Engine Summary
- Manufacturer
- Ford
- Family
- Ford FE-series big-block
- Displacement
- 427 cubic inches
Also Known As
427 High RiserFE 427 High Riser427-cu.in. High Riser V-8high-riser 427Thunderbolt 427 High Riser
Engine profile
Ford FE 427 High Riser V8
Ford FE-series big-block · 427 cubic inches · Ford
Identification reference
Engine Details
Source-backed component numbers, codes, stampings, and application notes.
forced-air induction path
- Value
- forced-air induction through the inboard/headlamp-area openings
- Application
- 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt program-level equipment described by registry and Hemmings/DST references
- Type
- air cleaner / specification
- Car pages
- 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt 427
Induction path is program-level context, not proof that a photographed car is an original Thunderbolt.
Sources: 1964 Ford Thunderbolt , Dearborn Steel Tubing celebrates Thunderbolt’s 50th anniversary by building another one
engine bore
- Value
- 4.23-inch bore
- Application
- Hot Rod quick-inspection record for documented Thunderbolt car no. 12 only
- Type
- block / specification
- Car pages
- 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt 427
Car-specific inspection detail; not a casting number or date-code rule.
FE block main-bearing construction
- Value
- cross-bolted main caps
- Application
- Hot Rod quick-inspection record for documented Thunderbolt car no. 12 only
- Type
- block / specification
- Car pages
- 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt 427
Car-specific inspection detail; do not generalize as a complete production-wide casting rule.
camshaft material, lifter type, duration, and lift
- Value
- precision-molded iron solid-tappet camshaft, 324-degree duration, 0.524-inch lift
- Application
- Hot Rod quick-inspection record for documented Thunderbolt car no. 12 only
- Type
- camshaft / specification
- Car pages
- 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt 427
carburetor configuration and airflow rating
- Value
- two Holley 600-cfm carburetors
- Application
- Hot Rod quick-inspection record for documented Thunderbolt car no. 12 only
- Type
- carburetor / specification
- Car pages
- 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt 427
This resolves carburetor configuration for the documented example, but not Holley list numbers or production-wide carburetor rules.
connecting rod material and length
- Value
- forged steel, 6.488-inch length
- Application
- Hot Rod quick-inspection record for documented Thunderbolt car no. 12 only
- Type
- connecting rod / specification
- Car pages
- 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt 427
crankshaft material and stroke
- Value
- forged steel, 3.78-inch stroke
- Application
- Hot Rod quick-inspection record for documented Thunderbolt car no. 12 only
- Type
- crankshaft / specification
- Car pages
- 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt 427
cylinder-head type
- Value
- High Riser wedge-style cylinder heads
- Application
- Hot Rod quick-inspection record for documented Thunderbolt car no. 12 only
- Type
- cylinder head / specification
- Car pages
- 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt 427
Ford published engine output rating
- Value
- 425 hp at 6,000 rpm
- Application
- 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt 427 public Ford Performance record
- Type
- engine assembly / specification
- Car pages
- 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt 427
Rated output only; not a dyno-verified figure for an individual car.
Sources: Martin Thunderbolt
Ford published torque rating
- Value
- 480 lb-ft
- Application
- 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt 427 public Ford Performance record
- Type
- engine assembly / specification
- Car pages
- 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt 427
Rated output only; not a dyno-verified figure for an individual car.
Sources: Martin Thunderbolt
header construction
- Value
- factory-designed tubular headers; special fabricated individual tube runners into 4-inch collectors on the documented Hot Rod example
- Application
- Thunderbolt program-level header type with Hot Rod car no. 12 collector detail
- Type
- exhaust manifold / specification
- Car pages
- 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt 427
Header type is documented; exact production-wide header part numbers, dates, and car-by-car variations remain unresolved.
Sources: 1964 Ford Thunderbolt , 1964 Ford Thunderbolt - 2500 Miles Of Thunder
intake manifold construction
- Value
- High Riser-style aluminum intake manifold
- Application
- Hot Rod quick-inspection record for documented Thunderbolt car no. 12 only
- Type
- intake manifold / specification
- Car pages
- 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt 427
piston material and compression ratio
- Value
- forged aluminum, 13:1 compression ratio
- Application
- Hot Rod quick-inspection record for documented Thunderbolt car no. 12 only
- Type
- piston / specification
- Car pages
- 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt 427
FordMuscle separately reports 12:1, so this page keeps the 13:1 value scoped to the Hot Rod inspected example rather than production-wide.
valve sizes and exhaust-valve construction
- Value
- 2.197-inch intake valves and 1.772-inch sodium-filled exhaust valves
- Application
- Hot Rod quick-inspection record for documented Thunderbolt car no. 12 only
- Type
- valve train / specification
- Car pages
- 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt 427
Cars Using This Engine
1 linked car page.
Fairlane 500 two-door sedan / two-door post
1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt 427
Ford factory drag program with Dearborn Steel Tubing conversion work