428-Vanilla or CJ?

[Rickster]

O.K., we all know the CJ's had the extra webbing and thicker mains, but they are also more $ and harder to find. If an engine is rebuilt using modern balancing and blueprinting techniques, is there really a difference in reliability for a street driven engine? Also, is there any truth to the cj's and scj's having thinner walls than the plain 428? Just trying to refine my engine search. Thanks.

[Ron61]

Rickster,

I really don't see why if you are going to use it for street use the regular 428 built right wouldn't be as good as the CJ or SCJ versions. I know the cylinder walls on my 69 SJC are thinner as it is bored .065 over and was just sonic tested about a month ago and everything is still great. It came in the 69 limited edition Torino Cobra that I ordered back then. But the 428s that Shelby used in the 60s weren't the CJ engines except in the GT-500KRs.
You are right on about the prices. Everything in my engine costs about what my house did when I built it.

Ron

[FFR428]

I think with the std 428 block you would be just fine. Sure the extra webbing is nice but no big deal really. All the FE blocks are like little brick ****houses anyway and very durable. JMO, G.

[FFR428]

Wow........censored..... sorry.