I'm new to the forum, so pardon me if this has been discussed before. What are the differences between these two motors as used in the 427 Cobras? I have read where many "427 Cobras" were, in fact, powered by the 428 Police Interceptor motor. Was this the top oiler?
Tim, Yes the 428 is a "top oiler". Early 427s were also top oilers as was every other FE made. That means that the main oil gallery runs down the block just below the cam. Because this system feeds the cam before the main bearings, it was considered to be a weak link in the FE's armor. Fords remedy to this was to cast in a new main gallery along the left side of the block to feed the mains first. Hence the term “side oiler”. These blocks were cast from 1965/1966 until the end of 427 production, including service blocks.
Actually the 427 was produced until 1973. The hydraulic lifter 427 block was introduced in 1968 and was factory installed in the 1968 Cougar GT-E.