How to id a 428 with it still in the car?

[M-train]

I'm looking at a kit car, and the guy claims it's a 428, BUT he didn't build as it was in the car when he bought it.

I know its NOT going to be a CJ as it has a partial vin on the back of the block C6AE, which if its a 428 its a PI. So that rules out the hatchet shaped external balancer on the crankshaft behind  the crank balancer. It wouldn't even help to know the heads as those could have been changed. 

So, how do I know its not another FE like a 352, 390, etc?

[427Fastback]

The hatchet pc you refer to is used only on the SCJ..The  CJ's don't use it.....I just simply pull one of the spark plugs and put a welding rod (I use a tig rod)down the hole and roll the engine over by hand and do a basic measurement..A tape measure is close enough to check....3.98 is the 428 stroke....3.78 is the common stroke and leads you down another path...Just mark the rod (zero and full stroke)with a sharpie and roll it over

Every so called 428 I have ever measured (in car) was actually a 390...Don't forget....the 410 is 3.98 stroke

Cory

[ScotiaFE]

A partial Vin? That can be traced back to the line and model.
What's the rest of the engine? Heads, intake, dizzy, carb, damper, these are clues as to the quality of the build.
If it's a quality build and you like the car then I would not be so fixed on the 28. jmo
 

[M-train]

A partial Vin? That can be traced back to the line and model.
What's the rest of the engine? Heads, intake, dizzy, carb, damper, these are clues as to the quality of the build.
If it's a quality build and you like the car then I would not be so fixed on the 28. jmo

Actually that is a big issue as you wouldn't want to pay for a 428, and get a 390, or worse a 352, that someone dumped in the vehicle to make it look correct.

[M-train]

Also, since it will have to be a PI block if in fact its a 428, how much HP can these blocks handle? I know they don't have the extra webbing like the CJ, but how much difference does that make?

I've got a supercharger setup [Procharger F1R] for an FE so I'm looking at power in the 700 hp range.

[jayb]

Also, since it will have to be a PI block if in fact its a 428, how much HP can these blocks handle? I know they don't have the extra webbing like the CJ, but how much difference does that make?

I've got a supercharger setup [Procharger F1R] for an FE so I'm looking at power in the 700 hp range.

Just my opinion, but if you are going to exceed 600 HP I would invest in a crossbolt setup for the block.  That would get you to your 700 HP goal as long as the block sonic checks OK.

[ScotiaFE]

Normally a guy doing a kit build does not put big money top ends on 352's.
So if it has a big money top end odds are it most likely has a good foundation.

A 390 is the same strength as a 428. Some 390 blocks are even better than 428 blocks.
My best 390 block is better than my 428 block.
For 700 HP your going to need a aftermarket or a really good org 427 block.
Or a heavily mod'ed 390 block. Cross bolts and some fill.

[thatdarncat]

I think you may be confusing a partial VIN with a casting number. A partial VIN will be stamped in the block with digits about 1/4" tall. It follows the form of the Ford VIN but with less digits. It has to start with a number. If the original car VIN was something like 6P41Q123456 the partial VIN on a block ( or sometimes the heads ) would be 6P123456. The first number is the year, the next letter is the assembly plant and then the 6 digit consecutive unit number. Not all blocks received a partial VIN and it would be pretty rare before 1968. A casting number is cast into the block, raised above the surface, and C6AE would be a casting number used on some FE's. I'm also not sure why you are assuming if it's not a CJ why it would be a PI? Most 428's were regular passenger car blocks. If it was a PI it would most likely HAVE the 3 finger webbing like a CJ. A regular block could have either, but usually is 2 finger webbing. The only quick and easy test you can do is the stroke test through the spark plug hole as was described by the other poster, and that will only tell you if you have a 428/410 crank. The only way I know to verify the block would be looking for the scratch mark on the rear of the block, finding the 428 cast in the bottom of the water jacket or doing a drill bit test.