I found a set of 460 heads and need some info. They are supposedly off a marine 460. There are no casting numbers, possibly ground off or were never any to begin with. I have checked them myself and there is nothing in the traditional casting number area. But there are date codes, 8C10 and 8F25 would this mean 1978?? They are closed chamber and they had pivot guided rocker arms. The owner guessed the valve sizes at 1.73"/2.19".
I'm picking up a '69 429 later this week and I was wondering if these heads are worth buying. Any information on these heads would help alot. Also, can anybody recommend a book on these engines? I have the one by Tom Monroe called "How to rebuild Ford V8 engines" but it isn't enough. I need something that focuses more on casting numbers. Thanks!!!!!!!

 

Hello Ben,
The 460 head #'s could mean either they are both (A) '78 model heads (B) '68 model heads. Those are date codes you have, the first # 8 means model year, either '68 or '78. The second code is a letter for which month the heads were produced (C) being March and (F) being June. The third character in the code is the day of the month they were produced. You stated that the heads were a closed chamber variety, that would tend to put these heads in the early casting catagory '68-'71 but I need more info to pinpoint the year and type of head you have I.E. Cobra Jet, Super Cobra Jet, Base model, Dove Heads and etc.
First does the heads have holes (about 1/2")in each end favoring the exhaust side of the head.(B) If you pull rocker arm off do you have to loosen a nut or a bolt? (C) Is there guideplates for the push rods? (D) If there are rocker arm studs are they positive stop type or not? (E) Look into end intake ports on each head (2 each) are there holes that go from valve cover bolts to the ports, a sure sign you have CJ or SCJ heads. I have other ???'s If you are serious about finding the specifications on these heads.Just E-mail me back and I'll be happy to help.

Sincerely,
Todd Tedder
BB79RANCH

 

> Hello Ben,
> The 460 head #'s could
>mean either they are both
>(A) '78 model heads (B)
>'68 model heads. Those are
>date codes you have, the
>first # 8 means model
>year, either '68 or '78.

I think the "8" stands for 1978. These heads have what my book calls "pivot guided rockers" or in other words it has the bolts instead of the studs. Also, since my book says that Ford stopped making the stud mounted rocker type around '74 then they would have to be 1978's. Also He says they were from a 330hp 4bbl Marine engine. Since there are no emission regulations for these Marine engines, closed chamber heads could have been used. Also, my book says there weren't any closed chamber heads since the early '70s but he was referring to cars and trucks. Who knows how long Ford produced them for use in Marine engines. I have seen a owners manual for a 460 Marine engine so I know they exist.

>need more info to pinpoint
>the year and type of
>head you have I.E. Cobra
>Jet, Super Cobra Jet, Base
>model, Dove Heads and etc.

I had the guy measure the valves and they turned out to be smaller than I had hoped. They were something like 2.13"/1.63". That would also rule out the possibility of CJ, SCJ or Police heads.

> First does the heads
>have holes (about 1/2")in each
>end favoring the exhaust side
>of the head.

Don't know.....

>Is there guideplates for the
>push rods?

Nope...

>I have
>other ???'s If you are
>serious about finding the specifications
>on these heads.Just E-mail me
>back and I'll be happy
>to help.

I really appreciate your help. I was serious about these until I found out they had small valves. I have big plans for my 429 and I'm keeping a look-out for CJ's or Police heads. There's one last thing I do need help with though. I need a source of information on these engines or any other Ford engine. I can't find any information or casting number books.

I do have the Tom Monroe "How to rebuild Ford V8's" but it has not been a reliable source of info and it has hardly anything on casting numbers. It would be nice if when I found a set of heads I could just look up the casting in my book instead of running to the message boards for info every time. If you could recommend some books or a website that would be great.

 

Hello Ben,

You said that valve sizes were 2.13 intake and 1.63 exhaust. At first I thought you may have a set of Police heads but not having guide plates rules that out unless previous owner lost or ditched them, because Police heads have 2.19 intake and 1.65 exhaust valves with 89cc semi-closed chambers. Don't worry about finding the real rare and REALLY EXSPENSIVE CJ or SCJ heads. If the heads you have are in decent shape just enlarge the exhaust valve and port the exhaust and make up any compression losses in the heads with new pistons. If you feel the heads aren't worth the troble save time and money and get the new Edlebrock heads. You will be happier in the long run.
BB79RANCH

 

I forgot to mention that a few years back Hot Rod & peterson publishing published a casting number "bible" for modern Ford V-8's. I can give you an example of what a casting # translates to using these numbers:

DOVE-C 6049
PREFIX BASE

The 1st character is "D" which labels this part as being made in the '70's, "C" is 60's, "E" is 80's & etc.

The 2nd is "O" that tells us what year in the decade of the 70's it was made, in this case 1970.

The 3rd is "V" that tells us the car/truck model line the part was designed for. In this case "V" means Lincoln.

The 4th tells us what division released the part "E" being the engine plant.

The "BASE" code tells us what type of part we have. 6049 tells us that it is a cylinder head. 6049/6090= cylinder head
6015= engine block 6110= piston
6205= connecting rod
6303/6300= crankshaft
9425= intake manifold
There is plenty more code information that I can give you if you need it just E-mail. I hope this elps i any way.