Please advise on making 600HP with a 429.

cleandan · #1 (**permalink**) 06-29-2006, 12:25 PM

I am looking for any and all help with making 600HP from a 429 Ford. I am at the very beginning of this adventure and here is what I currently have for the motor. Totally stock, complete, running 429 Thunderjet out of a 1969 Mercury Marauder X-100 with about 55,000 mile on it. One pair of DOVE-C iron heads untouched but excellent. One Offenhauser PORT-O-SONIC intake. One extra crankshaft that came from a 1969 429 CJ (I know, nothing special but I still have it) That is it, all parts are in good usable/rebuildable condition. The motor will be used for drag racing and some street use. With this in mind what combos, parts, mods do you recommend? Thanks for any assistance and have a great day.

xlr8or · #2 (**permalink**) 06-29-2006, 01:03 PM

Making torque with that motor is easy. To the the HP and TQ numbers up to the level you want is all about cam design and head work.

blykins · #3 (**permalink**) 06-29-2006, 01:03 PM

Are you opposed to ditching what you have and buying new stuff? Would you be opposed to using a stroker crank? Aftermarket heads?

I'm sure you know this, but your power is made in the top end....heads and cam.

cleandan · #4 (**permalink**) 06-29-2006, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blykins

Are you opposed to ditching what you have and buying new stuff? Would you be opposed to using a stroker crank? Aftermarket heads?

I'm sure you know this, but your power is made in the top end....heads and cam.

Not opposed to any realistic suggestions. This will be my first venture past the 500HP mark and I want to have the thing stay together. I have considered many options, but want to know what can be done with the items I already own. Because the motor will need a complete rebuild for this power level I have considered aftermarket heads and a stroker kit rather than redoing/modding the factory stuff. Thanks for the input.

Tom Wells · #5 (**permalink**) 06-29-2006, 01:46 PM

Yo CD,

If ya can't get the answers here, they don't exist

http://www.460ford.com/index.php

jetlag · #6 (**permalink**) 06-29-2006, 03:59 PM

Dan- I am running a 466 big block in my car. You won't have to do that much,but I would highly reccomend the Jon Kaase Super Cobra Jet heads.They make sooo much power they're like a basic staple for these motors. Kaase has a website, just get on and ask him.

jetlag · #7 (**permalink**) 06-29-2006, 04:12 PM

Dan,one more thing. Although these heads are a big investment, where else are you gonna find 150 horses more fore about two large? They're an off the shelf Ford Motorsport part, but Kaase did all the design, flow, dyno work ect.He's a motorsport dealer, so I know if you need expert advice either he or Ford Motorsport hotline can help.

ByronRACE · #8 (**permalink**) 06-29-2006, 04:21 PM

For starters, are you talking about 600hp at the rear wheels or flywheel?

What kind of transmission?

The easiest way to make that power would be to toss the cam, rods, and pistons, send the heads to scott at reincarnation automotive and have them ported, buy a 4.5" stroke steel crank, rods, pistons, and run a victor dominator intake with a small dominator carb. Have the guys on the 460ford.com forum spec a cam for you. If you want to take weight off the front end, put some blue thunder heads on it...or some TFS if you like...or the new Kaase CJ heads.

You'd have no problem hitting a 600flywheel number with that combo on pump gas and wouldn't have to spin it past 6000rpm to do it.

Take a look at the engine build section on the forum mentioned for known combos.

Like this one:

http://www.460ford.com/viewtopic.php?t=629

That's a nice mild build that would last. More power is just a cam and induction change away.

Tim Brewer · #9 (**permalink**) 07-01-2006, 11:57 PM

You will have to stroke it, use aluminum heads and well, you will need to rebuild the whole engine with everything aftermarket except the block, (once it checks out). $ out what it costs to have someone like Keith Craft make it into a 514, and then see what his 514 crate will cost you. You'll be able then to decide what's best for you.

Scott M Jackson · #10 (**permalink**) 07-02-2006, 03:05 AM

Speakin' of "off the shelf" Ford Motorsports. Why don't you look into it. Ford Racing: http://www.fordracingparts.com/crateengine/bigblock.asp
Good luck, Scott

CarsByCarl · #11 (**permalink**) 07-19-2006, 06:48 PM

600HP with a 429 is no problem when using the right heads and cam, but you have to be prepared to live with low idle vacuum and a rough idle. You can make the same power in a stroker, but with the benefit of a smoother idle and more vacuum.

mike knight · #12 (**permalink**) 08-05-2006, 08:20 PM

i can recommend the c460 heads from fms. there are a couple of things about them that you need to know. the minimum bore is 4.50. the heads only work with the matching intake manifold. i had these ported and polished. stroked the engine to 545ci. ferria valves, 1250 double pumper, jesel roller rockers, ke pistons 10.5 to 1 and a crower cam can't remember the parameters. engine made 820hp on the dyno running c116 the motor will run on 97octane. one more thing the exhaust ports are not matched by off the shelf headers. these have to be custome done.the block is a 4 bolt main which is recommended with horsepowers over 600.
i also have a kaase 565 ci, built by kaase with 16 to 1c/r. motor makes 1065 h.p. on the dyno running c116. haven't put the kaase in anything yet. i got it from an auction of a small racing group with a couple of funny cars. getting horspower from these engines (429) is easy if your wallet can feed it. you should be able to get 600 from the right combination. best bet is the 460 forum and find a good motor builder near where you live or call keith craft.

CarsByCarl · #13 (**permalink**) 08-06-2006, 11:10 AM

Here's a quick and easy combo....

-429 shortblock with forged flattop pistons, H-beam rods, and stock crank.
-Unported Edelbrock heads.
-Victor intake
-Set compression at 10.8-11.1:1 via deck hieght and/or valve reliefs with the pistons no more than .010 below deck.
-FMS hyd flat tappet with .588/.614 lift installed at 4-5 degrees advanced (straight up on the timing marks).

You'll have a pump gas 429 making 610-630HP at 6500rpm, with 570-585lb/ft at 4500rpm.

Excaliber · #14 (**permalink**) 08-06-2006, 12:06 PM

Thats some good practical within budget advice Carl, we could use more of that around here.

To often we assume everybody has an unlimited budget to work with.

CarsByCarl · #15 (**permalink**) 08-08-2006, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excaliber

Thats some good practical within budget advice Carl, we could use more of that around here.

To often we assume everybody has an unlimited budget to work with.

Thank you,
I'm of the opinion that in most cases, the simplest solution is the best solution, and I try to approach my builds with that philosophy in mind.

Chick Baruffi · #16 (**permalink**) 03-04-2007, 11:34 AM

My 466 makes 662HP@6500RPM and 619FT.LBS@5000RPM. using ported CobraJet aluminum heads, 830CFM HollyHP Carb and a COmpCam solid roller cam. 11.4 compression with 74cc heads. It doesn't overheat on the street and I run 93 with about 3 gal of 110 octane without any problems. Tremek TKO 600RR. Best 1/4 time is 10.96@125MPH. I need to straighten out the chassis and I am sure that I can do better. My Superformance weighs in at 2920LBS with 1/2 tank of gas and me in it. If you need my engine specs, contact me at chickb@iovest.com. Chick Have fun!