ok so I asked the question about the 400 vs. 460 and it seems everybody favors the 460. Now what about the 429 in a 77 4x4. used again to pull a boat and just around town duties. would like to be in the 425-450 hp range with a build. which is the better platform?

 

Its really the same thing other than the stroke. I would call them equal but with the edge in horsepower going to the 460, just because of more cubic inches. I would try to get a 460 just becuase its free power with the extra cubes. Nothing wrong with using a 429 is thats what you have available though. My dad put a 429 in his 1979 F-250 back in 1983 and it still runs great. Plenty of power. In my opinion a 429 is leaps and bounds better than a 400, no comparison.

 

another thing to consider to about the engines is when each is from. Correct me if Im wrong but i believe a 460 in 1978 was rated at 169 horsepower. Not sure about the 427 though. Ford just retarded the cam timing, and if they did it that much they cranked up the low end torque, so if thats what your looking for, go with a later engine. Read up on NOS parts and aftermarket if your looking to replace anything. I think the 429 would be best though, IMO

 

Look at your expectations and consider which combo will provide you with the goals in which you desire.
1 horsepower per cubic inch is a general rule of thumb, and a statndard in which a builder can estimate how expensive a build will get. Exceed this ratio and dollars and cents become a real factor.
Smaller engines will have to work harder / rev higher to create similar power to the larger displacement engines.

Can you create a 425 horsepower 302 (example)? Sure you can. However, this will be a high rpm engine that may not produce a ton of torque, and would otherwise be rather expensive. This is probably not the most desirable choice for your particular application.

In your case, find the best performance package that you can afford. Consider that displacement is the key to achieving your potential.

This is why the 460 is so desirable. This is a reasonable package right form the start.
Also why stroker kits have become so popular.
1 HP per cubic inch is pretty easy to achieve with a mild 460. This will have plenty of torque to pull a boat, and have enough power to have fun when empty.

429 is a great place to start, but when it grows up, it becomes a 460 or larger.

 

I don't believe the 460 was ever rated that low on power. I would also always go for an earlier one if given the choice. Better heads and compression.

And yes a 429 is a great engine but if someone offered you a free stroker kit for it wouldn't you take it? Because that's what a 460 is. Its a 429 with a free stroker kit.

 

1978 460 as installed in Passenger Cars: 218 net HP.

The 429 was only installed in 1968/73 Passenger Cars (except Lincoln's) & Ranchero's.

No 460's in Passenger Cars after 1978.

The same bare block casting number (D1VE-6015-AB) was used from 1971 thru midyear 1979 for 460's, and for 1971/73 429's.

The bore is the same 429/460: 4.36" / Stroke: 429 = 3.59" / 460 = 3.85"

1968/71: 460's will be found in Lincoln's and Continental Mark III's only.

1972 was the first year the 460 was available in a Ford Passenger Car. 1972 Thunderbird, to be exact.

1973 was the first year the 460 was available in F100/350's / 1975 for Econolines.

 

i have had both in my truck, and i personally like the 429. what were the hp/torque ratings on both?

 

For a truck a 460 would be better. I have had a 460 in my truck and currently have a 429. Both are fun. I wonder if a 429 would rev faster since it has a shorter stroke. Might be better for racing. For pulling something more cubic inch and torque would be better. A 429 is still a nice motor for a truck.

 

 

i like that yellow man. thats cool and different!!

 

460 would be my choice as parts are easy to come by great tork with miner mods a little trick i used in the past is install a "straight up" timeing set from the 1971 429 [pre smog]
the differnce is amazing read somewhere it was worth 50 hp and with carb,intake,and exaust mods pretty potent package

 

do you have to run any fuel additives for your 429? Is it stock? what year is it from?

 

My 429 that is in my 75 truck is from a 70 tbird I used to have. It had the high compression Dove heads. I wanted it as a daily driver. I rebuilt it and used aluminum heads with dish pistons so its about 9 to 1 compression now. I can run 87 octane gas. My 73 tbird with a 460 that I rebuilt in 91 has the D3 heads. It does not have the hardened seats so I use the lead aditive that Walmart sells. Still runs good and uses no oil. I can run 87 gas in it. Only around 8.5 to 1 compression. Still has plenty of power. Will smoke the tires on a almost 3 ton car. My truck will pull anything. Towed my 73 tbird on a car trailer with the back of the truck full of stuff and a toper from iowa to Maryland with no problems. Over 10,000 pounds. Stopping was scary though.

 

yeah cant decide if I want to rebuild it for pump gas or just run the fuel additive. may just run it stock for a while then build it later for good power on pump gas

 

Either way, make sure you get the complete set of pulleys and if the motor has the dip stick in the timing cover, make sure the assembly is operational. Both can be a PITA to try to locate and get set up properly. After playing around with a variety of pulley's, I ended up going to a set of March Pulley's. After thinking I'd be able to finda dip stick tube, and not being able to locate one, I ended up resurrecting the original.