$1500 sound like a lot of money to me...for a stock running 429 engine.

If it is a 429, then a 1971 model or earlier is a good engine. The 1972 and 1973 engines don't have great heads for a 429.

The base model 429/460 engine is a great engine in and of itself. General consensus is that the stock 2-bolt block can handle 600HP, 700HP with a main stud kit, 900HP with main stud & girdle and upwards of 1000HP with a 4-bolt conversion with forged main caps.

The good heads on a 429 would be casting numbers C8VE-A, C9VE-A, D0VE-A & D0VE-C. These heads--properly ported--have supported 700 dyno-proven horsepower on normally aspirated stroker motors.

For about $1500 to your door, you can buy a stroker kit for those engines that come complete with crank, rods, pistons, bearings and rings. All you need is to select a cam and cam bearings and take it all to the machine shop. For the price of a good shortblock rebuild, you can hav e a 502-514 cubic inch stroked 429. (Or bigger yet for a little more money.) Port and prep heads with bigger valves for the applicaton.

But again, in regards to the $1500 price tag, I have picked up running engines in cars--a 1969 T-bird with a Thunderjet, for example--for $250 and I drove it home. I once bought a 1968 T-Bird for $300 and drove it home. I bought a 1974 Merc wagon with a 460 for $100 and drove it home. $1500 is ridiculous, but yes, the motors are great.

Paul