I just bought a 71 429 core to replace the knocking 460 in my 76 F150 Ranger. The casting codes I have found are: D1VE A2B (back right corner) and 101 6(or 9) and on the back at the top near the head is the number 3Y811960. The heads are cast with DOVE-C. This engine is supposed to compression test at 195-210lbs on each cylinder. Can someone shed some more light on what these numbers mean? I know it's a 71 Mercury 429 with high compression and that's it. Anyone?

 

Best place to ask these type questions is in the FTE engine forums... specifically the 385 engine series forum.

Big Block V8 - 385 Series (6.1/370, 7.0/429, 7.5/460)

429 = 385 series engine

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum53/

The 429 was NEVER put in a 67-72 Ford Light Truck so it really doesn't apply here.

Those numbers are good as they show what year that engine was DESIGNED for but you need the other set of DATE casting codes to find out the correct application,

The A2B digits represent Change-up codes in direct correlation to "Date of Casting"

D1VE = 1971 Lincoln 429/460....used in T-Birds.Lincolns & other Mercury's
A2B means is was cast after NUMEROUS changes to that Part.

Look for date casting codes in the head oil galley that look like this * 2C17 *

There is a set on the block as well.


See you in the 385 engine series forum

 

Bare block casting number: D1VE-A2B = 1971/79 (early 1979) bare block for 429/460.

FoMoCo passenger cars, F Series trucks and Econolines used this block.
================================================== ===========
Casting number: D0VE-C .. Cylinder Head = Ford part number: D0VZ-6049-D Fits: FoMoCo passenger cars: 1968/71 429 except P/C; CJ; or Super CJ

 

Thanks for the replys!
So, what I'm reading here is that it's not likely a "special" high compression set up. Rather that a previous owner had some work done that made it HC. I also understand that this 71 429 block could very well be a 460 "as advertised" but I won't know until I tear it down and measure?

 

Our high speed internet turned into no speed internet:

Revised: Block used 1968/79 (other revisions in red)

 

It isn't a 71 429/460 block until it is verified.

The block you have is Only a 1971 DESIGN that carried on for years. thus the "A2B" suffix as it has had many changes done to it since it's original casting that's what the A2B means

An original 1971 block would have a "A" or a "B" as a suffix only

No measurements needed

Just Post the Actual casting DATE numbers like I asked.

 

Excepting CJ and Super CJ, and 1971/72 Police Cruisers, only ONE 429/460 bare block was used by FoMoCo from 1968 thru early 1979.

Casting Number: D1VE-AB; A1B; A2B

Ford Part Number: D1VZ-6010-A

 

Bill is 100% Correct. There's only One Engine Block Casting available for 429 & 460 versions of 385 series engines between '68 & '79. That is the D1VE dated casting.

It may not be the block installed in 1968 which would be a C8VE but that has been superceded by D1VE designation. Therefore other numbers will only be available by being removed from an original, un-tampered, OEM 68, 69 or 1970 FoMoCo vehicle that came with a 385.

The sufix AB A1B or A2B Does not necessarily mean the block is different, it does mean the same block has 3 different application Numbers which only FoMoCo Can explain. The block castings however are all close enough to be considered Identical, or typical if they carry that D1VE-****-AB or A1B or A2B designation.

What's more only the crank, rods & pistons are different (Physically) between the 460 & 429 because only dimensional difference between all those 429 & 460 engines is stroke, which is determined by aforementioned crank-rod-piston combination therein.

Please don't over complicate such a fundamental fact into such confusion guys. I mean after all; Who gets helped by re-arranging the deck chairs numerically on the Titanic?

FBp

 

D0VE heads have the smaller combustion chamber and yield the most compression of the 385 series heads. Should be between 10.5 and 11.0:1 compression.

 

Bill, I have two C9 blocks in my garage that both came out of 69 Mercs.

 

Bobby,
That's what I'm saying, and what Bill is saying also. The C8VE, C9VE & D0VE or '68, '69 & '70 are FoMoCo numbers on blocks installed at factory, in their respective production years.

With 1971 prod' run, D1VE blocks whether it is an AB, A1B or A2B, supercedes them all from that point in time (1971) forward. Bottom line here is Virtually No, as in Zero difference, exists among all these Blocks. What's in these bare blocks may differ & what's on them may differ. But 385 engine block castings are virtually the same from 1968 thru early 1979 regardless of casting#'s or date numbers they bear, if they are for a 429 or 460 application.

Only way to know what his engine's rated, is to get VIN from the 71 Mercury he got his engine as out of. Without that specific VIN w/encoded sequence, there is no telling what he has, because numbers he's citing are casting & production numbers not part numbers. . . .

As far as PSI of compression readings go, it doesn't have anything to do with C-R or CID of an engine. We've seen 200 I-6's with 200# +/- of compression. They're less than 1/2 the CID of 429 or 460's & only have 9.5:1 or 9:1 C-R's

Also he doesn't need to tear it apart to find out what his CID is. Bore of 429s & 460s are identical. It's stroke that's different. All he must do is measure difference in piston to spark plug hole distance with the piston at TDC then at BDC, that's his stroke. It's not much, it's only 31 cubic inches difference.

The 429's use shorter stroke crankshaft, shorter rods & different pistons. So a longer stroke 460 crank, longer rods, and pistons with correct wrist pin location essentially are an OEM "Stroker Kit" for a 429 engine. . . . .

FBp

 

Quote: Virtually No, as in Zero difference, exists among all these Blocks
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have to dispute this and is the reason I typed what I did earlier

I have always known the Suffix to be an engineering change up of a design.

IMO ,the part receives a change up number(suffix change) even when a miniscule engineering CHANGE of the part is made.
It may be as simple as a threaded hole with a screw in plug in the side of the block,...but it is a design change non-the less ...thus the different suffix A2B.

and the more characters in the suffix usually translates into a LATER casting date from the original design.

Maybe this thread will eventually get moved to its proper forum ?

 

I get it now.

 

Block casting explanation.

First casting: D1VE-AB / second casting: D1VE-A1B / third casting: D1VE-A2B

Since the service part: D1VZ-6010-A bare block was used from 1971 thru early 1979, there are no further changes to it. If there were, Ford would have updated the part number.

 

Wait a Minute. . . . . FWIW, a point of clarification is due here.

I said: "Virtually No, as in Zero difference, exists among all these Blocks", I did not say "Absolutely".

But, for all practical intents & purposes where application or installation is concerned these blocks are "virtually" the same thing. They replace all previous blocks for the application, as the latest version "period".

Although it is a commonly made misconception, suffix changes are not necessarily engineering related only. Sometimes they're production related, sometimes they reflect a supercision, sometimes they reflect a change in source facility location, and sometimes they are simply application related.

My intention in this forum is to provide accurate useful information, and not confuse people with minutia and detail that is meaningless to the general practioneer working or playing with these FoMoCo Truck Div. products.

And Also FWIW, my F-100 as well as many others members here have one of these great 385 series engines in our trucks. It is ever growing in popularity too. So IMHO I can't see how the topic or subject does not belong here, this forum is about 67-72, and the member who asked the original querey asked because he wants to join those of us who have & know about this conversion.

If I can't share what I know, or what I might have to offer on topics posted here, without being falsely corrected, or get in a urinating contest over some irelevant trivia and if I can't contribute here without inaccurate, undue criticism, then pray tell, why am I here?

FBp