Engine Lift Hooks

All 428 Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jet engines were originally equipped with a pair of stamped steel lift hooks that were used to lift the engine during the installation process. The most common left side hook is roughly figure-eight shaped, has two lifting holes and is stamped with an engineering number and a Ford logo. The most common right-side hook is triangular, carries no engineering number or markings, and has a single lifting hole. Both hooks were painted engine color, "Ford Dark Corporate Blue" (note that they were painted off the engine).

Driver side lift hook, mounted	Passenger side lift hook, mounted

(Images of mounted lift hooks courtesy of Joe Sikora)

The driver's side hook used on 1968 CJs is stamped C8OE-17K004-A and is slightly different than the 1969 and later version which was stamped C8OE-17K004-B. The -A hook was stamped with an offset bend that is not included on the -B hook.

-A lift hook at top, -B at bottom	-A lift hook at right, -B at left

(Images courtesy of Chris Teeling)

The logo on each is different as well. The -A version has a “FoMoCo” logo surrounded by a rectangle while the -B has a “Ford” logo within an oval. A comparison photo is below. An excellent reproduction of the later lift hook set is available from many parts vendors.

-A image courtesy of Scott Fuller	-B image courtesy of Chris Teeling

The forward mounting point of the left side hook mounts to the forward #7 exhaust manifold mounting hole and the rearward mounting point attaches the hook to a boss cast into the top of the exhaust manifold above and to the rear of cylinder number 7. The passenger side hook mounts using exhaust manifold bolts on the back side of cylinder number 2 and the front side of cylinder number 3.

There is a different left side hook that appears to be similar to a mirror image right side hook. There are reports that this hook has been found on various 428 Cobra Jets spanning all three years of production. It is not known at this time why this hook was installed on some vehicles.

Pair of triangular lift hooks found on a 1969 Torino or Cyclone (images courtesy of Chris Simon)

The first 50 "135"-series Cobra Jet Mustangs were assembled with 390 GT exhaust manifolds, so they were also equipped with the 390 GT Mustang-style lift hooks. Here are some shots on an unrestored engine. These lift hooks are identical from left to right and are thus interchangeable. Thanks to Royce Peterson for the pictures of the used lift hooks, and to Bill Upham of Mansfield Restoration Parts for the picture of the restored lift hooks.

Left side 1968 390 GT lift hook	Right side 1968 390 GT lift hook	1968 390 GT/428 GT-500/"135" lift hooks, pair

Thanks to JD Larson of All Classic Mustang for providing information for this article.