At the same time, a Ford dealer named Bob Tasca was also looking to get more power out of his 390-powered Mustangs. * These are service part numbers, not engineering numbers. In fourth place is the 1968 Mercury 428 Cyclone GT. Restyled in 1970, the Mustang returned to single headlights that moved inside of the grille. Lastly, Ford engineers externally balanced the SCJ engine with a counterweight behind a different harmonic balancer because they removed the center counterweight on the crank. The package was also available in the Torino, the Fairlane, and the Mercury Cyclone. None of the parts of the 428 SCJ reciprocating assembly interchange with their 428 CJ counterparts. The fifth digit in the VIN on any Ford from 1968-1970 tells you whether or not a vehicle came with this engine or not. The Mustang had grown bigger than ever, with a weight of nearly two tons. I want to register an account for free right now! Carroll Shelby, Bob Tasca, and the Hybrid 427/428 Engines, Best Ford Fox Body Mustang Performance Upgrades. Kevin later explicitly confirmed that "Ford did not produce 69 4.30 vehicles with Detroit Lockers. Ford released new versions of the Cobra Jet Mustang in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2018, making 50 annually. The value is markedly different (about double). The immaculate 1968 427 seen here powers Craig Keith's Cougar XR-7G and resides in West Brookfield. However, the Ford production database describes the car as having an S-code 3.50:1 traction-lok rear. "A standard 428 will have a U1 crankshaft ballanced on the inside of the ballancer but weight added on crankshaft . Say Cyclone CJ. More than 18,000 were installed in 1968-1970 Mustangs alone. Super Cobra Jet Connecting Rod The company was aware of the new Camaro project brewing over at Chevrolet. Ford based the 429 Cobra Jets on their 385 series of V8 engines. Ford really got it right with the 1968 428 Cobra Jet (CJ). It came in special Mustangs (and 2 Cougars) in 1969-70. The 428 CJ cylinder heads featured an un-machined chamber of 73-76cc, 2.06" intake valves and 1.66" exhaust valves. Ford branded the new 428 the Ford Cobra Jet engine, and they also put it in the Fairlane and Torino. A fairly mild hydraulic cam combined with the good-guy Low Riser cylinder heads made for an engine with a flat torque curve and good horsepower numbers. The Cobra Jet (original 428) was put together from parts from the Ford parts bins, the rods and heads were used in earlier engines but aren't referred to by any other name than Cobra Jet since. The heads and intake were unique to the 428CJ. The Ford Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jet were introduced in 1970, and they were improvements over the 428s. The CJ block differs from the plain 428 due to the additional webs cast into the main bearing saddles. Cobra Jet Crankshaft (engineering number detail) Even less common with a production of maybe 3,000. The rotating assemblies between the Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jets are different, and mixing them leads to balance issues. The package included special capscrew-type connecting rods borrowed from the Ford GT Mark IV 427 Le Mans engine. Though different part numbers were used for standard sized CJ and SCJ pistons (perhaps to provide slightly different installation tolerances), most folks that I've talked to believe that the pistons were in fact identical. There is no word on when the next Ford Cobra Jet Mustang will be released, or even if there will be another one. The difference in displacement between the two was achieved via stroke, with the 429 checking in at 3.590 . Each engine was from a different Ford engine family, with the 428 and 429 both being big blocks. Tasca had bolted 427 Low Riser cylinder heads on the 428, which really woke up this mill and gave it much better breathing capability while retaining the low-end torque the big FE was already noted for. I am a 351W guy. Just as long as they dont add gimmicky speakers with faux-engine noise, like some of their competitors. Welcome to Club Cobra! You can have it straight (CJ 428) or with optional CJ 428 Ram, the breathtaker. In 1968, Ford released the first versions of their now famed V8 Cobra Jet engines. While the print ad boasted leading the way, the Cyclone CJ ended up closer to the middle of the pack in 1969, coming in 12th overall in factory supercar quarter-mile times published that year. In seventh place is the 1969 Ford Fairlane Cobra. In the January 1969 issue of Motor Trend magazine, a 69 Cyclone CJ 428SCJ ran a 13.86-second quarter-mile pass at 101.7 miles per hour. Most 428 Cobra Jet fans have heard of the "Detroit Locker" differential, a positive locking differential that was originally produced by Detroit Automotive Products Corporation (DAPCO) and is now available from TracTech Inc. 428 FE police interceptor versus cobra jet - Club Cobra FE Forums sponsored by Keith Craft Inc. The name is perhaps one of Ford's most enduring performance legacies. Untamed European elegance indeed. The Super Cobra Jets got forged aluminum pistons and higher performance camshafts, as well as a high-rise intake manifold. Beyond that, the so-called Thunderbird 428 offered in fullsize Fords and T-birds made 345 hp, 10 more than the CJ despite its milder cam, low-rise iron intake, 446-cfm Ford 4300 series four-barrel carburetor, and clunky log-style exhaust manifolds. You cannot really compare 69 with the 74 cars. ). Note that there is no mention of the Detroit Locker in the 1969 description, but it's clearly listed in the 1970 description. JavaScript is disabled. Now. There was a special designation in the database to tell which cars had these installed". Increased Ebay value in a few strokes of a hammer! Ford had introduced the 385 series in 1968, and the 429 first appeared in the Thunderbird. The Mercury division of Ford put the 428 Cobra Jet in their Comets and Cyclones, and Shelby used one for his new GT500KR (King of the Road). For improved high speed reliability, the SCJ used the . I want to register an account for free right now! Super Cobra Jet harmonic balancer counter weight, 4 Ford had first introduced the public to the new Ford Cobra jet powered Mustangs at the 1968 NHRA Winternationals. The Mercury Cougar underwent styling updates in 1969, including transitioning to Coke bottle styling and eliminating side vent windows. The SCJ timing pointer is slightly longer to clear the larger harmonic balancer. The GT500 wasnt quite as fast as the Camaros, though it was closer than the 390 powered Mustangs. Its not very well known, but Ford also branded another Cobra Jet from 1971-1974 the 351 Cleveland. See if you can determine if these motors you are looking at are CJ's. Welcome to Club Cobra! In the 1969 Supercar Annual magazine, one ran a 69 Cougar Eliminator ran a 13.90-second quarter-mile time with a 101.2 miles per hour trap speed. The 429 Ford Cobra Jet pumped out 370 horsepower, while the Super Cobra Jets pushed out 375 horsepower. I've seen written reference to a C9AE-C rod also being used, but I've never been able to confirm an installation. All Rights Reserved. the 428 CJ. In '69 the 351 was good for either 250 or 290 horsepower, depending on its carburetor configuration, while the four-barrel 390 dropped somewhat to 320. Last month, we brought you Part 1 of 3 on how to detail a 428 Cobra Jet engine to concourse level, with Marcus Anghel of . A remedy was in the making, as the 428 Cobra Jet package for the Mustang began its metamorphosis. Very rare and very expensive as only about 1,200 were made. Everyone at Ford was confounded, and the brass didn't want to go back to the 427 because of the high cost of its heavy-duty internal components. Reportedly, they didnt even let Tasca leave with the car. Ford 428s had a different water jacket core which can often be identified by the "428" cast in the bottom of the inner water jacket right under the center freeze plug. The SCJ block is the same as a CJ. For Ford, this meant the venerable FE-series big-blocks, which had seen successful service in the Thunderbird as well as other car lines. The 428 is a 1969 block no heads. one basic block for both the 429 and 460 with a 4.360-inch bore. non biased Shelby Cobra related site! Just two years into production, Ford introduced the 429 Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jet for compact and intermediate sized rides like Mustang, Torino, Cyclone, and Cougar. The peak torque of 452.4-lb-ft at 3,700 rpm is also higher than Dearborn's claim of 445 lb-ft at 3,400. Consequently, Ford used Holman Moodys 428 engine as the inspiration it desperately needed to help reclaim its rightful place at the top of the pony car market. What is the difference between a 428 and 429. Besides the T-Bird, there were Galaxies, Thunderbolt Fairlanes, Mustangs, Torinos, and both the AC Cobra and GT 500 Shelbys. Ford got down to business and began by beefing up the bottom of the 428 block casting, which included heavier main bearing caps. Although these cars were slightly different than what would shortly be on the showroom floor, word was out that the Cobra Jet package was the way to go. 1968 was when the Cyclone lost its affiliation with the Comet nameplate, a good move considering it was on its way out entirely by 1969. Unlike the 351, Ford based the 428 Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jets on the FE series of engines. Two were offered for 428 Super Cobra Jet before and after that date. Well, there you have the top 8 fastest 428 Cobra Jets. In April 1968, Ford introduced the Cobra Jet, built from a 428 Police Interceptor short block with 427 low riser heads, among other heavier-duty performance partssimilar to what Holman Moody had invented. As it turned out, the 427 heads massively improved both low-end torque and top-end power on 428. YES! Basically, a 428 is just a stroked 390, and tuned for massive torque over horsepower. The car automatically became a Super Cobra Jet. : For registered members this ad will NOT show, Cobra Make, Engine: Unique Motorcars (sold). In 2020, Ford switched from massive superchargers to an all-electric platform, but dropped jaws by making 1,500 wheel-horsepower a worthy trade-off to get rid of the internal combustion engine.The future of the Cobra Jet is unknown, and its unclear whether Ford will ditch petrol for good and switch to electric, or if that was a one year anomaly. The Police Interceptor contained an aluminum intake, high performance camshaft and beefier connecting rods to produce 360 hp. Super Cobra Jet harmonic balancer counter weight, 1 you could be driving 15 mph and just floor it, and it would break the tires loose, you certainally didnt have to powerbreak it to spin the tires like every other car.my father had a 74 caprice with a 454 and the Tbird was far faster than the 454. The 396 featured advanced-design, canted-valve cylinder heads that flowed like crazy and earned the name "porcupine" because of their splayed-valve arrangement. But there was one thing about the 428 CJ that left everyone puzzled. It was probably a case of "building out" soon-to-be obsolete 427 inventory. Introduced in 1958 for service in fullsize Fords as well as the Thunderbird, the FE had seen a long and colorful career. The real cobra jet block had reinforced webbing as well as a higher nickel content, i.e. In response to the Camaro, in mid-1967 Carroll Shelby created the first Shelby GT500 Mustang. The 428SCJ used 427 LeMans connecting rods and different pistons, crank, wrist pins flywheel/flexplate, a cast-iron Police Interceptor intake manifold, and an engine oil cooler. In 1964, the 427 was shoehorned into the Fairlane, Ford's midsized entry, between the Galaxie on the big end and the Falcon on the small. It was very similar to the standard 351 Cleveland engine, but with a few key differences. A police interceptor may have an "A". The 427 quickly became one of the most popular and powerful Ford engines, pumping out 425 horsepower. Past Cats: '69 Std. The 428 Cyclone tipped the scales at 3,740 pounds, which helped give it momentum in the oval track, but held it back in the quarter-mile. Carroll Shelby, famous for his GT350 version of the Mustang as well as for the Cobra, became involved when he decided to produce a big-block version of his Shelby Mustang GT series. Sales success of the Mustang had been phenomenal in its first two years, and Ford wanted more. The 428 CJ and SCJ blocks have extra main bearing webbing and thicker main caps than the normal 390 or 428. Tim K, Cobra Make, Engine: Shell Valley- smallblock grenade w/ the pin pulled. Mustang 428 Cobra Jet Service Parts Oil Level Indicator (Dip Stick) Oil Pan and Windage Tray Oil Pump Pistons Power Steering Fluid Cooler Power Steering Pump Radiator Radiator Cooling Fan Radiator Cooling Fan Shroud Radiator Fan Clutch Rear U-Joint Flange Reverse Lockout Rod (1970) Shock Tower Reinforcements Speedometer Gear Adapter In order to keep the car eligible for the stock NHRA category, Ford capped power at 430 horsepower. But times were changing, and sales were soft for performance cars across the board, and not just at Ford. You might as well lead the way. Whenever a . The 428, on the other hand, has a smaller bore and longer stroke producing more torque and is well-suited to street-strip action. The 429 is a 70 complete out of a Lincoln or some other 4 door. Super Cobra Jet horn jumper wire. While the torque claim was in line with expectations, many wondered why the big 428 CJ was only 10 ponies ahead of the 325hp 390 GT four-barrel mill. In the go department, a real grabber (335 horses). In addition, the Spoiler II was available in either a red or blue paint schemehonoring legendary NASCAR drivers Cale Yarborough and Dan Gurney, respectively. The 1975 MPC clearly notes that the 1969 and 1970 radiator core supports were serviced using two different part numbers (C9ZZ-16138-A and D0ZZ-16138-A); the report I have is that the 1970 support is shaped in such a way that the bracket doesnt fit and isnt needed. The 428 Police Interceptor Engine The 428 police interceptor engine could be found on both the 1967 Shelby GT500 and the 1968 GT500KR. In 1969, 10 different Mustang engine options were available. In 1969, Ford created an even higher performance version, known as the 428 Super Cobra Jet. The Electric Ford Cobra Jet Mustang can blast through the quarter-mile in just 8.12 seconds at 172 mph, annihilating any Mustang that has ever been in production. Of course there's the Boss 429, but thats a horse of completely different color. The W-code 427 and 428 CJ shared just about everything except main bearing caps and bore/stroke dimensions. valves), and the valves were closer together than on other FE heads so that the CJ . A lot of people try to pawn off a 390 as a 428. the blocks are nearly identical and the stroke is close. Although the 390 had been offered in the Mustang, the FE had seen incarnations of up to 428 ci. In the November 1969 issue of Super Stock and Drag Illustrated magazine, a 70 Mach 1 made a 14.11-second quarter-mile pass, traveling 101.1 miles per hour. After that nothing but C blocks were made. Note that the explanation says that three other cars were built like this at San Jose! p.s. Also, 1969 was the last year of production for the famous Mustang GT. In third place is the 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1. The baddest of them all is the Boss 429. A forum community dedicated to Mercury Cougar owners and enthusiasts. For the most recent 2018 Ford Cobra Jet, Ford used their modified Coyote variant, the 5.2 L Voodoo. The 428's and 429's most associated with Cougars are Cobra Jets. The 428 SCJ was first introduced during the 1969 model year. Ford created a few high performance variants of the 429, the Boss 429 and the 429 Cobra/Super Cobra Jets. In the August 1968 issue of Super Stock & Drag Illustrated magazine, a 68 Cougar XR7-GT tripped the quarter-mile in 13.23 seconds, traveling at 103.4 miles per hour. I'm not sure about how well a 429/460 fits in '67-70's though. That is, the performance motors were either a CJ or a SCJ. Yet, in 2008, Ford brought back the Cobra Jet badging for its 40th Anniversary. The V-code designated a 3.91:1 rear axle ratio, while the W-code meant a 4.30:1 rear axle ratio. 1969 Ford Cobras were dressed-down street warriors with a basic interior, column shifter, essential gauges, and gobs of power far more significant than 335 horsepower advertised ratings. Connecting rod research seems to indicate that CJs used a variety of common high-end FE rods, with the C7AE-B rod being fairly common. Welcome to Club Cobra! This marked the end of the original run of Ford Cobra Jet engines and vehicles. Because of the long throw, the 428 was more of a low rpm / torque motor were as the 427 was a high rpm race motor. . First you have to start with the 428 v.s. Mixing SCJ and CJ parts can cause severe balance problems. Bought a new 69 Mach 1 and ran at the strip w best et 12.72. Ford Cobra Jets came in either 351, 428, or 429 cid displacements, and there were also Super Cobra Jets, too. I spoke to Rob Celedon the other day and his SCJ car has the same stamp on the block. While both shared the same advertised horsepower and torque figures, the 428SCJ wasnt available with air conditioning due to the engines oil cooler location. Dr. In the 60s-70s, Ford put the Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jet engines in Mustangs, Thunderbirds, and of course, Cobras. All of this was a step in the right direction, but the '67 GT500 was still slower than the rip-snortin' 375hp 396 Camaro. (REGISTERED USERS DO NOT SEE THIS POST/AD! The longer stroke (3.98 vs. 3.78 for the 427) gave the engine powerful low-end punch. The problem with the 427 was that it was far too expensive to produce for use in a regular production car. Super Cobra Jet horn detail (note the jumper wire and reinforcement bracket) When the buyer selected the CJ option, the GT option became mandatory. The CJ block differs from the plain 428 due to the additional webs cast into the main bearing saddles. If you want to discover which 428 Cobra Jet powered Fords were the fastest muscle cars, how the engine originated, which vehicles had it, and how the 428CJ differs from the 428SCJ, then read on. Like the Chevy L-88 was 5 hp less than the trip set up Corvettes, because they lied their ass off to keep people from buying the L-88 who didn't know what they were getting into. Most 428s in 7 liter [COLOR=#0000ff! Pontiac had its GTO as well as the new twin sister to the Camaro, the Firebird, and each was available with a 400ci engine. Get The Top 50 Fastest Muscle Cars chart. By 1974 the emissions crap that was added to the engine killed the power. Register now for free! The Cobra Jet package added $287.60 to the sticker price of a Cyclone. The differences for the SCJ were: 1) The beefer 427 "LeMans" connecting rods. The 1968 Mustang received several styling updates, including side scoops, steering wheel, side marker lights, and gas cap. We have 2 blocks here-both are 428s but one has some additional webbing on the main bearings. The World's largest The 428CJ was available in nine Ford, Mercury, and Shelby muscle car models between 1968-1970. In 1967, this changed when they put the first generation 390 big block in the Mustang. document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Get Your Top 50 Fastest Muscle Cars ChartFREE! Finally, the PI and CJ blocks of a given era were the same. The Boss and Cobra Jets had the same block with four bolt mains, short skirts, and thin wall castings. Many aficionados of the Cobra Jet Mustang consider the '70 version to be the nicest of all, combining the last year of the FE engine with the last year for the '69-'70 body style. Why wouldn't an aluminum headed 351W be the best option -- then you don't have to change the rest of the driveline. (REGISTERED USERS DO NOT SEE THIS POST/AD! In 2020, Ford came out with the most unique Cobra Jet in history, the All-Electric Mustang Cobra Jet 1400. 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 428 Super Cobra Jet Muscle Car Of The Week Video Episode #91The Mach 1 handling and appearance package made for some good looking an. During the 1970 model year, "DETROIT LOCKER DIFFERENTIAL" appears on the invoice of vehicles that came with a factory Detroit Locker. Because the NHRA used advertised factory horsepower and shipping weight claims to group vehicles into competition classes and categories, it paid to fib a little bit; 428 CJ-powered Mustangs and Fairlanes quickly became feared street and strip machines. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. chuck, The same naming convention was applied to the 429 engine as well. The 428 Cobra Jet was born by drag racers at a Ford Dealership to nudge FoMoCo in the right direction when they needed it most to help recapture the pony car market. I bought a 72' Thunderbird yrs ago it was still pretty powerful. However, there were a few key internal differences between the two engines. Compression was either 10.5:1 or 10.6:1, with 10.6:1 taking over from 1969-on. Super Cobra Jet horn reinforcement bracket When identifying a Super Cobra Jet, you cant do it by the VIN as it shares the same R and Q code designations as the Cobra Jet. Ford had produced a 428ci version of the FE engine for fleet use in police cars and also for some of the fullsize luxury cars. Starting in February 1969 this complete package could be ordered as the "Drag Pack" option. In fifth place is the 1969 Mercury Cyclone CJ. The 1969 Mercury Cyclone continued on the Montego platform in the fastback form, and the GT was no longer a model, available as an appearance-only package. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Chrysler had the 440ci RB wedge engine, not to mention the brutal 426ci hemispherical head motor known as the Hemi. Super Cobra Jet oil cooler adapter A police interceptor may have an "A". 1999 - 2022 Scott A. Hollenbeck. stronger. Nineteen-seventy was the last year for the venerable FE-series big-block engine in the Mustang and Cougar. Ford introduced their second generation of FE V8 big block engines in 1962 with the 406 cid big block. The block and head were both cast iron, but some models may have had aluminum intakes instead of cast iron. See more Reply Save Like 1 Originally available in any of the three Mustang body styles--coupe, fastback, or convertible--all '68 CJ Mustangs are highly sought after, even 30 years later. The Cyclone was now part of the Montego family of vehicles. When this 428ci engine was installed in the Mustang, Shelby called the car the GT500. Then there was the 429 Cobra Jet (CJ). The 429 is known as a 385 family due, I believe, to the bore size being 385 centimeters. As old as it is, all the valves, springs, retainers, locks, shafts, rockers, etc, should be replaced with at minimum, OEM quality (readily available through "normal" engine parts sources). Factory horsepower and torque ratings were the same for both CJ and SCJ engines. The Cobra Jets had three bolt caps instead of four like the Boss, and also did not have the screw-in freeze plugs like the Boss. Cast iron intake manifold identical to the aluminum one on the police interceptor. The smaller bore of the 428 was well within normal production line capabilities. Comparison of Major 428 Engine Components, 1968 428 Cobra Jet Drag Strip Modifications, 428 CJ Mustangs at the 1968 NHRA Winternationals, Classic Mustang Warranty Plate/Certification Label Decoder, Cast iron, similar to PI with revised carburetor bore risers, relocated carburetor pad, and radiused riser to upper and lower logs to improve fuel/air distribution, Production 390 GT cast iron light car manifolds, Redesigned high flow, low restriction unique to the 428 CJ, Redesigned dual inlet with hot/cold start-up system. The 390 big-block version of the Mustang ran fairly well--well enough to post mid-15-second times in the quarter-mile. Very few were ordered because of the popularity of the new Mach 1 package. But, for many, it was far too inconspicuous for them to realize it before seeing its taillights. Common to both were vital details such as camshafts, intake manifolds, valve and port sizes, and compression ratios. I have the option to purchase either one of them. However, a 4-speed option was also available. I want to register an account for free right now! The 428 uses a crank with a 3.98 inch stroke and a 390 has a 3.78 inch crank. Without a wink or a nod, Ford claimed the new CJ made 335 hp at 5,600 rpm and 445 lb-ft of torque at 3,400 rpm. In 1963, the 427 saw service in a series of lightweight Galaxies, which had seen some racing success despite their weight. No other numbers are CJ. Grue up with Ford FE. Either way, you can be guaranteed it will be a monster at the drag strip and not be lacking for power. Yet, Ford did not use any of the second generation big blocks in pony cars like the Mustang at first. Upgrade available to low restriction ram air (seal to hood) and "shaker" hood with hot/cold start-up system, Larger bolts; SCJ had material addedto outside of big end, Retuned damper for strengthened crankshaft, Revised valve springs for higher valve toss speed (6700 RPM), Improved material with modified, polished backside fillet radius, Unique adapter with oil in and oil out provisions for external oil cooler (SCJ only), Unique high (90%+) nodular iron with 10,000 RPM burst strength; high RPM clutch assembly, Higher relief valve pressure, unique oil filter adapter, and external oil cooling (SCJ only), Automatic and manual transmission available, Automatic and manual transmission available. Paul: Sorry to disagree. The big-block Chevy had the edge in breathing ability, but this move closed the gap between the two engines a great deal. The Mustang now had company in the ponycar market, and the new Camaro was no slouch. Upgraded C6 with higher shift speed and modified clutch packs, New 6" HG with miminal exhaust restriction mufflers and pipes, Revised for staggered shock absorbers to eliminate reverse gear tramping. Instead, Tasca Fordthe second-largest Ford dealership in the world in the 1960sinspired the 428CJ revolution.