429 in a 53
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Senior User
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From: Suwanee, GA
429 in a 53
I found a running '71 t-bird complete with a 429/C6... I can get the car cheap and have a complete drivetrain to scavange... (get this - its been sitting in a salvage yard for 2 years and the old a/c still blows cold) Has anyone put a 429 into their 53-56? I've done some measurements and I think everything will clear... but i still want to know if I'm going to have any clearance problems... I have the stock front axle, steering, etc... any warnings/suggestions would be appreciated...
Tyson
Tyson
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: oh
429 in a 53
Lost treasure?
I also have access to 429/c6 and consider putting it my 53 but I think it's alotta extra weight. I think I can get all the power i need or want from hopping a 351w for less weight and $$$..Look at the parts price of both engines . Your going to have enough traction problem. I beleive Dennis Carpenter Carries the Mount's you need . Interference??? I read about guy's looking for way's to get around steering box. For some reason the 429 doesn't excite me. My Opinion.
caddy 53 Chuck Centerburg Ohio
I also have access to 429/c6 and consider putting it my 53 but I think it's alotta extra weight. I think I can get all the power i need or want from hopping a 351w for less weight and $$$..Look at the parts price of both engines . Your going to have enough traction problem. I beleive Dennis Carpenter Carries the Mount's you need . Interference??? I read about guy's looking for way's to get around steering box. For some reason the 429 doesn't excite me. My Opinion.
caddy 53 Chuck Centerburg Ohio
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Winnipeg, MB
429 in a 53
I have a solution to the traction problem...
Make yourself a stainless tonneau cover for the bed, and mount the engine midships!!!
A set of wheelie bars may also be in order if you go this route.
Parts are cheap for any engine if you are willing to scrounge the scrapyards. I say go for it.
Enjoy, and send pics if you actually do it!
Kris Taylor
Winnipeg, Canada
1950 F47
1977 XS650
1997 F150XL
Make yourself a stainless tonneau cover for the bed, and mount the engine midships!!!
A set of wheelie bars may also be in order if you go this route.
Parts are cheap for any engine if you are willing to scrounge the scrapyards. I say go for it.
Enjoy, and send pics if you actually do it!
Kris Taylor
Winnipeg, Canada
1950 F47
1977 XS650
1997 F150XL
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 1999
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From: Pensacola Florida
429 in a 53
I think that if you can get it to fit you will have something. With the donor vehicle you could save lots of money. A 71 429 should produce plenty of power stock. I'm not sure about the weight though. I have a 57 which came with a Y-Block. The Y is very heavy about the same as a 390-428 so I could go that route if I had chose too. I believe that the Ford 429 is heavier so you might have some suspension issues. Have you considered a IFS swap. With the money your going to save from the donor car it might be doable and it would solve a lot of problems. You could even have the power rack and pinion steering then.
Give it some thought. I think it is worth it. Good luck
Charles
Pensacola FL
Give it some thought. I think it is worth it. Good luck
Charles
Pensacola FL
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From: Suwanee, GA
429 in a 53
Well, from what I've read the 429 weighs around 700lbs complete. I think the front suspention should be able to take the weight... If not I can always swap the springs... I've also considered putting the 53 body on the t-birds frame... I need to do some serious measurement thought... if I could get it to work I would have power steering, power disc brakes, and trailing arm read suspention. As for keeping the wheels on the ground I'm really just gonna use this as a driver with occasional street light shuffle... I might mount some weights on the frame under the bed... but with a 700lb block in the front i think i can definately won't need to lower the front end... 
I think the car has side dump manafolds so it should clear the steering box... but the brake booster/gas tank has me a little conserned with duals...
Tyson
I think the car has side dump manafolds so it should clear the steering box... but the brake booster/gas tank has me a little conserned with duals...Tyson
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From: Southern New Hampshire
429 in a 53
With an aluminum intake and headers you will come close to the stock weight. On the 390/428 FE in particular its around 150 lbs!
The 429 is a nice torquey engine with no need to internally hop up; I prefer it over a smog 460.
The 429 is a nice torquey engine with no need to internally hop up; I prefer it over a smog 460.
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I have a 71 429 in my 55 and I like the reaction it brings when people see the big block. My suspension is from the donor Thunderbird so I have no spring rate or clearance problems. The only problem I had was in getting headers to fit. the engine is heavy. A little heavier than a Ch*vy 454. But tons of torque and easy horsepower. If it's a 71 it probably is a 10.5 to 1 compression which may cause you some pinging problems if your distributor isn't set up right. The only negative I have found is some performance parts are expensive. It's getting better now, but aluminum heads are still almost double what the other brand costs. I may have a picture of the engine installed on my forum site.
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Brett Foote
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From: Athens, TX
Around 360-370 HP for the 429 as is, stock.
All joking aside.......Keep the truck original!
Buy the T-bird from the salvage yard and restore it!
You will be more money ahead then any dream conversion or modification you can come up with, for your truck. If the Bird can start and still blow cold air from the A/C...... is the car that bad of shape?
Just a friendly note, That Bird will be worth more than you will ever know in stock, restored condition over the pickup, no matter what modifications you do to it. Save it, don't chop it!
All joking aside.......Keep the truck original!
Buy the T-bird from the salvage yard and restore it!
You will be more money ahead then any dream conversion or modification you can come up with, for your truck. If the Bird can start and still blow cold air from the A/C...... is the car that bad of shape?
Just a friendly note, That Bird will be worth more than you will ever know in stock, restored condition over the pickup, no matter what modifications you do to it. Save it, don't chop it!
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He's right about the trucks not going for a great price, but it will be awhile before a 71 T Bird climbs the charts. It all depends on what you want to build. If you want a big HP unique ford, it is a great option, but a stocker is nice too. The T birds I saw are going for 2k to 9k. My truck has about 35k in it (I have paid for my mistakes and the cost of redoing it twice in 10 years) and is worth about 22. But it is my hobby and I didn't build it for resale. I've had much more fun and met more great people with it than you can imagine.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Valley Center, CA
I like the 429 engine. It has a great legacy and history. Unfortunately, I don't think it is a great choice for the truck. With all that hp and heavy nose, traction will be a problem. (maybe a set of 283 gears will keep it from breaking traction) Gas mileage will be about 7-9. So with little traction and bad mileage it doesn't sound like you'll be doing much fun driving. But if this sounds good to you, by all means go for it. It is deffinantly a good motor. Good luck, John 
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,622
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From: okla
Heck yes, use it. Been lots of 390/429/460's installed in 53/56 F100's. Do as much of the work as you can do, or learn to do, which is a great deal of it. Use as much of the T-bird as you can, just be neat and as much of a "craftsman" as you can. You don't have to spend the family estate to have a neat truck. IMO forget the T-bird frame, use an original frame and re-inforce/modify as neccessary. Just have as much fun as you can.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,578
Likes: 208
From: Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Joe,
Hello you asked for opinion. I am going to give you mine. That 429 that you have weighs exactly 720lbs. according to the Engine Swap Guide in the June 00 Classic Trucks. I have a 55' with a 302 and a 87 Ford Crown Vic Front clip. Now that 429 on a straight axle is going to be wicked to handlecause of the power/torque. I do not know if you have ever been to the Nats formerly held in Pigeon Forge. There is normally a 56 Red Big window out of Statesville, North Carolina owned by Chad Key. Wayne Dean of Cheraw, South Carolina originally built that truck. That truck has the engine, 429, and Front clip out of a 72 Torino which has an interchange similiar to a 68-71 T-bird. Wayne normally uses 68-71 Bird front clips. Most of these front end had disc brakes and naturally power steering. What I am saying Mr. Joe is use all that you can off that car including the front clip and rear end. If you need any help email me at my username on AOL.com. ALso read the Fullsize Ford CLip section of 48-60 ford truck suspension Sticky. Hope this helps Donald
Hello you asked for opinion. I am going to give you mine. That 429 that you have weighs exactly 720lbs. according to the Engine Swap Guide in the June 00 Classic Trucks. I have a 55' with a 302 and a 87 Ford Crown Vic Front clip. Now that 429 on a straight axle is going to be wicked to handlecause of the power/torque. I do not know if you have ever been to the Nats formerly held in Pigeon Forge. There is normally a 56 Red Big window out of Statesville, North Carolina owned by Chad Key. Wayne Dean of Cheraw, South Carolina originally built that truck. That truck has the engine, 429, and Front clip out of a 72 Torino which has an interchange similiar to a 68-71 T-bird. Wayne normally uses 68-71 Bird front clips. Most of these front end had disc brakes and naturally power steering. What I am saying Mr. Joe is use all that you can off that car including the front clip and rear end. If you need any help email me at my username on AOL.com. ALso read the Fullsize Ford CLip section of 48-60 ford truck suspension Sticky. Hope this helps Donald
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,578
Likes: 208
From: Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Joe,
Hello you asked for opinion. I am going to give you mine. That 429 that you have weighs exactly 720lbs. according to the Engine Swap Guide in the June 00 Classic Trucks. I have a 55' with a 302 and a 87 Ford Crown Vic Front clip. Now that 429 on a straight axle is going to be wicked to handlecause of the power/torque. I do not know if you have ever been to the Nats formerly held in Pigeon Forge. There is normally a 56 Red Big window out of Statesville, North Carolina owned by Chad Key. Wayne Dean of Cheraw, South Carolina originally built that truck. That truck has the engine, 429, and Front clip out of a 72 Torino which has an interchange similiar to a 68-71 T-bird. Wayne normally uses 68-71 Bird front clips. Most of these front end had disc brakes and naturally power steering. What I am saying Mr. Joe is use all that you can off that car including the front clip and rear end. If you need any help email me at my username on AOL.com. ALso read the Fullsize Ford CLip section of 48-60 ford truck suspension Sticky. Hope this helps Donald
Hello you asked for opinion. I am going to give you mine. That 429 that you have weighs exactly 720lbs. according to the Engine Swap Guide in the June 00 Classic Trucks. I have a 55' with a 302 and a 87 Ford Crown Vic Front clip. Now that 429 on a straight axle is going to be wicked to handlecause of the power/torque. I do not know if you have ever been to the Nats formerly held in Pigeon Forge. There is normally a 56 Red Big window out of Statesville, North Carolina owned by Chad Key. Wayne Dean of Cheraw, South Carolina originally built that truck. That truck has the engine, 429, and Front clip out of a 72 Torino which has an interchange similiar to a 68-71 T-bird. Wayne normally uses 68-71 Bird front clips. Most of these front end had disc brakes and naturally power steering. What I am saying Mr. Joe is use all that you can off that car including the front clip and rear end. If you need any help email me at my username on AOL.com. ALso read the Fullsize Ford CLip section of 48-60 ford truck suspension Sticky. Hope this helps Donald
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,578
Likes: 208
From: Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Joe,
Hello you asked for opinion. I am going to give you mine. That 429 that you have weighs exactly 720lbs. according to the Engine Swap Guide in the June 00 Classic Trucks. I have a 55' with a 302 and a 87 Ford Crown Vic Front clip. Now that 429 on a straight axle is going to be wicked to handlecause of the power/torque. I do not know if you have ever been to the Nats formerly held in Pigeon Forge. There is normally a 56 Red Big window out of Statesville, North Carolina owned by Chad Key. Wayne Dean of Cheraw, South Carolina originally built that truck. That truck has the engine, 429, and Front clip out of a 72 Torino which has an interchange similiar to a 68-71 T-bird. Wayne normally uses 68-71 Bird front clips. Most of these front end had disc brakes and naturally power steering. What I am saying Mr. Joe is use all that you can off that car including the front clip and rear end. If you need any help email me at my username on AOL.com. ALso read the Fullsize Ford CLip section of 48-60 ford truck suspension Sticky. Hope this helps Donald
Hello you asked for opinion. I am going to give you mine. That 429 that you have weighs exactly 720lbs. according to the Engine Swap Guide in the June 00 Classic Trucks. I have a 55' with a 302 and a 87 Ford Crown Vic Front clip. Now that 429 on a straight axle is going to be wicked to handlecause of the power/torque. I do not know if you have ever been to the Nats formerly held in Pigeon Forge. There is normally a 56 Red Big window out of Statesville, North Carolina owned by Chad Key. Wayne Dean of Cheraw, South Carolina originally built that truck. That truck has the engine, 429, and Front clip out of a 72 Torino which has an interchange similiar to a 68-71 T-bird. Wayne normally uses 68-71 Bird front clips. Most of these front end had disc brakes and naturally power steering. What I am saying Mr. Joe is use all that you can off that car including the front clip and rear end. If you need any help email me at my username on AOL.com. ALso read the Fullsize Ford CLip section of 48-60 ford truck suspension Sticky. Hope this helps Donald