Best Ford 427?

[OldNYJim]

55 minutes ago, Fat Brian said:

Speaking as a Ford guy, Ford engines are... difficult to get a handle on. There are three 351 engines, two of which are kind of similar, one is completely different. There is also a 427, 428, and 429 that have three different blocks and two completely different engine architectures.

Add to that various conflicting information on the net and there's a lot to figure out!   

[Fat Brian]

3 hours ago, CabDriver said:

Add to that various conflicting information on the net and there's a lot to figure out!   

It's best to think of Ford engines as families where a group of engines share common architecture and components. Basically in the span of time most modelers are interested in you've got the Windsor small blocks, 260, 289, 302, and 351, though the 351W does have a different block with a taller deck height. Then you've got the FE series, 331, 352, 360, 361, 390, 406, 410, 427, and 428. The 427 has its own unique block due to it having the biggest bore of all the FEs and in later years a redesigned oiling system. Then you get the 351 Cleveland that is a new design but had oiling problems and was later redesignated the 351 Modified and lead to the 400 Modified. Also, there's the 385 series which are the various 429 and 460 engines.

There are also the Y-blocks and MEL motors for Mercury's and Lincolns.

[Mark]

And each of those engines had multiple water pumps and sets of pulleys, and radiators with outlets and inlets to match up with the water pump.

Meanwhile, a small-block Chevy had, for many years, a choice between two water pumps, "short" and "long".

[OldNYJim]

1 hour ago, Fat Brian said:

It's best to think of Ford engines as families where a group of engines share common architecture and components. Basically in the span of time most modelers are interested in you've got the Windsor small blocks, 260, 289, 302, and 351, though the 351W does have a different block with a taller deck height. Then you've got the FE series, 331, 352, 360, 361, 390, 406, 410, 427, and 428. The 427 has its own unique block due to it having the biggest bore of all the FEs and in later years a redesigned oiling system. Then you get the 351 Cleveland that is a new design but had oiling problems and was later redesignated the 351 Modified and lead to the 400 Modified. Also, there's the 385 series which are the various 429 and 460 engines.

There are also the Y-blocks and MEL motors for Mercury's and Lincolns.

Copying and pasting that for future reference - very informative!  Thank you sir - that made things a LOT clearer!

[OldNYJim]

1 minute ago, Mark said:

And each of those engines had multiple water pumps and sets of pulleys, and radiators with outlets and inlets to match up with the water pump.

Meanwhile, a small-block Chevy had, for many years, a choice between two water pumps, "short" and "long".

No wonder people like putting a Chevy engine in a Ford so much ?

[Fat Brian]

1 hour ago, CabDriver said:

No wonder people like putting a Chevy engine in a Ford so much ?

Yeah, I think parts interchangeability played a big part in Chevys being the more common swap. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

1 hour ago, CabDriver said:

No wonder people like putting a Chevy engine in a Ford so much ?

 

35 minutes ago, Fat Brian said:

Yeah, I think parts interchangeability played a big part in Chevys being the more common swap. 

Yup...and the reason Chebby SB aftermarket parts are generally lots cheaper than the equivalent parts for Fords.

Volume, volume, volume.

I personally like the SB Ford engines better than the little Chebby for a lot of reasons.

But for relatively cheap semi-bulletproof power, it's kinda hard to beat Chevrolet.

[Mark]

Chevy in Ford started (of course) in the mid-Fifties, with the Chevy replacing a flathead V8. 

-Chevy has the distributor at the back, fits nicely in the notch in the firewall that was needed for the flathead's fuel pump.

-Chevy has the oil pan sump at the rear, same as the flathead.

-Chevy has the starter on the passenger side.  No worries about it being in the way of the steering box.  '55 and '56 blocks didn't have an oil filter pad on the block, which was on the driver's side.  Even when it was added for '57, it wasn't in the way.

Other early V8 engines like the Buick (the previously favored overhead valve V8) had to have the starter moved over.  The transmission adapter took care of that, but the Chevy was simpler yet.  For a lot of builders, it just made sense.