I have had many of these come through, in fact, 20 years ago a buddy and I used to fill car trailers with no more than appreciation by the farmer to clean up the junk pile.
General characteristics
- Often #2 or #4 mains are cracked at bolt holes. Seems like they run low RPM with parts out of balance, but not bad enough to blow up. Pumps are better on the block, grain drying fans are worse. I am at about 50% success rate after mag.
- Cranks are standard 428, but generally turned way down and with the ones that run big drive pulleys off the front, rarely pass mag. In this case, pumps are worse, fans are better.
- Blocks are usually ribbed, but can be anything, CX casting, and usually the worst for core shift of all 428s. Can be great can be crappy. Like I said for moy own truck and a recent truck puller build, it took 4 to get 2.
- Cams, heads, intakes, all garbage
- Rods are small bolt 390, nothing special
- Pistons are usually cast SUPER and usually beat to hell at the top ring land. However, in chassis repairs often have all kinds of different pistons. Remember these are low rpm farm repairs LOL
With all that negativity, we'll still take a run at them, if the prices stay, keep the good stuff, toss the junk.
