429 -- Total Rebuild or Refresh?
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Cross-Country
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 62
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From: Washington State
429 -- Total Rebuild or Refresh?
I have acquired a high compression '70 429 with 73,000 miles on it and have plans for putting it in my '79 F-250 4x4. I have stripped it down and everything looks good with the exception of one bad cam bearing. My goal was to stuff it full of new parts without a whole lot of machine work, but after talking to the machine shop, they said that none of the cylindars were exactly the same size from the factory and Ford used different sized pistons depending on the individual bore of each hole. His reccomendation was to .030 over on all of them to assure a precise fit of the new TRW Forged Pistons. Is this true? Has anyone ever dealt with this before? Thanks in advance for all replies.
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,882
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From: Nevada
429 -- Total Rebuild or Refresh?
I've never heard of stock cylinders being all different sizes or Frd using different sized pistons in the same engine. If the cylinders are within taper tolerance, hone them and install new pistons/rings. A LOT of standard bore blocks are re-ringed. I'd also check with another machine shop.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 378
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From: Corvallis oregon
429 -- Total Rebuild or Refresh?
I would go to another machine shop, have them break the glaze, and knock off the ridge if it is within tolerances, or do a mild bore on it. Put in you new pistons and rings, new cam bearings, a high volume oil pump and put it back on the road
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Cross-Country
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Washington State
429 -- Total Rebuild or Refresh?
There really isn't a ridge -- I worked the old pistons out by hand without using a ridge reamer. The more I contemplate it, I think I'll have them dip and magnaflux the block, hone it and install new cam bearings, check the conn. rods, and go through the heads (three-way valve job, new seats and guides, etc.), polish the crank, and slap her back together.
