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1973 429 Thunderjet worth updating?

4K views 6 replies 6 participants last post by  AmericanPackMule 
#1 ·
Looking or valued comments regarding this engine. It has been balanced/bluprinted with new hardware, but the heads stayed the same (190HP rating). Does it make sense to put new 10:1 or 9:1 heads on it, with new manifold / carb / cam to increase the HP? I really was interested in about 350-450 hp ratings. It seems I could get into this for about $3500 vs a new crate @ $6500. But looking for your advise. Thanks. Steve
 
#4 ·
T45965 said:
Looking or valued comments regarding this engine. It has been balanced/bluprinted with new hardware, but the heads stayed the same (190HP rating). Does it make sense to put new 10:1 or 9:1 heads on it, with new manifold / carb / cam to increase the HP? I really was interested in about 350-450 hp ratings. It seems I could get into this for about $3500 vs a new crate @ $6500. But looking for your advise. Thanks. Steve
Better heads would potentially help but knowing what's on it by casting number would pin point if they need replacement. This engine is right on the edge of where Detroit got lost, some of these came with good stuff and others were confused. Keep in mind that new heads on a $3500 engine will do a lot to close the cost gap to a $6500 engine.

Bogie
 
#6 ·
Get a Ford Motorsport timing chain and set it at 0 degrees or you can do like I did on my 78 460 and set it at 2 degrees advance. This little change from the stock retarded timing chain will make quite a bit of difference. If you have the D2VE head on your 429, get rid of them, they are the worst heads ever made for a 429-460 engine. If you want more compression look for a set of D0VE heads, theses are small chamber 429-460 heads. The most common head for a 429-460 is the D3VE heads. The D3VE have larger closed chambers than the open chamber D2VE heads which are detonation prone. All standard 429-460, C8VE, D0VE, D2VE, D3VE heads have the same ports this excludes fuel injected 460 heads, 429 CJ, SCJ and 429-460PI and 429BOSS. In 1973 Ford went to the sled fulcrum design rocker, prior standard 429-460 heads had rail rockers. All 429CJ, SCJ and 429-460PI had adjustable conventional rockers with pushrod guild plates.
 
#7 ·
Heads 385's...

T45965 said:
Looking or valued comments regarding this engine. It has been balanced/bluprinted with new hardware, but the heads stayed the same (190HP rating). Does it make sense to put new 10:1 or 9:1 heads on it, with new manifold / carb / cam to increase the HP? I really was interested in about 350-450 hp ratings. It seems I could get into this for about $3500 vs a new crate @ $6500. But looking for your advise. Thanks. Steve
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The big PORT Heads C.J / S.C.J. Were For 7 + G's - Lower Vacuum @ 3 Gs.
For 450 H.P. @ 7,000 R.P.M. Put a Dominator carb. + Electronic Ign. + Big cam, 5.0 L. / 290 Dur. on 9.0:1 Combustion. Premium Gas.
 
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