Which one - 427 or 428CJ?

I have recently pruchased a 68 selby clone with a very warm 302/toploader. The car was originally a big block and I want to put one back in it. I have located two engines locally: a 68 428CJ and a 64 medium riser 427. Both have recently been rebuilt and include Auto trans. The 428 does not have carb/dist./water pump/exhaust manifolds,etc. The 427 is complete with a single 4-barrel. It also comes with cast Iron factory headers and a factory 2-4 manifold. Im not interested in trying to make the car original. I'm looking for the engine with the most "wow" appeal and best reliable performance for the street. Both engines are priced about the same considering final cost to get running. $3500 for the 428cj, $4500 for the 427. Which one is best for my use? Im a Ford newbie so I need all the advise I can get.

I'd have to say if you can afford it, get the 427. Why? Because you can sell those cast iron factory headers for 300 to 500 bucks if they're in good shape. The intake is worth another 500. (KEEP IT!!) Insist on checking the bore on the 427. All FE's are infamous for thin cylinder walls. Anything over 30 over is pushing your luck without having the block sonic checked for core shift and thin cylinder walls.
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For "wow" appeal its hard to beat a 427 especially with dual quads.Also if this is a side oiler block it has far superior oiling system than the 428.FXComet gave you some good advice though, check these engines out thoroughly as FEs are very hard to identify.The only way I would feel confident to know what your getting is to check casting codes along with actually measuring bore and stroke.Depending how they're set up the 428 might be a better street motor,but I'd go for the 427.The only thing is these engines are usually only good for one overbore and 427s were usually pounded on pretty good by whomever owned one,so I'd check them out very carefully.If you need help with casting codes etc.post them here and we'll try to tell you what you've found.Good Luck as both of these motors are a rare find today[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

fxcomet, thanks for your reply. I've talked to the machineist who build the 427. He says the block was not bored. The motor was gotten by a fellow here as an extra when he purchased a true 67 Shelby some 20 years ago. He let it sit in his shop and the rings froze. The motor man told me the motor was just gone through and put back to bone stock factory spec. The 428cj/c6 was taken out of this car by the guy I bought it from. He rebuilt this engine and says that it has been balanced/blueprinted and has a high lift cam. Don't know about the bore, I didn't ask. It hasn't been run since the rebuild. As far as cost, I figured that the 427 was the cheapest way to go considering what's missing off the 428.

Is there a place on the web where I can check the #'s on these motors to verify what they are?

If not, I'll post the #'s here and maybe some of you guys can help.

Check out the 428 FE CJ post.

Put the 428 in it, and sell ME the 427 [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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The '64 is not a side oiler but is a 427, can't beat it(except with a bigger one) Could always use the 428 crank & the 427 block. Mmmmm 447 [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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Post the casting # off the 427 block here. There are several on this board who are MUCH more familiar with id #'s than I. If this is indeed a standard bore 427 block, jump on it with both feet and don't look back to allow him to change his mind...[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img] Besides, I get first dibs on it since I answered you first....[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img][img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img][img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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Ooooooooohhh Go 427! 2x4's, long tube cast iron headers, and a toploader 4spd...forget the 428! Talk about a vintage look, so many people will be drooling man. FXComet is right about the headers selling for that much...sometimes even more but don't sell them! They can be a pain in the butt to find at times. Unless you'd like to go with the 406/390 cast iron shorty headers. They usually fetch about $400 or sometimes a little more or less.

The easiest way to tell if it's a real 427 is to see if it has crossbolt mains (4 bolts going into the side of the block just above the oil pan). I can post some pictures of what I'm referring to if you'd like. And if you get the numbers on the block and cylinder heads post them on here. I have a parts identifier for 1960-64 items. But as everyone else has and will say the only sure way to verify it is to check the bore. Ford liked to reuse casting numbers back on their FE parts back then so some parts claim to be what they aren't. I'm not too sure if they did that on blocks though.

Good luck and keep us informed!!

Try these FE forums for ID#.www.FoMoCo.com or www.FE-Big-Block-Forum.com