The Ford 385-Series Big Block Engines
429 and 460

brought to you by:  Dave Williams
This page: www.bacomatic.org/~dw/fordv8/bb/bb.htm
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Last Updated: 26 Jun 2003

Author: Dave Williams; dlwilliams=aristotle=net

The big block Ford engine line was introduced as the 460 in the Lincoln Continental. In 1969 the destroked 429 inch engine was announced as being developed for the Mercury Cyclone, though it was available in other bodies.

The 429/460 is similar to the MEL series in that it is very similar to a competing Chevrolet product, in this case the Chevrolet Mark IV big block. Not only does the 429/460 cylinder head look very similar, but the valves and rocker arms are so similar that many aftermarket sources list the same part numbers for both brands.

Big Block Ford Engines

This 1969 429 was one of the last without an air pump. This isn't really a representative picture, as almost all of the big blocks carried power steering pumps, air conditioner compressors, etc.

This cutaway shows the full-length water jackets on the cylinder bores, the adjustable valvetrain used in the early engines, and the Delco starter used by the big block engines. I've never known exactly why Ford used GM starters on the big blocks.

Big Block Ford Specifications

displacement    429     460
years made
bore            4.36"   4.36"
stroke          3.59"   3.85"


length          30"
width           27"
height          24"
weight


1969 429-2V  320 HP @ 4400 RPM, 460 ft-lb @ 2200 RPM   10.5:1 CR
1969 429-4V  360 HP @ 4600 RPM, 480 ft-lb @ 2800 RPM   10.5:1 CR
1969 460-4V  365 HP @ 4600 RPM, 500 ft-lb @ 2800 RPM   10.5:1 CR
All 429/460 engines use nodular cast iron crankshafts, SAE 1041-H forged steel connecting rods, and aluminum pistons. Camshafts are "special alloy cast iron", induction hardened and phosphate coated. The pistons were tin-plated to reduce scuffing during the break-in period and had moly-filled top rings.

Big Block Ford Heads

This is a 429 Cobra Jet head. It has larger valves and intake ports than the base heads. This is the small combustion chamber. The difference between the small and large chamber heads isn't as dramatic as that between the Cleveland heads.

The air flow of the 429 is compromised somewhat. The valves are smaller than they could be since they're shoved off to the outside of the block instead of being back in the middle where there's more room. The intake ports are curved to direct air into the side of the bore instead of the middle of the cylinder. Most Ford engines do this, but it has been proven to make less power than the center-directed ports.


The 460 heads crimp the exhaust port down just like a 351 Cleveland, and for the same reason - the bulky heads didn't fit well in some of Ford's carlines, and the exhaust had to get out somehow. This head has been milled and fitted with a raised port plate like the Clevelands used to do.

The 429/460 uses the usual 4-bolt cylinder head bolt pattern. Bolts are 9/16" in diameter, torqued to 130-140 ft-lbs.

Typical closed-chamber, high performance head.

Big Block Ford Valvetrain

Here's how Ford's Muscle Parts division recommended you rework the 429 valve for use with ported heads.

Big Block Ford Intakes

Here's how a dual plane intake was arranged on a 429/460. The firing order makes the engine look like two interlaced V4s instead of two inline fours. The dual plane intake connects the cylinders so that each side of the carb sees evently spaced intake events.

Big Block Ford Oiling System

429 oiling system. Oil goes from the pump to the passenger side lifter gallery, which also forms the mail oil gallery. This system is much bemoaned by the 351 Cleveland fans, but it works just fine on the 429 and engines like the Pontiac and Olds V8s.

Ford's specification for oil pressure was "35 to 75 PSI at 2000 RPM", most engines tended toward the lower end of that range.


Big Block Ford Blocks

Alan Root aluminum block, circa 1984. These were intended for BOSS 429s, but would work with any big block Ford, of course. The Root blocks are easily identified by the side-mount water pump boss. As far as I know Root never made a pump to bolt on there; their catalog didn't show one, anyway. 10.3 or 11.2 deck height, up to 4.625 bore. Low deck blocks weighed 138#, high decks 145#.

Big Block Ford Reciprocating Assembly

Big Block Ford Exhaust Manifolds

Big Block Ford Miscellaneous Bits

The BOSS 429 and '69 429 Thunderbird water pumps were about 1/2" shorter than the other big block pumps. The BOSS pump is long discontinued, of course.