460 buck cheaper. .....Yeah, that might be the way to go.....LOL

 

I have a question for anyone that knows about old Ford big blocks.. The highboy needs a new carburetor, and I think I might bight the bullet and buy a brand new one. However, the problem I am having is remembering if it has a spread bore or square bore intake... It's been too long since I had it apart and I can't remember.. What would a 1968 429 thunderjet engine come with from the factory? Mine still has the cast iron 4v intake, and I am assuming it is original.

 

I'm not a BBF expert but it is really easy to tell the difference between the two.
Standard or square flange carbs have the primary and secondary throttle plates the same size.
Spread bore has small primary throttle plates and large secondary throttle plates.
The base gaskets will show that also with the standard having 4 equal sized holes and the spread bore having two different sized sets of holes.

 

Yeah I know the difference between the two, but see my problem is that my truck is a half hour away from me. I can't just go out the back door and look at it. I am wanting to get a new carburetor ordered, but don't know if I need to find a square or spread bore pattern. I was hoping someone knew what was standard on a '68 429 thunderjet. Like I said, I can't remember what pattern mine has.

 

The only guy on here that knows is Bill, Number Dummy...... look for him in the SoCal thread

 

Thank you, Gigman. I have that itch to spend some money on the project again..

 

Its called spring fever, all men get it

 

Brandon, this is what I dug up....

4-Barrel Autolite 4300 Carburetor/Dual Exhaust System
Thunder Jet 429 V-8 (360 Horsepower)
(Optional until January 1, 1968, then added as standard equipment)
4-Barrel Autolite 4300 Carburetor/Dual Exhaust System

You can look up the specs on that carb and see what it is.

 

Thanks Pat! I looked it up and found this..

The Autolite 4300 was a Ford (also used by AMC) carburetor manufactured from 1967 through 1974. These carburetors were produced as an emissions-compliant replacement for the previous Autolite 4100 model, and were later superseded by the Motorcraft 4350.

Both the 4300A and 4300D are unique by virtue of having spread bore throttle plate designs (the 4300A being much less pronounced than the 4300D) that are unique to these carburetors and their relative intake mainfolds.

Looks like it is a spread bore, and now that I think about it, I seem to remember it being the 4300A style they talk about above where they are spread bore, but are similar in size.

 

Gigman? No, that was your illustrious CL that found that for you, buddy!!

 

Yeah I went back and fixed it.. You caught me on it though..

 

It was a team effort, lol

 

Have you thought about going with a different brand of carb?

 

I am looking at Holley's and Quick Fuel carbs. I don't much care for Edelbrocks, had bad experiences with them in the past. I am considering a new aluminum intake to go with the new carb, that way I could get away from the odd spreadbore pattern I have now... Not really sure what I am going to end up with yet..

 

Might as well replace the intake. Get a little better performance out of an aftermarket one. I like Holley's, that's pretty much what I've had all my life. Never messed with an Edelbrock.