?'s about 429
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 197
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From: In the swamps of Florida
?'s about 429
I recently bought a '79 F-150 with (supposedly) a 429 in it. I know these didn't come stock in these trucks so I am trying to find out a little more about the motor. It is definetly a 385 series motor form the appearance of it. How can I tell what year and size it is. The heads have DOVE-C cast in them, but I can't find any numbers on the block. Isn't "DO" a 1970 number? The guy I bought it from told me it was a '69 model. It appears to be all original and has a 2 bbl on it. How much power did these motors make stock. It seems to have a lot of power in this truck. Just curious. Thanks for your help.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,587
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From: Virginia Beach
I'm no expert by any means but '69/'70 models are pre smog and pretty high power. What grade gas do you run? What do they call them. . .ThunderJets or Cobrajets or something? I don't want to tell you to much and mislead you, someone else will jump in here and fill us both in 
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2005
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429
Im pretty sure what you have is indeed a 429 and the 429 2v from 69-71 had a 10:5:1 cr was rated at 320hp @ 4400rpm and 460 ftlbs @ 2200rpm thats alot better than me I got a 1972 429 4v and I dont even have that kind of power.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 18,423
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From: iowa
the DOVE-C casting number would be either 70 or 71 (ford quit making it a year casting number after 70, and started making it a revision number instead) The block casting number is above the starter. If it's an original 2bbl carb then it's a 429 as the 460s always had 4bbl carbs on them up until they went fuel injection. Some 70 models did have thermactor humps in the exhaust, so not entirely presmog (69 models have the basic same design head but will have the C9VE casting number) if the Block is a DOVE casting number it will have a little higher compression, and be a 70 model the 71 model will have a D1VE casting number and that block has a slightly raised deck to lower the compression slightly.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 197
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From: In the swamps of Florida
What exactly are thermactor humps? Are those raised sections in the exhaust ports? So far I am pretty pleased with what I'm finding out about this motor. I don't think I could ever give up the 300 in my '83, but if I did... 
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Joined: Jan 2004
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lectricman,
The 2v 429's were torque factories - very good throttle response and excellent low-end. That's the "lots of power" feel that you have in your truck. Feels good, eh?
But you can make it better, and for very little money.
The 2v 429's tend to poop out after 3000 RPM or so from a combination of the small carb and fairly restrictive factory exhaust manifolds. Buy or swap for a 4v intake (aftermarket or factory), a 750-ish CFM carb, and some headers. Cheapest 60 hp you'll ever make, presuming everything else is in good running condition.
Brad
The 2v 429's were torque factories - very good throttle response and excellent low-end. That's the "lots of power" feel that you have in your truck. Feels good, eh?
But you can make it better, and for very little money.
The 2v 429's tend to poop out after 3000 RPM or so from a combination of the small carb and fairly restrictive factory exhaust manifolds. Buy or swap for a 4v intake (aftermarket or factory), a 750-ish CFM carb, and some headers. Cheapest 60 hp you'll ever make, presuming everything else is in good running condition.
Brad
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