Thread: 429 information please

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Originally Posted by hartley808

I bought a 429 Thunderjet 4V with a C6 transmition out of a old ford truck for 300 dollars it runs. I do not know any thing about the 429 could someone help. My daughter wants to put it in her '74 Rancheo and drag race on the weekends good idea or to much HP. My other kids race a '74 El Camino with a High Perofrmace 350 and a '65 Impala 4Dr SS I do not know much about a ford.The only numbers I could find is listed below

DOVE-A on the heads?
DOAE-9C485 on valve cover on Drive side?
These numbers were on the intake maifold behind the carb.
4 DOVE-9435-B
F4 9J151

Could anyone tell me what these mean.

Thanks

Wow, a 429 T-Jet with a C6, running. You got a lot for your $300! Best as I can tell based on the info provided, you have a 429 Thunderjet that was manufactured toward the end of 1969. It may have gone into a 1969 year model vehicle but more likely went into a 1970 year model vehicle.

The engine's year of manufacture is not quite as important as the engineering revisions, or "casting numbers."

The cylinder head casting numbers are located on the outside of the head, along the valve cover mounting rail and between the 3rd and 4th exhaust ports. They are visible simply by raising the hood and looking at the engine. You have noted that you have D0VE ("D" "Zero" "V" "E") heads. D0VE-A and D0VE-C heads (which are essentially the same) are the most sought-after of the mass produced passenger car heads and have supported in excess of 700 hp (naturally aspirated) after full porting and in the proper engine combo.

The cylinder block casting number is located on the ouside of the engine, at the rear of the cylinder bank, behind the starter motor and reads vertically. There, you should be able to find a cast-in alphanumeric number, and if you engine is not bastardized since being released from the factory it should be one of the following:

• C9VE-B
• D0VE-A

Or, it may appear similar to one of the above numbers but a little different.

The 1969 & 1970 Thunderjet engines were actually base model 429's, but they advertised 10.5:1 compression ratio and 360 horsepower. In reality they had slightly less compression ratio and generated about 325 hp, which is still quite respectable for a base model engine. Further, that engine is a fine foundation from which to build a really high performance engine capable of more power than most hot rod enthusiasts really need, in fact my Biz partners have made 4-figure horsepower with those heads and that 2-bolt cylinder block in a blown alcohol race car.

If you have the C9VE block that is just fine, but if you have the D0VE-A block, well, people will pay more for a BARE D0VE-A block than you paid for the entire powertrain. But even if you have the C9VE-B block rest assured that it can supprt big hp. Most all 460 blocks can.

I would be wary of drag racing with the 40-year old cast pistons, worn timing chain, etc. Regardless, that engine in a 1974 Ranchero will have rear tire traction problems for sure, as my 1974 Mercury wagon with 460 (which had almost 100 hp less than your 429) smoked the tires like it was nobody's business.

Adding headers and a Holley 750 or 850 will help that engine breathe better above 4000 rpm, but the unfortunate truth is that the exhaust ports in the 429/460 heads are highly restrictive and start backing up above 4500 rpm or so. Clean up the exhaust ports (etc) and the upper rpm power is transformed a la Jeckyl and Hyde.

For a brief description of cylinder block differences, click HERE.

Paul