I have what was told to me to be a 429 engine. I have no reason to believe otherwise, but was wondering what kind of 429. Can someone decifer this info for me? Metal tag bolted to intake: 429,71 9,1-F,K813,JG. Casting # on intake:3 DOVE-9425 B,F4 1E28. Casting # on blockIVE 8015 A. Casting # on heads: DOVE C. The intake is 4-v and the air cleaner lid has the sticker that says Mercury 4 Barrel. Is this engine a regular 429, known as a Thunderjet? Thanks for all the help.

 

The intake says its a 1970 non SCJ. The block says its a casting from 1971. Heads are 1970 but were found in 71 and 72 as well. THe heads are non SCJ, a SCJ head would say DOOE-R, as would the intake. It is most likely to be a basic 429 Thunderjet with hydraulic valves and the heads are slightly larger chambered with a bit less compression than a SCJ head would give. It should be a nice runner! I dont care if its a 429 or a 460, with the DOVE heads they work very nice, and if you ever decide to start modifying you have a great base with heads that take kindly to porting to support around 700 HP in a stroker. Good find

 

actually 71 429s would still have the DOVE heads and intake, the block indicates 71 so that is most likely a 1971 thunderjet 4V 429. not a bad engine to start with. Only thing you might check is if it is actually a 429 or a 460, the block heads, and intake casting numbers would be the same, and all 460s had 4v intakes (if it had a 2 barrel carb that was original to the engine then definatly a 429) you have to check the stroke to tell the difference. But the metal tag and aircleaner would indicate it's a 429.

 

Is that not what I said?

 

Well yes and no, you basically said it but left the indication that the DOVE casting numbers made parts a 70, and I was trying to indicate that after 1970 the casting numbers no longer were a perfect indicator of the year (after rereading it my post wasn't real clear either) After that point ford just started leaving the same casting numbers indicating the last time they revised the casting. Like the D3VE heads for example (I know not what is discussed in this thread but great example) The D3 indicates 1973 but that casting number was used clear into the 80s. You actually gave a good description, I was just trying to clear things up for someone else that may be searching for info on an engine, didn't mean to step on toes.

 

No toe stepping felt or implied :] Patrick and I were just reading the post you made and the one I wrote (I was on his PC) and thinking...."Self, is he basicly not repreating us...." But when I mentioned the heads being used in 70, 71, nad 72 I thought I was opening it up for questioning the true birth year, but I also let the fella know that with those heads he has a good running engine on his hands. Any way, go freshen up that 429 with a some bearings and rings, get a modest head job on the DOVE heads and you will be a happy camper....or you will tow a happy camper, or you can tow just about any dang thing you like with a good TQ monster like our beloved 385 series engines :]

 

Summary:

It's a 1971 vintage run-of-the-mill 4V (4 barrel carb) 429, as evidenced by the engine ID tag and verified by casting numbers consistent with that year of production.

Tag decoded (429,71 9,1-F,K813,JG)

429 .. Displacement in cubic inches
71 .. Model Year
9 .. Change level (same as "revision" in currant parlance)
1-F .. Date of assembly (1 = 1971, F = June)
K813-JG .. Engine build code (don't have a reference handy for this)

If memory serves the only Mercury model with the "standard" 429 as an option that year was the Mercury Marquis (aka Coupe de'Boat).

Brad

 

Thats funny.