Hi to all of you Fordies. I have been lucky enough to inherit a brand new (not recond) 460ci long block (D9TE-AB) that has been sitting in storage for about 15 years. I was wondering what inlet manifold/carb/ignition system combination (as none of these are on it) would you fullas recomend. I will prolley buy an older Ford pick up to drop it into and do it up as a show/drive truck. Mainly street use. I'm not sure of the year of the donk, although i do know that it's pre 1995. Is there any way of telling the year and which combo would be good? Thanks in advance for your valued input. Cheers, KPH

 

First off welcome to FTE. The casting # indicates you have a 79 block. The choice for intake manifold is up to you and what is available in Kiwiland. A 4bbl rated from 600cfm to 750cfm will do nicely and a stock Duraspark II or better.

 

Cobraguy,

That's an -engineering number- it indicates it was designed for '79.
That same block casting # was used from '79 (when Ford went to external balance) until '88 when they went to fuel injection and made the bores slightly longer to better support the pistons.

(my truck came off the showroom floor with that #)

 

Thanks Jim, The engine is complete with heads as well but nothing else. Is there any way of knowing if it is pre '88 or post '88? Aparently Edelbrock does not have a manifold for engines after '88. I think it's going to be a sweet little project.

 

Thanks Cobraguy, I'm actually living in American Samoa - in the middle of the pacific ocean - one of the US territories. I was going to fit a Edelbrock manifold and 600cfm carb, but i've heard that something is different about the post '88 heads that wont match that combo. I'm going to order the parts from Summit so any recomendations would be well received. Cheers. KPH

 

They do not have a manifold for post '88 because when Ford went to fuel injection they changed both the intake and exhaust ports.
The heads are very different.
The block is similar except as I said the bores are *a little* deeper into the crankcase.

 

Thanks Jim. Do you know how to tell the heads apart by any chance?

 

By the numbers...???

The casting number designates the engineering date.
C= '60's D= '70's E= '80's the # after is the year

i.e. D9 = the part was designed/ originally manufactured for the 1979 model year.

V means the part was originally destined for a Lincoln.
T is a Ford truck

 

Thanks Jim. I'll have a look for the casting numbers on the heads. Much appreciated.

 

Well it is much easier and concise than trying to explain port shape over the internet.

Look between the center ports....

 

I couldn't see any casting numbers on the heads except "36" cast onto the exhaust side at one end. The inlet ports are slightly oval at 1 7/8"(w) x 2 1/4"(h) ( they dont have any point at the top to allow for an injector). The Exhaust ports are very oval at 1 5/16"(w) x 2"(h) and are 3 1/2" apart. Dunno if you can ID them with this info. Cheers Jim

 

Kiwi,
You have too few posts to PM you and I can't post a link to another forum, nor a picture from someone other than an official FTE Sponsor

I'm not a huge expert, I just know what I've seen and done.

You might look at both intake and exhaust gaskets for a '86 (carbed) and an '88 (fuelie)
I don't know if these would be stocked in an autoparts store where you are, I can't find pictures online.

I'll go out and look at some heads I have in the shop, but as I recall the post '87 heads were a little tighter and the port restriction more oblong than the carbed ones.

 

Thanks Heaps Jim. Where are you based? I'd buy you a beer if i was on the mainland.

 

does the front timing chain cover have an opening for the fuel pump? the fuel injected engines did not come with this opening on the timing chain cover.

also not 100% sure but i think the fuel injected heads have to centre bolts on the valve covers holding them down while the car'd have 7 or 8 bolts on the outside of valve cover holding them down.

Rgds
Mike

 

Thanks Mike. I'll have a look. I do know that the Valve covers have seven bolts.
Cheers. KPH