Rebuild the 429. That motor stock will put out plenty of power. Unless the 351w your putting in is very high-performance, i recommend getting the 429 redone.

CJ

 

No one want's to tuch it for less than $5000 I'm thinking about doing that if I can get a better price

 

Pogo- where do you live that engine work is so exspensive? Here in southwest michigan your 429 could be VERY nicely rebuilt for less than 2K. Do you need help finding a reputable shop? DF

 

I live in Miami FL. I can get a used 351 for $800 (includeing trans and everything except AC pump and alternater) and a rebuilt for $1300 (not includeing trans and intake) I was quoted an install for $1000 (another guy told me that anyone that would quote a job like that is crazy) It seems like everyone has a different idea on it. A computer would help with gas but no one would know how the wireing would be set up. A 351W would be too small for the car. If I keep the original engine I'll have to reair it constantly. If I put in a new engine it wont run right in the car (the way it should) and things will constantly break. So far what I'm looking to do is put the 351 in with a carband a new trans. Then fix things as needed.

 

Why are you assuming that as soon as you put in a new engine then things will start to break constantly??
Plus, the 351W will not be too small if the 351C will work, because they are both 351cid.
Why not a 460? It should just bolt in, no mods necessary, and they're very plentiful, therefore, cheap.

-Andrew
f250_64(No Email Addresses In Posts!), same for yahoo messenger

Nothing, and I mean nothing, stirs the soul, saying I'm a bad **** like lettin'em rip with a window shaking, fuel gulpin, carbon monoxide belchin, attention gettin, V-oh my LORD!-8!

 

No that was a long list of things that I'm told (It seems most of their suggestions will benifet them) You say a 460 (triton v10?)should drop right in without major mods? Would it make much of a differance if I put a computer in (not something I really care to do).

 

The Triton V-10 and the 460 are COMPLETELY different motors. What everyone isn't telling you is that your 429 and a 460 are exactly the same except for a different crank and pin height difference on the pistons. Other than that, they are the exact same motor, just the 460 has a longer stroke therefore the extra cubes. If I were you, I'd just take care of the 429. Have you shopped around for that rebuild price, or did you just take the first one you got? $5,000 sounds extremely pricey to me. I'd bet that you could get it rebuilt for less, especially if you can get a 351-W rebuilt for $1,300. Granted a big block will cost more, but I highly doubt it will cost $3,700 more. Whatever you do it won't be cheap, but if the car overall is in good condition then your best bet is to just rebuild the 429. Me being a T-Bird lover, I personally want to beg you to do that because I love old Birds with a big block and would hate to see one that is in good shape have its originality taken away from it.

TBirdGuy

"Stuck with a m*par, Settle for a ch*vy, Happy with a Ford!!!!"

 

See that's what I mean by everyones different ideas. I know that older engines tend to have more problems and I don't want to spend more time repairing it then fixing it up. I also want it to perform better as well. I got quite a few quotes inbetween 4,000-5,000. Are you refering to a older 460 or a newer 460?

 

use an old carburated one. When I was looking into one, I got at least 50 offers from all over the country, and all for under $1200!
I disagree about the new engines breaking down less; and when they break down, they're more expensive to repair. Also, the older engines are more easygoing when it comes to small things: when my dad's saturn had a miss, it threw the computer off so it was running rich, and loading up the catalytic converter. Eventually, the converter got so hot that it melted the carpet under the seat! All because a spark plug was fouled!!
Older engines are easier to diagnose as well, AND, you won't need to splice in all kinds of wiring.

-Andrew
f250_64(No Email Addresses In Posts!), same for yahoo messenger

Nothing, and I mean nothing, stirs the soul, saying I'm a bad **** like lettin'em rip with a window shaking, fuel gulpin, carbon monoxide belchin, attention gettin, V-oh my LORD!-8!

 

Yeah but if they are both older engines whouldn't I be better off useing the one that was made for the car? Of the 460s what year should I look into. Are there any newer engines that will fit without a whole lot of converting?0

 

Pogo- does that 5K include R&Ring the engine? The 2K$ price I'm thinking of is with you installing your self. I can do my own installs and sometimes forget that not everybody wants to do it that way. I'm inclined to think that newer stuff is all going to be a pain adapt into your car. If I were doing a 68 'Bird, I would run a 460 or bigger displacement (ford sells a crank+piston kit for 512inches) using the block you have now. You could run mid to late 80's truck heads or have your originals set up for unleaded gas. To make the engine easier to drive and more maintainance free, you could add a duraspark or pertroniks ignition and replace or rebuild the carb. Using one of the long stroke cranks will give more low speed power to get the big car moving, putting it in your original block lets you maintain original appearance, and there is no need to adapt anything. If fuel mileage is a concern, overdrives are available (GearVendors) but are pricey- 2500$. You have to ask yourself if you drive enough miles a year to make it worth it. Ask some others in your area what shop they like, for every 10 shops, probably only 2 are competant, be carefull with your $$$. DF

 

Pogo,

What I'm trying to tell you is that if you change the 429 for a 460, you will have NO, and I mean NO problems with the swap. All your brackets, accessories, motor mounts, everything will be the same. No problems. Only way you'd have a difficult time is if you changed over to fuel-injection. There you'd run into problems. Other than that, whether you built a 429 or 460, you wouldn't have any problems.

TBirdGuy

"Stuck with a m*par, Settle for a ch*vy, Happy with a Ford!!!!"

 

$5000 includes pulling it out and putting it back in. What year 460s should I look into then? What were they mostly put into? How would the 460 differ from the 429?

 

pogo, maybe i missed it some where, but why are you replacing the 429? is it burning oil, leaking, knocking, what?
if it is running bad, maybe it isn't the engine, but the carb, wiring, ignition, something!!. you sound as if you think it is the engine that will run bad if you put in a new one by the comments you have made. reading between the lines, i seem to think you are having reliability problems with this car.
if that is the case, start with a good tuneup using good , quality parts. then go through the wiring, belts, hoses, fuel lines filters, etc. make sure fuel lines are tight and that carb is clean and operating correctly.
if the patient is sick, a new heart might not help!!!

 

I have recently bought this car and theres nothing wrong with the engine except it's got 120k miles on it (I don't think older engines last as long as newer ones). I've had a few problems with it (Nothing really expensive) but I want the car to run like new. So I think that fixing or replaceing the old engine is a good start.