I've done searches and I can't seem to figure out what I have. I purchased a 62 f100 unibody shortbed with a BBF/c6 combo. I know it's internally balanced, and the block number is D9TE-AB. I know this is not normally an internally balanced block, but there's no hatchet on the crank snout and the flywheel has no weights. The dampner is stamped D2VE-AA. So here's the one stumping me, the heads don't have casting numbers above the exhaust ports where all the pictures say they should be. It doesn't look like they were ground off and I don't really want to pull them to figure it out. So do I have a 429 or a 460? And how can I figure out what the heads are? Did ford make a 385 series head without casting numbers in the typical spot? Thanks for any help.

 

The D9TE-AB cylinder block was utilized from 1979 up and until the end of production. All were delivered external balance engines.

Since you note that you have neither the hatchet weight on the snout nor the weight on the outer perimeter of the flexplate, it is certainly possible that your engine is internally balanced. This could have been accomplished either by internally balancing the (normally externally balanced) 3Y crankshaft, or by grinding some clearance into the D9TE-AB block's crankcase and fitting an early style (normally internally balanced) 2Y(ABC) crankshaft (the OEM internally balanced cranks won't fit a D9TE block without block mods). Either way requires some effort, in that internally balancing the 3Y crank can often be pricier than balancing an internally balanced one, and that fitting a 2Y(ABC) internal balance crank requires effort in the area of block mods (on a D9TE-AB block).

All 429/460 harmonic balancers are zero-balance, and so any OEM 429/460 balancer will work on any 429/460 engine regardless of internal or external balance. The fact that you have a D2VE-AA balancer gives me pause and causes me to wonder if somebody grabbed an entire early-style internal balance rotating assy and placed it into your D9TE-AB block after clearancing the block for fitment of the internal balance rotating assy.

The most certain way to determine whether you have a 429 or 460 is to pull the pan and look at the edge of the second counterwight from the front of the engine. Stamped into the edge of this couterweight is the crank's casting number:

4U, 4UA & 4UAB = 429

2Y, 2YA, 2YAB, 2YABC = 460

3Y, 3YA = 460 external balance.

(If it turns out that you have a 3Y crank in your engine when the engine appears internally balanced, look for the mallory metal in the counterwieghts.)

Another way to check which crank you have is by looking for an embossment on the front side of the first counterwight, just at the base of the snout/#1 main journal. The 460 will have the embossment while the typical passenger car 429 crank will not:

429 Crank (not embossed):


460 Crank (embossed):


In regards to your cylinder heads not having any casting numbers, the answer is that the last of the D3VE-A2A's and the E6TE carb heads might have had the casting number on the underside of the cylinder head, just under the intake port flange that overhangs the cylinder block and into the lifter valley. If you pull a valve cover and have the pedestal mount rockers, then you very, very likely (95% or so chance) have D3VE heads.

Paul

 

First of all thankyou for the response. I have done endless searches looking for cylinder head info, and you answered my question. I have pulled the valve cover and they are pedestal mount rockers, so I think it's fair to assume they are D3VE heads. As for the bottem end, I'll have to figure it out at a later date. I took a gamble on some heads today at Pamona swap meet here in so cal. I found some bare D0VE-C heads that were supposedly cleaned/magnafluxed and machined before being stored for years. I got the pair for $60 so we'll see if it pays off. Once again thanks for the input and I'll post again when I'm building the new engine.

 

careful with those dove heads, if you dont have a big dish piston your compression will be too high for pump gas.