I came across 2 big block fords and am not sure if they are 460 or 429 how could one tell the difference. Also, are the C9VE heads worth anything?
C9VE heads are almost identical to the D0VE-A and D0VE-C heads. Small chambers (around 76cc IIRC) make for excellent compression ratios with flat tops in a 460" engine. Telling the difference is nearly impossible on the outside. You'll have to look at the crank casting # or measure the stroke (429=3.59, 460=3.85). Sometimes the little sticker on the valve cover is legible and you can tell from there. Either way, you can't go wrong if it's cheap....both are excellent engines with those heads.
Can you tell me a way to measure the stroke? The engines and a couple of sets of those same casting heads were the right price.......free
if they're free...quit asking about them and go get them. IMO, it doesn't matter if they're a 429 or a 460. Both are great engines, both from a performance standpoint and from a reliability standpoint........ But, if you must know, the only TRUE way to measure is to pull a head off, rotate the crank until a piston is all the way down, then measure the distance from the top of the piston to the deck. If the head is on it, you can use a welding rod or coat hanger, stick it down the plug hole and rotate the engine until the piston is all the way down (the rod stops moving.) Mark the rod. Now rotate it until the piston is all the way up and mark the rod again. Remove the rod & measure the distance. It's a little tough because of the angle of the plugs in relation to the cylinders, but it's doable on 460's & 429's. Windsors on the other hand...are almost impossible to check like that. FE's are easy. FYI, 429's are storter stroke, higher-revving engines. They are great for a lighter car if you're on a budget (if you can put big block and budget in the same sentence). The 460...uses the same rods as the 429, but has the longer stroke crank & different pistons. They are designed for one thing; torque. And torque they have, in abundance. The blocks are the same, as are intakes, heads, cams, pans, etc....the only difference between 429's and 460's is the crank & pistons (well, until you get up to about 1979, then again at '87 I believe). There were also 4 bolt main 429 blocks (SCJ blocks and I read also about some '78-'79 4 bolt heavy truck blocks--never seen one though). The DOVE blocks are stronger, but the D1VE blocks ain't too shabby either...both are great foundations for 512, 514, 521, 557 strokers...which are easy as crap to build. Blocks are good to around 750 HP, heads (stock) are good to about 500 HP....and ported heads have been known to make 700+ (both D0VE heads and D3VE big chamber heads). The SCJ and CJ heads have seen the high side of 800 HP ported....I even know a guy with a set of iron CJ heads that makes 805 HP in a FOX mustang. Doesnt' drive it near enough though.
I've already aquired all of the parts. The 2 blocks that I got arent in great condition but the cranks and heads are. Rods are decent and pistons might be saved. I was thinking about trying to find a 64 -ish galaxie and doing a Tbolt. I think that would be bad.
