I just bought a 429 that has been totally redone bored 30 over and i need to know some info about it. First off, its a 2 bolt main, do i need to change that to be able to get alot of horsepower out of it. Or will it handle it just fine. And the block casting numbers are DIVE A2B, can anyone tell me anything about this?? The heads are DOVE A2A! Please help.
2 bolt mains are capable of plenty horsepower. Most all of fords motors are 2 bolt while gm used 4 bolt on some applications. Ford started using cross bolts in the 60's because their nascar motors all took a poop. The motor must be a 1971 or 1972.
429 or a 460, which one is hard to tell without measuring the stroke but if the guy said its a 429 it should be. Both motors use the same rods(lentgh) so the 460 has a shorter piston. 460 stroke =3.85, 429 stroke =3.59 inches.
Ok, i sure appreciate all your help. SO do you think i would be alright to go ahead and build this motor for a 1977 Ford Stepside, and be able to produce at least 450 Horsepower. I was planning on adding a Edelbrock Intake, Cam, 750cfm Edelbrock, and roller rockers. Would you recommend changing this motor to a 4 bolt main, or just leave it like it is.
The cj and scj had 4 bolt mains. It would surely add strength to the bottom end. i think you will need some aftermarket heads to reach 450hp. Ported heads will be better than stock of course. i have a edelbrock 600 and i think for power you would want a holley carb. The new holleys are better than ever and make more power than an equal sized edelbrock.
i am not really sure what it would cost! Seems like one one the cj blocks would save some hassle but 4 bolt mains is going to cost either way. I wonder if the stock block can be drilled and tapped for the 4 bolt main.
Harleybill.. l am having a hard time deciding what it is you do have.. For sure you have a two bolt main block made in '71 up.. And it will take about anything you most likley will throw at it.. The heads ? at first you said you had dove A2A.. My books don't show Dove A2A.. but that could be my book.. it does show a Dove-C.. then you came back and said you had D3AE A2A.. heads Well my books tell me that they have 2.09" intakes / 1.65" exhaust valves.. 88cc Chambers with intake ports of 2.18"X 1.87".. Exhaust ports of 1.99"X 1.30" I hope that gets you going
The A2A heads are BB Fords, available on both the 429 and the 460. Without knowing the stroke, you wont know for sure whether its a 429 or 460. The 429 CJ came with a 2bolt bottom and the SCJ came with a 4 Bolt bottom. Be prepared to pay out the wazoo for a factory 4 bolt block if you decide to go that way. Having said that, unless you are wanting to build a 8000RPM screamer, I wouldnt worry about the 4 bolt main block, and instead would put that money towards a good build-up. A set of KB pistons, weiand stealth intake, Holley vaccum seciondary carb, trick flo or edelbrock aluminum heads and cam will take you to the 450Hp range without too much trouble, with the 460 making just a bit more than the 429
A 4 bolt main block is not necessary unless you are throwing some REAL serious stuff at this block, and 450 HP is not a big deal as far as that goes based upon what I have read.
For what you're shooting for, It doesnt really matter whether its a 429 or 460, but it is nice to know, stick a pen in there and measure it (the stroke)
Good luck, have fun, theres some people in this forum that REALLY know there stuff...Bill...Dean..Scroob, more Im not thinking of, Quality help is just a post away.
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Harleybill
After leaving the other night I decided to go through my books and come up with something that might help..
Fordeverpower ask if I got information from a book by reid.. yes I do, but I also use one by Tom Monroe to go to for help once in awhile.. The two of them are so close on their information that I use either one.. any way back to what I went for.. I found two articles on building a 460.. One was from Car craft January 2002 that gives the platform for a 460 that will give you 567lb-ft torque. and 528 HP with 10:1-1.. the other is from Hot rod Febuary 2000 that shows you how to make a 460 put out 572lb-ft of torque and 570 HP at 95-1.. Admittedly they are with aluminum heads but I have another article around here somewhere that uses the PI heads and gets close to the same thing.. Just two examples of what can be done and run 87-92 octane fuel..
I have built one 460 that gave me 505lb-ft of torque and 454 hp,, did it with all factory stuff except for cam..
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Please Help!! 429 Questions!!
5-1.. Admittedly they are with aluminum heads but I have another article around here somewhere that uses the PI heads and gets close to the same thing.. Just two examples of what can be done and run 87-92 octane fuel.. 
