Hi everyone,
Just a couple of questions,
first off i've got a 85 f100 I6 and i am going to upgrade to a big block as i have all the 4wd gear from behind a big block, but my question is,
I've got a chance to buy a 429 for $600(us) and it's got $750(us) worth of head work done to it however i will need to rebuild the bottom end i can get that done for approx$350-$400(us) or i can buy a rebuilt 460 with new rings, gaskets, oil pump, & bearings for $ 1150(us) which way do you think i should go?
The truck is used for work however fuel econamy isn't to big an issue as i will be running it on LPG. My mate has a 429 in his falcon coupe and he swears buy it and another mates dad has a 460 in his effie and he says he wouldn't have a diffrent engine for the world.

My second question is how much difference is there between the engines? is it just the bore and stroke or is there anything else different?

Thanks for your help
Aaron

 

I know that the 460 has roughly 410 lbs. of torque!

 

The 429/460 share the same block.There is only one diffrance between the 429 and 460 and thats the crank. The 429 has a 3.59 stroke and the 460 has a 3.85 stroke. They both have the same bore of 4.36. Thier are very small diffrances between the two over the years(460 truck motors have a better rod), but all parts a interchageable between the two.

 

So should i go with the 429 and when i'm getting the bottom end rebuilt put a 460 crank and conrods in it? is it worth buying a 460 crank and rods or should i reuse the 429 crank and rods? i already have a new set off 30thou over pistons.
Also the guy i'm going to be getting the engine off said that you could use a 351 clevland dizzy in the motor is that right? i'm not to sure as i don't know to much about the big blocks.

Thanks Aaron

 

I think the 460s longer stroke is better suited to a truck engine

 

The 429 is more of a street motor than the 460. It cant crank out the same amount of power but it can rape out like a mother. It has a great rod to stroke ratio, I beleave its 1.8 if not more, so you can get away with higher comp. ratios naturaly with the 429. The 460s ups are more horsepower and torqe(about 25 more in both) and a lower power band meaning lots of torqe down low in the rpm range. The 460 is more of a torque moster(3.85 vs. 3.59 stroke) over the 429 so there for it would make a better truck motor. Both these motors can work great in either a truck a car application so it a depends on how you put the motor together, but the 460 has greater potential over the 429 in truck applications any day of the week so its all in what you want brother. Good luck!

 

Change the crank and make it a 460. With the 429 piston selection is so limited you'll have trouble running pump gas at 10.5:1. 460 will allow any pistons for compression ratio you need.

 

The difference between the 429 and the 460 is the crank and the pistons. You mention you have pistons already? For what a 429 or 460? The pistons will have to be used with the matching crank. If the pistons are for a 429 then you will have to use the 429 crank. If they are for a 460 then you will have to find a 460 crank to use them. Yes, the 351 distributor will work.

 

I got the pistons off ebay for $50 brand new unused they are diamond turned badger pistons + 30thou approx 8.5-9 to 1 and on the box they say suits 429/460.
whats the diffrence between 460 and 429 pistons? do they have a diffrent piston deck height?
What will happen if you use 460 pistons on a 429 crank? as i'm sort of leaning towards getting the 429 so i don't have to do any head work.
Will anything else swap over between the 351c and the BB?(apart from the obvious e.g. carby.leads etc.)
the reason i ask is here in oz the 351c are plentiful but the big blocks are scarse.

Thanks Aaron,

 

460 pistons have a compression height that is .130 inch shorter than 429 pistons. 429 pistons in a 460 will bend and break things, while 460 pistons in a 429 will give low compression and preformance.

 

I'm not sure if the 351C distributor will work in a 460, but I know that a 351M/400 distributor will.

 

351C, 351M, 400, 429, 460 distributors are all interchangeable.