Is there a way to tell if an engine is a 429? Like by how many valve cover bolts are on the head. I know that other ford engines have different valve cover bolt patterns. Thanks.

 

yes.

a couple of different ways

1) the 429/460 (and 370 truck engine) uses 7 valve cover bolts and the valve cover is longer on one side than other. the 351C & M & 400 uses 8 bolts and the valve cover has a step in it at the breather. the small blocks (289 - 351W) uses 6 bolts. not sure on the FE engines, but they are very easy to distinguish from the 429/460 as the manifold forms part of the valve cover surface.

2) usually their is a 460 cast on the front of the engine or on the side of engine (even if it is a 429, they use the same block) or you can check the block number up underneath the starter. should be a C9VE, DOVE or D1VE for a 429/460 or D9TE for a tuck 460 block.

3) the thermostat is part of the intake manifold and points up.

now to tell a 429 from a 460 is harder. the only difference between a 429 and 460 is the crank and pistons. they use the same block, heads and rods so the only way to tell them apart is to take the oil pan off and get the crank number. if it is a 2 barrel carb on it, then it is a 429 for sure as the 460 never came ferom factory with a 2 bbl carb. (unless of course someone swapped manifolds but why)

rgds
Mike

 

Thanks for the info. This guy I know is selling a 75 F-150 with a built 429scj for $5,500. I drove this pick-up a couple years ago and it can scoot.

 

if it is a true 429SCJ, look for the following casting number on the heads (right above the middle exhaust ports)


DOOE. if it dosn't have DOOE it is not a true 429SCJ or CJ (they both used these heads and these heads only)

also the 429SCJ used a solid lifter cam with adjustable rockers and guide plates along with a a 4 bolt block (but the only way to confirm the 4 bolts is by taking off the pan as the casting number was the same as the regular 429/460 and 2 bolt 429CJ blocks (some 429CJ came with 4 bolt blocks also).

the 429SCJ also came stock with a Rocjhester Quuadrajet carb from the factory. very rare and very sought after carb, even by the GM crowd as it was modified by Ford to work and respond better than the GM version.

so if it is a real 429SCJ or even a CJ, you are going to score a pretty decent motor.

rgds
Mike

 

actually i got the carbs mixed up.


Rochester was standard on the CJ engines and the SCJ came with a Holley carb.

my mistake.

rgds
Mike

 

Best way to tell one series from another is the exhaust manifold bolt pattern.
In reference to each individual exhaust port:
351m/400= 2 bolts diagonally placed at about 2 and 7 o'clock
460/429= 2 bolts horizontally placed at 3 and 9 o'clock
FE360/390= 2 bolts vertically placed at 12 and 6 o'clock
302/351w= 2 bolts horizontally placed at 3 and 9 o'clock (smaller pattern than 460/429)
This method is my favorite, because many times you can identify the motor just by looking through the fenderwell, ie; if you cant get the hood up or your snooping around someone's junk to see if its worth asking about.

 

You can also check the stroke without taking the engine apart.
(1) Pull #1 plug and crank the engine to TDC.
(2) Insert a thin wood dowell through the spark plug hole and mark the dowell at the edge of the hole.
(3) Crank the motor until #1 goes to bottom of stroke and mark the dowell again.

3.59" Stroke = 429
3.85" stroke = 460

 

Some of the FE's had staggered exhaust manifold bolts. 390GT, 406, 427 and 428CJ and SCJ all did. So your list isn't correct.

 

What would be the placement of the exhaust bolts on these engines you listed? By staggerd, do you mean diagonally placed like the modifieds?

 

Actually the heads are drilled and tapped for both the vertical and the staggered patterns on some of the heads, which should really confuse the issue some more. Yes, staggered like the modifieds.