But it was the Camaro-Firebird that joined the Mustang in the ponycar class. Cyclone CJ comes with four-speed stick competition handling package, wide-tread fiberglass belted WSW tires, blackout grille, hood stripe, all-vinyl cockpit, low-restriction dual pipesall standard. As a result, the 428 was less rev-happy but it gained a low-end torque punch that was absent in the 427. In 1969, 10 different Mustang engine options were available. All Rights Reserved. For improved high speed reliability, the SCJ used the . 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. The back of the CJ block should have a "C" cast or welded into the back of it. If you don't put the 428 in it you should get a 460 instead of the 429 for even more power. The 428, on the other hand, has a smaller bore and longer stroke producing more torque and is well-suited to street-strip action. Typical Cobra Jet Crankshaft Several different cranks were used in 428 CJ and SCJ engines during the course of production. The real cobra jet block had reinforced webbing as well as a higher nickel content, i.e. In 1971, the 351 Ford Cobra Jet made 280 horsepower, but that dropped to 266 horsepower and then 255 horsepower. After some break-in miles, we'd likely see 375 hp and, with headers, yes, very likely 400 ponies. The rarest of the bunch are the 68's. The most vaulable Cobra Jet is the 1968 Shelby GT500KR convertibles, which can go for as much or more than a BOSS 429. Super Cobra Jet Crankshaft Royce: thanx for the clarification. : For registered members this ad will NOT show. all aluminum FE, Check the intake casting number, the head casting number and if the heads are of the bore and stroke. Though almost identical in displacement, Ford based the new 429 Cobra and Super Cobra Jets on the 385 series. i am putting the motor in a FORD 1972 short bed single cab pickup. Though almost identical in displacement, Ford based the new 429 Cobra and Super Cobra Jets on the 385 series. Two were offered for 428 Super Cobra Jet before and after that date. Compression was lowered from 10.7:1 to 9.0:1, and in 1971 it actually made 5 horsepower less than the standard 351 at 280 horsepower. In the March 1968 issue of Hot Rod magazine, a 68 Mustang CJ ran a 13.56-second quarter-mile time, traveling at 106.6 miles per hour. Ford really got it right with the 1968 428 Cobra Jet (CJ). 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). With a bore and stroke of 4.36 X 3.59, the 429 has a larger bore but smaller stroke than the 428s. Performance options aplenty: tach, styled steel wheels, power front disc brakes, power steering, Traction-Lok differential (3.50, 3.91 or 4.30 axel ratios), bucket seats, racing mirroryou name it. You can use the 428 crank in the 390 block and will end up with 410 cubic inches (Ford actually had a 410 for a couple years). 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. Although many early Mustang articles suggest that the 428 Cobra Jet was designed by Mr. Tasca, there are in fact more than 30 design differences between the components used by Mr. Tasca, the 428 PI, and the released 428 CJ. All of this was a step in the right direction, but the '67 GT500 was still slower than the rip-snortin' 375hp 396 Camaro. The 390 big-block version of the Mustang ran fairly well--well enough to post mid-15-second times in the quarter-mile. Common to both were vital details such as camshafts, intake manifolds, valve and port sizes, and compression ratios. . 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 Ford quickly caught the vision, and before the drag-ready Mustang returned to Tasca Ford, Ford Engineers removed it from the vehicle so they could reverse engineer it for mass production. I want to register an account for free right now! YES! The W-code 427 and 428 CJ shared just about everything except main bearing caps and bore/stroke dimensions. Register now for free! The immaculate 1968 427 seen here powers Craig Keith's Cougar XR-7G and resides in West Brookfield. However, there were a few key internal differences between the two engines. 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 . There was also the optional Ram-Air induction system that featured a newly designed air cleaner to draw in the coolest air possible, which was available for both models. Super Cobra Jet oil cooler adapter This became a private war between the automakers. Mixing SCJ and CJ parts can cause severe balance problems. w/sunroof, 69 XR7, '67 XR7, '68 Std., '70 Std. 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. However, Ford ran into a problem. The Super Cobra Jet, available only with a 3.91 or 4.30 rear axle ratio, included additional features. So instead, you have to examine the axle code on the door tag for a V or a W to verify its legit. Fords Cobra Jet engines rivaled high output big blocks from General Motors and Chrysler, and finally made some Mustangs worthy of being called muscle cars. 1999 - 2022 Scott A. Hollenbeck. It also had improved exhaust manifolds and a 735 CFM carb (a slightly modified 780 with different booster venruris). 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. Past Cats: '69 Std. The Camaro, Firebird, and Barracuda had eroded the pony car market Ford created in 1964. Oddly, however, Ford never revised the sandbagged horsepower claims. Lets check out the eight fastest Ford Muscle Cars powered by a 428CJ and 428SCJ, shall we? All this was none too soon. 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 CJ block differs from the plain 428 due to the additional webs cast into the main bearing saddles. The 396 featured advanced-design, canted-valve cylinder heads that flowed like crazy and earned the name "porcupine" because of their splayed-valve arrangement. The valves are bigger but the real improvement is the exhaust port which is both wider internally and straighter plus higher exit point in the casting. Yet, while they were considered big blocks, the first generation of the Ford FE never had displacements of larger than 400 cid. The following year, the Super Cobra Jet became an option. The 428 Cobra Jet powered some of the fastest Ford Muscle Cars from 1968 to 1970, over nine Ford and Mercury models. The main bearing journal diameter measures between 2.7484 and 2.7492 inches. The big difference was the price (at $622, the 427 cost $188 more than the $434 428 CJ), transmission availability (the 427 was only teamed with the C6 automatic), carburetors (the 427's single. This was not enough to beat the big-block Camaro, however, which ran the quarter a full second quicker. The cast iron intake manifold was a high-rise style, which was exceedling heavy at 90 lbs. 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. In the go department, a real grabber (335 horses). In 2020, Ford came out with the most unique Cobra Jet in history, the All-Electric Mustang Cobra Jet 1400. While 1299 may seem like a lot( compared to the lightweight Galaxies, Thunderbolts, 427 Fairlanes and Boss 429's) it is a small fraction of the numbers . The PI ran stock 390/428 heads, an aluminum intake, the same cam as the CJ and a 600 CFM carb. 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). (REGISTERED USERS DO NOT SEE THIS POST/AD! Includes year, model, engine, 1/4 mile times, and moreabsolutely free! What makes the 428 Super Cobra Jet engine so super? They had introduced the 385 series in 1968 to start replacing the outgoing FE series. Increased Ebay value in a few strokes of a hammer! Of course there's the Boss 429, but thats a horse of completely different color. The 1967 Shelby GT500 featured a new 428 cid engine that had been used in the Thunderbirds and Galaxies. The A blocks were made until mid 1968 model year. are identical. This was remedied by the introduction of the all-new '67 Mustang. They did so to honor the 1968 Mustangs that won the NHRA Winternationals, and inaugurated the first Cobra Jet era. The Cobra Jet version of the 351 Cleveland was one of four 351 Clevelands Ford released that year. However, a 4-speed option was also available. The 351 Ford Cobra jet also had four-bolt mains, hydraulic valve lifters, high lift/duration cams, and larger valves than the standard 351. Unlike the 351, Ford based the 428 Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jets on the FE series of engines. Why wouldn't an aluminum headed 351W be the best option -- then you don't have to change the rest of the driveline. Super Cobra Jet harmonic balancer counter weight, 1 The 429 is known as a 385 family due, I believe, to the bore size being 385 centimeters. Mustang buyers who selected either of the optional 3.91:1 or 4.30:1 rear end gear ratios got more than just an optional axle ratio! Ford initially created 50 base Mustangs (20 of which were factory lightweights) equipped with a 428CJ dressed in Wimbleton White, then delivered them to select Ford dealers nationwide to help spread the word on its new venomous creation. document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Get Your Top 50 Fastest Muscle Cars ChartFREE! However, it wasn't Ford Engineers that first developed this impressive powerplant. Kevin later explicitly confirmed that "Ford did not produce 69 4.30 vehicles with Detroit Lockers. The back of the CJ block should have a "C" cast or welded into the back of it. Educate me! Typically 360 horsepower. 429 Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jet Vehicle Applications. Representation from nearly all Cobra/Daytona/GT40 manufacturers Help from all over the world for your questions Build logs for you and all members Blogs In fact, the 428 was listed at 335 hp, the same as the 390. I've seen written reference to a C9AE-C rod also being used, but I've never been able to confirm an installation. The package included special capscrew-type connecting rods borrowed from the Ford GT Mark IV 427 Le Mans engine. The birth of the Cobra Jet engine package from Ford was in response to external pressures. Is a 428 a cobra jet or is the cj a special 428 and is the block different between the cj and non cj. Keith, Cobra Make, Engine: ERA Street Roadster #782 with 459 cu in FE KC engine, toploader, 3.31, also police interceptors had solid lifters and adjustable rockers---GT & CJ were hydraulic, Cobra Make, Engine: CSX #4xxx with CSX 482; David Kee Toploader, Reading this brings up a question that I've always wondered about. The Ford Cobra Jets are some of the most iconic engines in Ford history, and have been since their release back in 1968. The "SUPER" mark does NOT mean that the pistons were used only in SCJs! The World's largest The difference in displacement between the two was achieved via stroke, with the 429 checking in at 3.590 . 428 Police Interceptor, and 429 ThunderJet, used in big luxury cruisers. The company was aware of the new Camaro project brewing over at Chevrolet. The CJ block differs from the plain 428 due to the additional webs cast into the main bearing saddles. The 428 CJ cylinder heads featured an un-machined chamber of 73-76cc, 2.06" intake valves and 1.66" exhaust valves. The basic strength of the Super Cobra Jet engine is in a more durable reciprocating assembly (crank, rods, pistons, wrist pins, flywheel/flexplate, and harmonic balancer) that was designed to withstand the higher RPM requirements of drag racing. 1968 was the year the wild Mustangand all other Ford modelsfell prey to the untamed Cougar. You can have it straight (CJ 428) or with optional CJ 428 Ram, the breathtaker. Very few were ordered because of the popularity of the new Mach 1 package. 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. A special option available for 1969 in the Cobra Jet Mustang included a 428 with internal modifications. Restyled in 1970, the Mustang returned to single headlights that moved inside of the grille. not a chance, the 428 scj would out pull the 460 hands down. It was only installed in mid-size (1970-71) and pony cars (1971 only). Required fields are marked *. Cobra Jet Crankshaft (engineering number detail) The Boss and Cobra Jets had the same block with four bolt mains, short skirts, and thin wall castings. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. It didnt come close to comparing with the 351 Boss, and was below even the standard 351 in performance. The C blocks started to be used in mid 1967 before the CJ production started. The World's largest The big FE also became notorious as one of the powerplants for Carroll Shelby's outrageous big-block-powered version of the AC Cobra. Makes you wonder how many were built at the other plants. The World's largest non biased Shelby Cobra related site! The full-page print ad for the 1969 Mercury Cyclone CJ stated it best: Cyclone CJthe high-performance fastback with the bold build and sports car spirit. "A standard 428 will have a U1 crankshaft ballanced on the inside of the ballancer but weight added on crankshaft . now if your talking 429scj vs. 428 scj i would give the nod to the 429scj. However, the original Mustang platform, as popular as it was, could not accept the larger engines Ford already had in its product lineup, because the engine compartment was simply too small. non biased Shelby Cobra related site! The differences for the SCJ were: 1) The beefer 427 "LeMans" connecting rods. These were sold as part of the Drag Pack option. Either way, you can be guaranteed it will be a monster at the drag strip and not be lacking for power. When the Camaro hit the streets with a 396ci engine borrowed from the Chevelle parts bin, Ford knew it had competition. Super Cobra Jet harmonic balancer counter weight, 3 The SCJ block is the same as a CJ. By far and away the most common -- they made 100,000+ of these. Enter Bob Tasca, a Ford dealer who had a history of experimenting with Ford big-blocks for his dealership-sponsored race cars. Please notethe 428 and 429 are completely different classes or families of engines. ID'd by D0VE-A and D1VE-AA casting numbers on the block and D0OE-R on the heads. He had been involved in the Thunderbolt program back in 1964. Welcome to Club Cobra! It was fortuitous that Tasca Ford nudged Fordand Ford listenedbecause the 428 Cobra Jets and Super Cobra Jets are amongst the baddest Ford Muscle Cars you could drive off the lot from 1968-1970. stronger. But there are other types of 428's and 429's floating around out there, built for different purposes, i.e. 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. Two-bolt main block Between 345-360 horsepower 428 Super Cobra Jet Internal structure differences included Lemans type cap screw rods The capscrews were shorter than the 427's to clear the block Externally balanced External engine oil cooler Here is some 429 info I gleaned off the net: First was the base 429, known as the Thunder Jet (TJ). The two-barrel 390 was good for 265 horsepower, the four-barrel stepped up to 325, and the Cobra Jet 428 provided just ten additional horses but a fair torque boost to go with it. Piston part numbers are marked (R) for red size and (B) for blue size to note options for selective fit based on normal production tolerances. So the question remains, how much horsepower does a stock 428 CJ really deliver? If you have, please consider sharing your information and pictures, if possible. If it's to be a "driver", compression needs to be lowered to use "pump . The 428 had a bore of 4.13" and a stroke of 3.98" and was produced from 1966 to 1970. Some SCJ block had the word "super" stamped on the rear. The 428SCJ was externally balanced with a counter weight behind a different harmonic balancer than the 428CJ. Besides the T-Bird, there were Galaxies, Thunderbolt Fairlanes, Mustangs, Torinos, and both the AC Cobra and GT 500 Shelbys. Pontiac had its GTO as well as the new twin sister to the Camaro, the Firebird, and each was available with a 400ci engine. Ford countered by introducing the FE-series 390ci V-8 engine for the '67 Mustang. 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. 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. Sales success of the Mustang had been phenomenal in its first two years, and Ford wanted more. While the Cyclone was named the fastest car of the year, having set a world record speed of 189.22 miles per hour at Daytona, the 428 version wasnt the fastest in the quarter-mile, achieving 18th place overall. ID by casting number on the block of C9AE. The 1968 Mustang received several styling updates, including side scoops, steering wheel, side marker lights, and gas cap. The factory ratings were intentionally low for insurance reasons. Also, there is an S between the 8 & the C Cobra Make, Engine: I Wish, Just an old truck with an FE, Cobra Make, Engine: Kirkham 427 (KMP 266); CAV GT40, also forged pistons,and an electronically balanced crank shaft on the SCJ;all reliability issues not HP ones. The CJ 428 engine was the top-of-the-line performance option that replaced the former performance heavy-weight 427 CID V-8 in April 1968. A common misconception seems to be that SCJs were originally equipped with forged pistons and CJs were originally equipped with cast pistons. Just as long as they dont add gimmicky speakers with faux-engine noise, like some of their competitors. : For registered members this ad will NOT show, Cobra Make, Engine: Unique Motorcars (sold). Some original SCJ blocks were stamped "super" on the front; if present, this marking was likely there to tell the original engine assemblers to use SCJ internals when building the engine (here's an example of such a stamping courtesy of Randy Pollock). The CJ block differs from the plain 428 due to the additional webs cast into the main bearing saddles. Midway through the 1967 model year, the 427 was swapped out for a newer 428 Cobra Jet engine equipped with a Holley four-barrel carburetor. although the fastest factory car i have ever been in was and is to this day the 68 428scj mustang, and those cars are cars of record winning the 68' winternationals against the Hemi cars. The 428 was a 4.130 bore and a 3.984 crank. 428 cobra jet vs. 460. i was wondering if a 428 cj or a 460 would be a better engine for a street rod. There is only one high-performance damper of the latter era: The SCJ damper, which has a heavy inertia ring, much like the LeMans. The new Mustang was beautiful, and it had a large enough engine bay to take the big mill. 1969 and 1970 CJ vs. SCJ parts identification. ** I've also read reports of 428 CJ balancers with engineering numbers C8AE-AA and C8AE-AB, but I haven't personally seen one of these balancers -- have you? Each engine was from a different Ford engine family, with the 428 and 429 both being big blocks. They were the be-all and end-all of rods back in the sixties, but metallurgy has far surpassed them today. The 715 was a Ford replica of a Rochester carb, and was fitted to the base 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 want to register an account for free right now! The heads ID themselves. There was some overlap of the C and A markings on the rear block face which means many early CJ's have the A on the block while many police and pasenger 428 engines have the C marking. 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. The 428 is a 1969 block no heads. 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. You cannot really compare 69 with the 74 cars. I have a set of stamps capable of stamping SCJ or Holman Moody or anything else you like into a block. According to the excellent Boss and Cobra Jet Mustangs by Dr. John Craft, this is how the Cobra Jet was born. As with most deceptions, the ruse was quickly unmasked as the NHRA factored the 428 CJ into higher classes so it couldn't bully weaker machinery. Best of all, unlike the fire breathing 427 FE (which was mostly installed in fullsize 1963-1967 models), the 428 CJ was commonly available in all the popular midsize Ford-Mercury muscle models. Massachusetts. You might as well lead the way. In the 60s-70s, Ford put the Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jet engines in Mustangs, Thunderbirds, and of course, Cobras. There have been eight new models since then, culminating in the 50th Anniversary Cobra Jets for 2018. YES! ). That didnt happen until 69. Ford was not caught in flagrante delecto, however. See more Reply Save Like 1 the 428 CJ. 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. Wow, look at me actually providing an answer instead of asking questions all the time! The program was engineered, designed, tested, validated, released, and certified between January 1967 and August 1968. Some SCJ block had the word "super" stamped on the rear. Unless specifically noted this comparison does not include the parts that are unique to the 428 Super Cobra Jet engine. In sixth place is the 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator. The Ford 428 Super Cobra Jet was only available in the 1969 and 1970 model years. Cast iron intake manifold identical to the aluminum one on the police interceptor. The 428 Cobra Jet powered some of the fastest Ford Muscle Cars from 1968 to 1970, over nine Ford and Mercury models. In order to keep the car eligible for the stock NHRA category, Ford capped power at 430 horsepower. From 2008-2012, Ford used a supercharged version of their 5.4 L Modular V8. And this dealer-inspired Ford racing engine couldnt have appeared at a better time for the Ford Motor Company. In April of 1968, when the Cobra Jet Mustang hit the showroom floor, it sold like blueberry pancakes. Bought a new 69 Mach 1 and ran at the strip w best et 12.72. The longer stroke (3.98 vs. 3.78 for the 427) gave the engine powerful low-end punch. In 1968, Ford released the first versions of their now famed V8 Cobra Jet engines. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The 428CJ also used a superior cast iron intake and better exhaust manifolds.