427 picture ID help

[bartlett]

I have a lead on a 427 I think ..lol ...   

This is a touchy deal, I have to be real easy on the dealing's of this, I can buy this real cheap.  Her grandpa died and this became her's. Its a few hrs drive for me and she told me her grandpa always bragged about the 427 ... I want it ! But Im not sure that it is a 427ect ..

any tips in this picture that leans you to a 428,390,427 .... thanks

[bartlett]

p.s. .. I got her to send a few pic's. Yea I wanted pic's under the ex manifold area but didnt get them . (she has no clue what ex manifold is)

[drdano]

What that photo says to me is, "It's a 352 until proven otherwise."  This is my standard belief when going to look at FE's regardless of what the seller says it is.  If she could take a photo of the oil pan rail on one side you could at least see if it's cross bolted prior to making the trip.  Or, if you're getting it super cheap, just getting it for the intake and valve covers may be worth your while.

[bartlett]

Well hopefully she don't get weird on me , I sent her a picture of the area I need a picture of ect ... It hints of 427 to me but I need cross bolts to make the drive ....

[GJCAT427]

What it the motor in? Car/truck? Is it an auto trans?

[sixty9cobra]

look for cross bolted mains.

[machoneman]

Take the ride immediately!

Even if it's a 352 (and btw always assuming it's a 352 is damned good advice!) as mentioned the intake, covers, ditzy and maybe adustable rockers can be stripped off the engine darned quick. Even w/o cross-bolts, bring a plug wrench and a narrow wooden dowel to drop into a cylinder and measure the stroke. That is, if the engine turns over.  A big breaker bar, 2" extension and a socket to crank over the balancer bolt would help too. This will not tell you it's a 427 (see below) but will narrow down what it may be.   

http://www.fordfe.info/FEStrokeCheck.htm

[Marx427]

Did any 427s use vacuum advance distributors?

[machoneman]

Generally, no.

http://www.mre-books.com/sa69/sa69_8.html

But, never assume that Ford didn't use a vac. ditzy on any OEM 427 car. Case in point were CA built cars in '68 (see below) and full sized Galaxies with the 427 option and an auto trans. Amazingly, Ford built many a crazy combo that 'experts' say no to... yet factory records and/or build sheets show that yes, that option or part or design WAS added at the factory (or dealer) if the customer wanted it.

http://www.carmemories.com/cgi-bin/viewexperience.cgi?experience_id=133

In fact, there is a somewhat disagreeable chap over on the the old Forum when, even presented with facts (sheets, actual FoMoCo records) still argues the point since it doesn't fit into his narrative. Me, I'll accept those records and not name the culprit! 

Now, that said, I would not assume that a 45 year old engine (or a few more) that has a vac. ditzy can't be a 427......simply because your own pics show a different intake, carb and valve covers than any 427 ever came with. Over the intervening years, many a change was made to that motor.

Oh, and I'll add that even without cross-bolts it could still be a 427 as not all got the highly prized mains. Only 100% way to tell is to pull a head and mike the cylinder bore.  At 4.232" or bigger, you've got a gennie 427. 

 

[Marx427]

Yes, I agree Machoneman.....you can never assume anything with an old car/engine.  I can't tell from the Photo which car it is, but I'm guessing its a Galaxie or a pickup. ....the brake cylinder hints that it's a  67 or later.......the general neglect and the Porto-Sonic/Carter  screams 353/360/390 to me.....but it's always worth a look.