Instead of a Cobra or Super Cobra Jet engine, the new Mustang Cobra Jets feature modified existing production engines. Ford advertised the 428 Cobra Jet's horsepower at 335 (10 less than the Thunderbird) with 440 lb-ft of torque, and whether those numbers were accurate or not they didn't push past the 390 far enough to generate more than passing interest from the Mustang crowd for its inaugural 1968 year. 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. It also had improved exhaust manifolds and a 735 CFM carb (a slightly modified 780 with different booster venruris). See if you can determine if these motors you are looking at are CJ's. now if your talking 429scj vs. 428 scj i would give the nod to the 429scj. Ford countered by introducing the FE-series 390ci V-8 engine for the '67 Mustang. 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. The Boss and Cobra Jets had the same block with four bolt mains, short skirts, and thin wall castings. The 390 Mustang was getting abused at the drag strip by Chevrolets new 396 powered Camaro. Finally, the PI and CJ blocks of a given era were the same. 385cm = 151.6 inches. 429 Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jet Vehicle Applications. Although the Mustang had been completely redone, little changed in the CJ engine for 1969, and it was still available in any type of Mustang. 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. Ford released the original 428 in 1966, and in 1968 the Cobra Jet variant was born. 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. Then there was the 429 Cobra Jet (CJ). Get The Top 50 Fastest Muscle Cars chart. 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. Dr. Cobra Make, Engine: Posts: 717. 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. The CJ had the good heads, cam but had the iron intake. 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. I actually have some kind of answer that I hope will help. 2) Cast iron PI (Police Interceptor) intake manifold. The 428 was available as a 68 1/2, 68 and 70 model. The 428CJ was available in nine Ford, Mercury, and Shelby muscle car models between 1968-1970. Pioneered in 1967 as a stripped-down Holman and Moody prepared drag-ready Mustang for Tasca Ford, the 428 short block with 427 heads christened the KR-8 flawlessly balanced proven race engineering with factory Ford parts. Typical Cobra Jet Crankshaft Several different cranks were used in 428 CJ and SCJ engines during the course of production. As referenced earlier, the 390 was a 4.050 bore and a 3.781 crank. Note that the reinforcement bracket used with the Super Cobra Jet horn arrangement appears to have been used only during the 1969 model year. In lieu of reverting back to the factory 428 head castings, Tasca put heads from the 427 instead. The smaller bore of the 428 was well within normal production line capabilities. The 427 boasted 390 hp, a full 55 more than you-know-who. For the most recent 2018 Ford Cobra Jet, Ford used their modified Coyote variant, the 5.2 L Voodoo. The 429 SCJ was a stronger version on the CJ. Ford had first introduced the public to the new Ford Cobra jet powered Mustangs at the 1968 NHRA Winternationals. What makes the 428 Super Cobra Jet engine so super? Ford created a few high performance variants of the 429, the Boss 429 and the 429 Cobra/Super Cobra Jets. Super Cobra Jets also had oil coolers as standard, which were options for the Cobra Jets. 428 cobra jet vs. 460 - Club Cobra What is the difference between a 428 and 429. In its August 1968 issue, Motor Trend Magazine reported a 13.86-second ET, traveling at 101.69 miles per hour. All of this was a step in the right direction, but the '67 GT500 was still slower than the rip-snortin' 375hp 396 Camaro. Credit: CarsRememberWhenAutoSales/Wikipedia. Most estimates put the 1968 Ford Cobra Jet 428s at north of 400 horsepower. 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. The factory ratings were intentionally low for insurance reasons. The engine engineering personnel who worked for me on the 428 program were Paul Lampela, Frank Gondoly, Bob Snider, and Matt Hecht. The 428 was a 4.130 bore and a 3.984 crank. You should feel lucky to have driven your 69 Bird. The 715 was a Ford replica of a Rochester carb, and was fitted to the base Cobra Jets. These only became available in the 1970 model year, as you noted. The 428 SCJ was first introduced during the 1969 model year. Cobra Jet Crankshaft (engineering number detail) They have released new Cobra Jets every two years, with 2022 being the first exception so far. Super Cobra Jet harmonic balancer Ford introduced their second generation of FE V8 big block engines in 1962 with the 406 cid big block. The "SUPER" mark does NOT mean that the pistons were used only in SCJs! The Ford 428 Big Block V8 Birthed The Cobra Jet And - DrivingLine Ordering either of these axle ratio options commonly triggered a few other upgrades as well, including the 428 Super Cobra Jet engine, an external oil cooler mounted in front of the radiator, and relocation of the driver's side horn to the passenger side of the radiator core support to make room for the oil cooler. Includes year, model, engine, 1/4 mile times, and moreabsolutely free! In order to keep the car eligible for the stock NHRA category, Ford capped power at 430 horsepower. . The Thunderbolt proved to be a very fast factory team drag racer--and proved again that the FE engine could be a formidable competitor. So instead, you have to examine the axle code on the door tag for a V or a W to verify its legit. I'm not embarrased to ask anything anymore. Over the years, Ford has produced some incredibly iconic cars and engines. In 1971, the 351 Ford Cobra Jet made 280 horsepower, but that dropped to 266 horsepower and then 255 horsepower. Luckily, Tasca Ford pioneered a high revving 428 engine nicknamed the KR-8 as a direct replacement for the low-revving 390 FE engine. The 428 CJ and SCJ blocks have extra main bearing webbing and thicker main caps than the normal 390 or 428. Shelby realized that this was a real alternative to the expensive and temperamental 427. I think, but don't remember, that the SCJ would come in cars optioned with the "drag pack.". With more than 400 lb-ft available from 2,600 to 4,700 rpm, the Mach 1's tail is sure to be obscured in clouds of tire smoke. Most of the differences have been listed except for one major difference. Whenever a . However, it wasnt Ford Engineers that first developed this impressive powerplant. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. The 428 had a bore of 4.13" and a stroke of 3.98" and was produced from 1966 to 1970. The 428 Cobra Jet powered some of the fastest Ford Muscle Cars from 1968 to 1970, over nine Ford and Mercury models. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. 1973-1974 351 Cobra Jets had smaller valves, which resulted in a drop in horsepower on some models to 245. None of the parts of the 428 SCJ reciprocating assembly interchange with their 428 CJ counterparts. It also saw the addition of a new convertible body style with a power top. 428 Cobra Jet: Top 8 Fastest 428 CJ Powered Muscle Cars It was only installed in mid-size (1970-71) and pony cars (1971 only). There was a special designation in the database to tell which cars had these installed". Instead, "Tasca Ford"the second-largest Ford dealership in the world in the 1960sinspired the 428CJ revolution. In April of 1968, when the Cobra Jet Mustang hit the showroom floor, it sold like blueberry pancakes. Restyled in 1970, the Mustang returned to single headlights that moved inside of the grille. 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. 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. Crankshaft | Mustang 428 Cobra Jet Registry So the question remains, how much horsepower does a stock 428 CJ really deliver? These cars ran the quarter-mile in the mid-11-second range, quick by any standard. All Rights Reserved. More than 18,000 were installed in 1968-1970 Mustangs alone. The program was engineered, designed, tested, validated, released, and certified between January 1967 and August 1968. Ford Cobra Jet 429-428-427 - CarMemories.com In the 1969 Supercar Annual magazine, one ran a 13.94-second quarter-mile time, traveling 101.7 miles per hour. Another Dumb Question: 428CJ vs 428SCJ - Club Cobra But, for many, it was far too inconspicuous for them to realize it before seeing its taillights. For the '70 Torino and Cyclone and the '71 Mustang and Cougar, the passing of the 428 meant a switchover to the new 385-series Ford big-block. There have been eight new models since then, culminating in the 50th Anniversary Cobra Jets for 2018. If so, please consider sharing a picture. Success at the track meant success at the dealership, and Ford knew this. At the '68 NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, California, Ford entered a number of specially warmed-up '68 Cobra Jet Mustangs. YES! 428 Cobra Jet History, by Bill Barr I have a 69 428 SCj hardtop, and the word SUPER is stamped (not cast) onto the flat surface behind the head on the right of the engine. The back of the CJ block should have a "C" cast or welded into the back of it. Slightly smaller in bore but longer in stroke, the 428 ran smoothly in street trim, but it was still a very powerful engine, with mountains of torque. Some SCJ block had the word "super" stamped on the rear. When this 428ci engine was installed in the Mustang, Shelby called the car the GT500. Pontiac had its GTO as well as the new twin sister to the Camaro, the Firebird, and each was available with a 400ci engine. Not Ranked. In 1968, Ford released the first versions of their now famed V8 Cobra Jet engines. 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! No other numbers are CJ. 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 difference in displacement between the two was achieved via stroke, with the 429 checking in at 3.590 . The Super Cobra Jet, available only with a 3.91 or 4.30 rear axle ratio, included additional features. 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. Unlike the 351, Ford based the 428 Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jets on the FE series of engines. The most comprehensive guide to detailing a 428 Cobra Jet ever published. Very few were ordered because of the popularity of the new Mach 1 package. 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. The stage was set, and war was waged in earnest. The immaculate 1968 427 seen here powers Craig Keith's Cougar XR-7G and resides in West Brookfield. It may be possible to mix components if every component of the reciprocating assembly is dynamically balanced, but why bother? The '69-'70 Mustangs were nearly identical cars featuring minor cosmetic changes. 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. The 428 Cobra Jet powered some of the fastest Ford Muscle Cars from 1968 to 1970, over nine Ford and Mercury models. George Anderson of Gessford Machine was kind enough to point me to a page from Ford's "Muscle Parts Description and Interchange" book, a supplement to the original "Muscle Parts" catalog that was published in July 1970, that clearly states that "all 428 engines use "dished" cast aluminum pistons with two sets of eyebrows cast so they can be used in right or left bank". The error is described on the owner's Marti report; here's an excerpt. Sold it, big mistake. The real cobra jet block had reinforced webbing as well as a higher nickel content, i.e. Introduced during the 1969 model year, the 428 Super Cobra Jet used the same block as the Cobra Jet. Royce: thanx for the clarification. What's the difference between a 428, 428 Police interceptor, and a The big reason a 428CJ makes more horsepower and torque than a PI is the superior heads. Sunroof has a big brain. 428 CU IN stuff I copied from the net: Introduced in 1966 Bore and stroke of 4.13X3.98 Cast iron crankshaft forged-steel connecting rods cast iron intake manifold 345 horsepower @ 10.5:1 compression ration Variations of the 428 existed throughout its' life span, including the 428 Police Interceptor, 428 Thunderjet and 428 Marauder. The back of the CJ block should have a "C" cast or welded into the back of it. 428 Vs 429 - Mercury Cougar Owners Why wouldn't an aluminum headed 351W be the best option -- then you don't have to change the rest of the driveline. A police interceptor may have an "A". In fact, the 428 was listed at 335 hp, the same as the 390. Ford 428 Cobra Jet Engine Block & Cylinder Heads The 406 was a serious development for Ford, as it catapulted them to NHRA and NASCAR victories in the mid-1960s. What to look for when buying the brutish Ford Torino GT With a bore and stroke of 4.36 X 3.59, the 429 has a larger bore but smaller stroke than the 428s. 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. 427 vs. 428 vs. 429 | Ford Muscle Cars Tech Forum As it turned out, the 427 heads massively improved both low-end torque and top-end power on 428. The CJ block differs from the plain 428 due to the additional webs cast into the main bearing saddles. 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. In sixth place is the 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator. The largest was the 390 cid, which Ford first brought out in 1961. For this family of motors, the SCJ actually got four-bolt mains and then there was that same 5 horsepower difference. 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. The 428 Cobra and Super Cobra Jets continued for 1970, but there was also a new 429 Cobra Jet now. All FE dampers are neutrally balanced, so all can be interchanged between motors if you understand the pulley requirements. are identical. 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. Note that it was not thought to be possible to order an SCJ engine by itself -- the only way to get your hands on an SCJ in a Mustang was to order the optional 3.91:1 or 4.30:1 rear end gear ratios. The 429ci Cobra Jet was a different entity entirely. 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. 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. They were still rated the same 335 horsepower as the Cobra Jets, which was probably still underestimated by 100 horsepower.