC - 7 December 43 BC YOUR credibility is exposed here - I would challenge you to a battle of wits, but see that you are unarmed.

[@dylanboyle2995]

Personal as a car guy and as a ford guy all my life I dont think you should have touched it regarless of your thoughts on how it looks on the inside or whatever your excuse was you ruined a chance of someone making that motor a survivor from the 60s now it hast to be rebuilt with all modern stuff thats not from the 60s like it was originally sorry but my opinion is if you dont know what your doing just leave it alone

[@BillyLintzenich-wf7sk]

The motor was too rusted up to be used as a "survivor" engine. Just looking at the rust on the outside tells you that it needed to be taken apart and rebuilt.

[@garyfurr1467]

Don't sell it you will regret selling the 427

[@Typpyng]

You'll never own another one

[@thomasbutcher4424]

Your FE oiling info is no good No one does that!

[@robertwoodward388]

That's a 406

[@jerryparks6123]

Wasn't 427 forged onto the Block ?

[@normanjones5167]

No it ain’t the harmonic balancer is 427, and the timing pointer is for the 427 low riser,plus very few 406s had cross bolt mains that is a untouched 63 427 8v. Low riser.

[@OHUQTU]

@@jerryparks6123 - FE blocks are not "forged" - they are cast iron - the letters and number are from the casting patterns

[@dalewesley1662]

6090 cast heads is polished Chambers long time know see 🚳

[@breckhedrick2423]

Put it back in the galaxy and drive it kiddos 😢