428FE Costs?

[Russ Dickey]

Can you guys give me a ballpark on what I can reasonably expect to pay for a complete '66-'68 428 FE (non CJ), which needs a complete rebuild?

And is it cheaper just to buy a complete, ready-to-go engine from one of these "turn-key" engine companies?

Also, what are your thoughts on building up a 390? They can be bought cheap, but can they be made to put out 500+ horsepower?

[wicked fast]

Hey Russ (of GoMotorsports fame ??),

Believe it or not,
I found my 1968 428 Police Interceptor
in a Smithville, MO junkyard.
It had 60,000 miles and the factory PI intake.

Paid 650.00 for the complete engine, and they pulled
it from the car.

I am sure you can still find a complete 428 !!

Good luck,
Bill Cook
APA Auto Parts fame

p.s. Lesa had a blast at our show in Vegas.

[kobrabob]

I just sold a '69 fresh, standard bore, 428 CJ w/ CJ heads, Cobra oil pan, Cobra valve covers, flywheel, complete front end, 427 dual-point dist, hi-volume oil pump, spun alum pulleys and complete 427 low-riser dual quad intake w/ new 600 cfm carbs for $5,500.
However, just saw buddy get $6,000 for rebuilt top-oiler 427 here in Miami, Florida. Check it out on eBay under completed items search.
Whatever you do, get it from or rebuilt by an experienced FE shop.

bob

[btsai]

Russ,

Read this: 600 HP 390FE and 32 MPG

It's a custom FI system, but it's a 390 that makes a claimed 600 HP... Not sure what you could do with a more conventional intake system... Sounds do-able.

Ben

[Sizzler]

Originally posted by Russ Dickey


Also, what are your thoughts on building up a 390? They can be bought cheap, but can they be made to put out 500+ horsepower?

I'd find a copy of the Hotrod Magazine buildup of an FE they recently did. Basic 390 rebuild to an easy 450 HP. They were building for torque though to use in a truck. 500 HP should be relatively easy. Complete list of parts etc in the article.

As for buying a complete engine, shouldn't be that expensive as long as you stay away from side-oiler blocks and aren't too concerned with date-correct parts. Ballpark, for a garden-variety 428, $1,000 or less depending on just what exactly is included on/with the engine. 390's are dirt cheap.

[kobrabob]

$1.000 for a 428 sounds like a used non-CJ non-PI engine. The problem is, How Do You Know You Are Buying a 428? You could be buying a 352 or 390, or a truck engine. Only way to make sure is measuring the bore. Forget casting marks. Ford never had a consistant marking system and there is always an exception to every "if it has this mark, it's definitely a ______"

Then you are going to spend at least $2,000 for inspection, machining, (assuming the block is good), balancing and assembly.
Then you are going to spend more $$$ on new parts.
And just like building your own home, you will justify spending a little more while you are at it and do this and/or that little extra that can "only be done when rebuilding".

If you don't Magnaflux and Ultrasound the block you may be putting money into a sieve. Or an instant boat anchor. Or a troublesome engine that you can never get running right. Or an overheating behemoth good for just starting it up in the driveway on very cool days, never mind driving it.

If you try to assemble it yourself, you better know what you are doing. Ford FEs are fickle and very unforgiving.

These are the reasons most go for the small block. More of them, more parts, less hassle. However, You never got the nostagic look of the FE nor the sound of a Ford BB when you stomp it.

I have had very strong running 390s and even a 13 second 352. Making 500 HP out of a 390 is costly and would probably make it a high maintenance engine. Obviously much easier with a 428. The Hot Rod people can make 450 HP out of a 390 but in reality, they have resources most of us don't have. Here is the link to the story site.
http://www.hotrod.com/webonly_january/index.html

Here is a tip; look locally for a rusted out unrestored 66 T-Bird. They usually can be picked up cheap. If you have a junk yard that has older cars, careful with the 428 claim, always verify by measurements. Old police cars had engines replaced by Fred Jones Rebuilt 390s. I fell for that one once. Look at the FE forums regularly and ask for what you want. Here are some of the best:
http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/74182
http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/goto?forumid=21142
http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/for...php?forumid=31
http://www.fomoco.com/forumfe/
http://www.428cobrajet.com/forum.html
http://www.428cobrajet.com/
http://www.voy.com/49343/
http://www.ford-trucks.com/cgi-bin/d...conf=DCConfID1
http://www.grantorinosport.atfreeweb.com/sjc.htm
http://mix.twistedpair.ca/pipermail/galaxie/

Some of the above are informative sites and not forums but they relate to Ford FE engines. My favorite on Ford FE info is this one, a must read for the FE fanatic:
http://www.mustangandfords.com/techa...999/index.html

Here is a place in the State of Washington that sells rebuilt 390 engines from $1,150 to $1,250.
http://www.ford-motors-engines.com/f...tang&Go=Go#390

Here is a good site for Ford FE related literature.
http://www.motorhaven.com/enginemanual.html

IMHO there is nothing better than a well built FE. Go for it, but usually this is not an economical engine.

Good things demand a price, but they are always worth it.

Hope this helps.

Bob

[chopper]

As an option, check Southern Automotive:

http://southernautomotiveengines.com/

Complete 428, single four barrel, 470 hp, $7900.
Complete 428, dual four barrel, 485 hp, $9400.

I agree with kobrabob here; unless you really, really know what you're doing, you might find it much more economical in the long run to get a complete package from someone who does. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt and receipts to prove it. Many folks on the forum have Bill's engines and he has a pretty good following. Of course, check out Mr Gessford, also.

[CJ428CJ]

I shopped around for a rebuildable 428 and it took quite a while to find one. Most of the wrecking yards I called laughed when I told them what I was looking for. I called one and the guy said he'd worked there for 15 years and had never seen one. And I wasn't calling the yards that specialize in late model cars or foreign cars. I called the ones that claimed to specialize in old cars and fords. I finally found one here: http://www.gillys.com/
I paid $1000 for it. It had never been rebuilt and was complete form the pan to the aircleaner. Of course it wasn't a Cobra Jet but with the availability of after market heads, that didn't concern me.

[REAL 1]

A friend of mine is selling a new rebuilt 428 police interceptor. He built two ERA Cobras and a ERA GT 40 later purchased by BLACKJACK.

I believe he wants $6400.00 for the engine. Its ready to fire up!

Let me know if you are interested.

[Sheppard]

Guess I got lucky, found my 428 in a 1968 T-Bird with the suicide doors in a junk yard in Richmond CA.....$385.00 complete.....a 428 is easy to identify because of the external counter weight on the flywheel/flex plate...you can knock out the middle core plugs and you will find 428 molded into the casting.....then there are specific casting marks that are found in that FORD rebuild book.....

After I got the engine home, I threw away everything but the block and crank.....$6,785.00 later I have a 428 that is .030 over with a ten-ten crank, balanced and decked with Edelbrock heads, Eagle rods, Canton road race pan, Comp Roller Cam, roller rockers, stands and HD shafts, Performer RPM manifold, aluminum water pump, 750 Holley, Lakewood scatter shield steel, fly wheel...etc etc....I'll probably spend another $500.00 on misc items to finish it up.

I would think based upon several articles I should have at least 475 hp...a truck load of torque and a good dependable 6,000 rpm ....

none of these expenses can be disclosed to any female remotely connected with this project.....

JAY

[OK Racing]

I had a tough time fining a 428 as well. Junk yards, word of mouth didn't work. I rented a big trailer signboard (yellow ones with changeable letters) and put it on the side of the #1 highway in Canada. It said looking for a Ford 427 or 428 engine...please call...

Within 2 weeks I had 4 leads - 1 CJ fully race prepared $5K Canadian, 1 1966 Police Interceptor in a show truck (the one I purchased - $5500) and 2 in cars. The sign was great at generating leads. Just an idea...


Tom

[kobrabob]

Very creative OK Racing.

Seems the going rate for a rebuilt 428 is from $5000 to $6500.

I remember when a good 427 was less than a $1000. Those were the days.

bob

[Rob_R]

Evan,
You have mail.

Rob_R

[SCOBRAC]

I have a real nice 400hp +/- 428 in my car you can buy today for $3400. It has 2k miles on the bottom end and <20k (long story) on the top end.. Professionally built (and re built) by Bennett Automotive in Hayward, Ca. It is the engine in the car in my gallery. For that price the motor is being sold with a single 4v, chrome oil pan, valve covers.. Basically the complete engine and a manifold, rear plate flywheel and a really low mile clutch/ w pressure plate.

It's in the car running. Drive it before you buy it. I have 70psi of oil pressure at start up, 45-50 at idle with Mobile 1.. What else..?? It's a nice street engine, pulls well to 5300 rpm has tons of low end.. Idles well with dual quads.. Help me pull it out and take it home..

[SCOBRAC]

Hmmm.. after looking at southern automotives site maybe I want more..

[Excaliber]

How about a 390 for $3000? Good old motor, nothing special.

Ernie

[rritchey]

Russ,

My name is Randy Ritchey. I have been machining and building FE motors for a long time. There are several very good responses to your thread, some really knowlegable people are on this site. I noticed a couple people pointed you to Southern Automotive and Gessford. They certainly have good reputations and their engines are good, but their prices are unreasonable. I can build you a base 428, balanced, blueprinted, everything new or re-furbished for around $5000.00, depending on what kind of top end you want. I will even run it in for you on a dyno (I really encourage you to do that with any engine you buy or build) so you know it is good and you know exactly what you are getting. You can make a very mild mannered 428 with mid 400 to 500 HP really easy, and it will have mid 500's torque. I can send you pictures of engines I have built before and copies of dyno sheets. Please let me know if I can be of service.
Thanks and have a blessed day! Randy

[SCOBRAC]

I have experience with Mr. Ritchey and have only good things to say about him.

[rritchey]

SCOBRAC,

Thanks for the kind words Michael, I appreciate it a lot.

Have a blessed day!
Randy

[jared1970]

Somebody had a complete 428 for sale in the local paper this weekend for $400! He sold it an hour before I called him. He also had 2 427's listed in the add, but I don't know what he wanted for them. The guy who bought the 428 bought those, too.