428 CJ I.D. Help!

[Rickster]

O.K., so I bought this thing, brought it home and I am getting a sinking feeling in my stomach. This is supposed to be a S.R. block, and I was told it was a 1971 cast date. I have had it cleaned and magged, and the casting date now revealed is 4E22 (May 22, 1974? Did they make S.R. Blocks that late?) Stamped numbers on front of block are 5D22L. no scratch mark on back or 428 stamp in freeze plug. The block DOES have reinforced webs, extra ribs on outside, pipe plugged oil gallery plugs, machining fixture holes on one side of lower skirt and, of course, a 4.13 inch bore. Is this an FT block? I don't care about casting numbers, just want to make sure I got a real 428 to build with. I will be holding my breath untill somebody replies to this post...

[mr0077]

Rick, I think you've got the wrong casting number...the Ford number should be something like D1ZX (D for '70s, 4 for 4th year, Z for Mustang, X for Ford Muscle Parts)...but Pat Ganal's book notes that all 428s sold after '74 were bored out 391 truck blocks, characterized by the vertical outside ribs on the block and a 3/8" pipe plug on the lower side of the block for the truck oil return line...

[FFR428]

Yes it's a 428 block. Kens info is correct in that the late service blocks were cast to fit a number of applications. In other words bored to the specs of the engine needed be it a 428, 391 etc... It should have the "352" on the left front. I also believe 74 was the last year they were cast. I went through this also when I purchase my NOS SR block years back. The date code was partialy shaved off so I don't know what year it was. It had the triple webbig and no 428 inside the core plug either. It was one of the 1000 NOS SR blocks found outside Ontario Canada years back. It came in the original ford box with the correct number for a 428 SR block on it with a 4.13 bore. The main caps should have a triangle on them instead of the normal circle most FE blocks have. Sounds like everything is kosher with your engine block. G.

[Rickster]

FFR428,
Thanks...O.K, I'm breathing again.
Yes, the caps DO have the triangles on them. But I am still confused. If these motors were bored out 391's, then how can it stand another overbore?

[Rickster]

Oh yeah, it does also have 352 on the front.

[mr0077]

Rick, I gather that since all the FEs had the same bore spacing, that the 391s were cast with thicker cylinder walls, and could take the overbore from 4.05" to 4.13", but after that only a max of 0.030" overbore is recommended (although the 68-69 428s supposedly had thicker walls). Glad your motor turned out to be a good one.

[bomelia]

Rick,

I have been through this quite a bit. Got bit on one deal but finally learned some lessons.

My block does have the 428 stamp inside the freeze plug but it was hard to find. First you ave to be on the correct side of the engine (sorry, can't remember which side). I used a bright flashlight and had to "graze" the surface at a shallow angle. With the right lighting, I finally could make it out. Give your eyes time to "integrate" what you are seeing...it should be there.

Any of you guys remember that engine id website? That needs to go into the FAQ.

Mike

[bomelia]

Try this site:

http://www.428cobrajet.com/id-block.html

Mike