Ford 427 Engine: Big Block? Oh Yeah - VehicleHistory (2024)

A tad more factual FE engine history.

The FE engine had humble beginnings in 1958. It was to serve as the main mover in the Ford and Edsel lines. The senior Mercury, Edsel, Lincoln saw an Engine line called the MEL,The FE was a lightweight, muscular engine that was exciting to drive, and the MEL was a very robust and heavy engine, and unlike the FE it was a large, smooth and sedate engine that wasn’t a high revving performance engine even in the early years. The 332,352,361 engines were doing well in the 1958-1960 years and performance was made for luring Police Departments for use. The star in that era was the 361 Edsel engine which was a prime choice for police departments. The engines had a Holley Carburetor, streamlined exhaust manifolds and remained solid lifter engines with twin exhaust. It made 360 hp and was supposed to Police only, but they could be sold and installed by the service department. In 1961 Ford made a new engine that became a mainstay in Ford and Mercury cars and trucks. The 390 was offered in performance packages off 375 hp with a single carburetor and a 3x2 bbl engine at 401 hp. The 1962 year brought a larger, thicker bore 406 offered in 385 hp and 405 hp again with the single 4V and 3x2V 405. Towards the end of 1962,the 406 was to the power level that to be competitive some changes were needed to deal with endurance issues and the cross bolted main bearing caps that we see today were introduced into the last 406 engines. These engines were great but they would need an engine built for competition with no compromises. The 406 engine was reborn as the 428 with a .200 longer stroke and lower compression, hydraulic lifters for the Thunderbird and the Police Interceptor. On the board for 1963 was a new casting, a precision cast engine with a precise mix of metal and exacting techniques to produce a light and exceedingly strong set of components that were designed for running 600 hp all day, with cylinder heads designed to feed it at that level and to do it reliably. The 427 FE. The engine was built with two engines in mind. The 427 Low-Riser and the High- Riser. The High Risers were capable of 625 horsepower and they worked to hone the weaknesses out of the 427, and in 1964 it found those weaknesses and amazing strength in an engine that weighed what a 351 W in the future would weigh. But NASCAR said no to the high-riser heads. The 427 Low Riser was a street going engine made for 410 hp single Holley and 425 hp with 2x4 s in a street car. There was some argument as to the accuracy of the hp numbers as a good tune would pull 500 hp and 485 ft lbs of torque. Street racers wanted these engines so badly but the supply was limited and added a premium to the price of a car. Not for the “kids “ . This was a mistake because of Lee Iacocca wanted his Mustang to be the star, while HF2 was focused on his engine and was enraged that the “kid “ cars couldn’t accommodate the broad shouldered 390-427. On the other side was the 90 day wonder that stunned everyone when the season began the 427 SOHC was developed to do war with the HEMI, the engine was so powerful that Bill France put a very heavy weight factor on it that since the High-Riser was disqualified.. They tried to bring in the SOHC as it fit under the hood, but no dice. Fortunately they had a double improvement for 1965. They adapted the lower passege to make the engine priority main with the passage like the Yblocks used and filled the floor of the High-Riser head and tucked it into under the hood neatly. By 1965 the 427 MR was running wheel to wheel with the Hemi and was bulletproof in the oil feed and the sophisticated design of the heads. In 1966, the FE could fit in the Fairlane. A front stub frame was allowed for safety, and they really were quite the car. The 427 was detuned for the LeMans program, when the 289 didn’t have the wheeties to compete, but the LeMans program bore fruit in 1966. The 427 and the wonderful car combination put the whole organization on its ear.,they could ease along at 6400 rpm’s making 485 hp and let them eat revved to 7000 rpm’s and ran laps on everything. I could go on about the aero wars in NASCAR. But Ford finally realized that they were talking a shellacking on street cred. Along came a fellow named Tasca who suggested taking the 428 PI with a reboot of the 406 head in the Mustang. This resulted in the 428 Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jet. Total Performance sold heavy duty blocks, even 427s . Then along came the Boss 429 from the 385 series with a set of Semi-Hemi heads for NASCAR. But the FE wasn’t dead yet. In 68 the Tunnel Port was introduced. We saw a strange thing happen. Comparing the dyno numbers the TP was making 604 hp on the big tracks and strong as granite bolsters. This held true up to 72, they also ran away on short tracks and road courses because the Boss was 175 lbs heavier and. COG , it was up high. The hp was only 613 max and the valve train was fragile and they broke. Then the small block revolution began.,It surprised many people at how light the FE still is. I believe that is the reason they get so much love even now. FE Power makes a pushrod adapter that creates a dry valley and the ability to change cams and intakes without draining the water. Wonderful light as a 351W. The FE soldiers on!

This article is incorrect

The Ford 427 was introduced in 1963 and was available in certain Ford and Mercury models into 1967. The 427 engine is a FE big block. The FE big block was introduced in 1958 as a 332 cubic inch engine.it was increased in size through the years and available in different sizes through the years. 332, 352, (360 pickup only), 390, 406, 427 and 428 cubic inch engines were available. There were various heavy duty truck engines available as well as special racing engines.

Experienced journalist??

The 427 FE was not introduced in the 1950s but instead 1963. If Sonya was an experienced journalist, she should have easily uncovered this in her research. It just reflects the laziness, irresponsibility and the fact that articles like this are all about advertising and turning quick bucks rather than responsible journalism.

No 427 Torinos

While the 427 cu in (7.0 L)-4V FE engine was initially listed as an engine option for 1968 in factory literature, no Fairlanes or Torinos were actually produced with this engine during 1968

Wait what!

Lost me at “Tiny Lund won the Dayton 500”

FE was introduced in the 50s as author indicates. She then went on to state it was the 427 that came about in 1960s with use in 63 galaxiere

Correcting an ignorant comment