Ford Fe Help!

[mbelan2]

This is my first post to this forum and I am in hopes that some of you FE enthusiats will be able to help me out. I just took possesion of what I was told was a 391 from a 1967 F600. I disassembled the engine and became confused with what I found. It seems that I have a 428 block that was only bored to 4.05" with a forged steel 391 crank 3.78", D2TE-EA $E. I only know this block as a 428 by the casting inside the center freeze plug. What kind of mongrel do I have here and which direction should I go to rebuild it, 391 or 428? Thanks.

[Excaliber]

Ahhh yes, the old FE 'what is this thing' game. They came in a very wide variety of mix and match, and over the years, hard to say what found it's way inside after it left the factory. Your on the right track, check the numbers, cross reference, research and take nothing for granted (maybe it's a 391, maybe the guy was TOLD that and doesn't really know).

Let the games begin!

[flwolfman]

It probably is a 391 truck FE like the guy said. If I owned it, I would have it sonic mapped to maike sure of the wall thickness, then take it to standard 428 bore, put a 428 crank in it, change the timing cover, adapt the distributer and go. Just what I would do. Jim

[mbelan2]

Thanks for your comments. I started researching a 391 to 428 rebuild and was wondering if anyone could provide a rough order of magnitude of what I should realistically expect this engine to cost me once complete. I need everything from oil pan to carb and am looking to build a decent performance daily driver for an upcoming replica cobra project. Any contact information for FE specialists up here in the Northern New England would be helpful and appreciated? This is my first engine buildup and would really like to do it right the first time, or as close as possible! The question at this point is wheter it is better to buy one as a crate engine from of the on-line resellers or build it locally?

[Dwight]

mbelan2

for your first FE, I would call Keith Craft. He will ask you what you want to do with it (street Cobra). You can not beat his price and it will be right the first time. The cost of his motors are a little more than you will pay for the parts, not counting the time you will spend. Dyno'ed so you "know" what the HP and TQ are.

Dwight

[mbelan2]

Would I need to send my block out to Kieth Craft as a core?

[rblong]

Call Keith. I supplied the block and he built it to what I wanted. He is a good guy.

[mbelan2]

If I go the 428 route what is a realistic selling value for my 391FT crank, D2TE-EA $? I would have some other associated components available also.

[Dwight]

You can get an idea from DSC price list, but remember they guaranteed there parts and check them before they ship.

Dwight

http://dscmotorsports.com/

from they web page:
Blocks are guaranteed to pass magnaflux and pressure tests and are to be useable for intended purpose.

352 $125.00 / ea C
390 $150.00 / ea B
391 Truck Crank (Steel) $275.00 / ea C
427 (Iron) $250.00 / ea D
427 Steel $450.00 / + C
428 1U CJ and T-Bird $400.00 / + A
428 CJ 1UB or #A $450.00 / + B
428 SCJ 1UA or #B

[Dwight]

the correct truck crank and block with 427 rods / pistons will give you 427 cid

Dwight

[mbelan2]

Thanks for the info. I checked out the DSC site which looks to be very useful. I like your idea to get 427CID using the my existing block and crank. I will have to do some homework to see what configuration is necessary to achieve it. Does anyone have any experience doing this and does the combination perform well? I will definetly have to machine the snout on the crank.

[Dwight]

buy,

High Performance Ford Engine Parts Interchange George Reid ISBN 1-884089-33-X

Ford Performance by Pat Ganahl ISBN 1-884089-27-5

How To Rebuild Big-block Ford Engines by Steve Christ ISBN 0-89586-070-8

they cost $19 to $27 each. You can buy them on Amazon for 30% off plus shipping.

Dwight




five FE's of the 18 motors I have in my shop



428 out of a stationwagon "S" code block