First up on the Ford big block roster found in the 1969 Mustang is the 390 cubic-inch “FE” engine. It was certainly no slouch! With 320 horsepower on tap, one can safely assume it made for a great time behind the wheel. However, the real show-stopper was even more potent than that.
Enter the 428 cubic-inch Cobra Jet big block V8. Ford advertised these massive engines as having 335 horsepower. However, the story goes that the power was actually around 410. To keep that in perspective, that’s only about 75 horsepower shy of the modern Coyote V8 in the 2024 Ford Mustang GT. It was available with or without a “Ram-Air” intake system and a functioning hood scoop. Either way, the power output was the same. However, Mustangs were ordered with optional 3.91 or 4.30 gear ratios, and a 428 got beefier connecting rods, a stronger crankshaft, and an engine oil cooler to keep them reliable on a drag strip. However, these “Drag Pack” cars weren’t available with AC because of the oil cooler.
Finally, the Boss 429. You probably associate the word “Hemi” with Dodge. However, the Boss 429 V8 engine also used hemi heads, known as such for the hemispherical combustion chambers. Ford built the Boss 429 Mustangs to homologate the 429 engine for NASCAR racing. It’s extremely unique because of its hemi heads, center-mounted spark plugs, and forged steel crankshaft. In production format, they made 375 horsepower.
