Ford 429/460 Engines: HTB Max Perf: How to Build Max Performance
Learn to make incredible horsepower from Ford’s most powerful big-block engine design.

For years, Ford relied on the venerable FE big-block engine design to power its passenger cars, trucks, and even muscle cars—and why not? The design was rugged, reliable, amortized, and a proven race winner at Le Mans and drag strips across the country. However, as is always the case with technology, time marches on, and Ford had a new design with many improvements in mind. Enter the 385 family of engines (also known as the “Lima” big-block). Produced from 1968–1998, the 385-series engines were used in multiple applications from industrial trucks to muscle cars and luxury cruisers.

In Ford 429/460 Engines: How to Build Max Performance, which was written by Ford expert Jim Smart, all aspects of performance building are covered, including engine history and design, induction systems, cylinder heads, the valvetrain, camshaft selection, the engine block, and rotating assemblies. The best options, optimal parts matching, aftermarket versus factory parts, budget levels, and build levels are also examined. The 429/460 engines are a good platform for stroking, so that is covered here as well.

Whether you want to build a torque-monster engine for your off-road F-150, a better-preforming version of a 1970s-era smog motor for your luxury Lincoln, or an all-out high-horsepower mill for your muscle car, this book is a welcome addition to your performance library.

1139173313
Ford 429/460 Engines: HTB Max Perf: How to Build Max Performance
Learn to make incredible horsepower from Ford’s most powerful big-block engine design.

For years, Ford relied on the venerable FE big-block engine design to power its passenger cars, trucks, and even muscle cars—and why not? The design was rugged, reliable, amortized, and a proven race winner at Le Mans and drag strips across the country. However, as is always the case with technology, time marches on, and Ford had a new design with many improvements in mind. Enter the 385 family of engines (also known as the “Lima” big-block). Produced from 1968–1998, the 385-series engines were used in multiple applications from industrial trucks to muscle cars and luxury cruisers.

In Ford 429/460 Engines: How to Build Max Performance, which was written by Ford expert Jim Smart, all aspects of performance building are covered, including engine history and design, induction systems, cylinder heads, the valvetrain, camshaft selection, the engine block, and rotating assemblies. The best options, optimal parts matching, aftermarket versus factory parts, budget levels, and build levels are also examined. The 429/460 engines are a good platform for stroking, so that is covered here as well.

Whether you want to build a torque-monster engine for your off-road F-150, a better-preforming version of a 1970s-era smog motor for your luxury Lincoln, or an all-out high-horsepower mill for your muscle car, this book is a welcome addition to your performance library.

36.95 In Stock
Ford 429/460 Engines: HTB Max Perf: How to Build Max Performance

Ford 429/460 Engines: HTB Max Perf: How to Build Max Performance

by Jim Smart
Ford 429/460 Engines: HTB Max Perf: How to Build Max Performance

Ford 429/460 Engines: HTB Max Perf: How to Build Max Performance

by Jim Smart

Paperback

$36.95 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    In stock. Ships in 1-2 days.
  • PICK UP IN STORE

    Your local store may have stock of this item.

Related collections and offers


Overview

Learn to make incredible horsepower from Ford’s most powerful big-block engine design.

For years, Ford relied on the venerable FE big-block engine design to power its passenger cars, trucks, and even muscle cars—and why not? The design was rugged, reliable, amortized, and a proven race winner at Le Mans and drag strips across the country. However, as is always the case with technology, time marches on, and Ford had a new design with many improvements in mind. Enter the 385 family of engines (also known as the “Lima” big-block). Produced from 1968–1998, the 385-series engines were used in multiple applications from industrial trucks to muscle cars and luxury cruisers.

In Ford 429/460 Engines: How to Build Max Performance, which was written by Ford expert Jim Smart, all aspects of performance building are covered, including engine history and design, induction systems, cylinder heads, the valvetrain, camshaft selection, the engine block, and rotating assemblies. The best options, optimal parts matching, aftermarket versus factory parts, budget levels, and build levels are also examined. The 429/460 engines are a good platform for stroking, so that is covered here as well.

Whether you want to build a torque-monster engine for your off-road F-150, a better-preforming version of a 1970s-era smog motor for your luxury Lincoln, or an all-out high-horsepower mill for your muscle car, this book is a welcome addition to your performance library.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781613256046
Publisher: CarTech
Publication date: 01/13/2022
Pages: 160
Product dimensions: 8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.32(d)

About the Author

Jim Smart is a veteran automotive journalist who has contributed to just about every Mustang and Ford magazine that exists. Over the decades, hundreds of his how-to and feature articles about Fords and Mustangs have been published. Smart has written several books for CarTech, including Ford Coyote Engines: How to Build Max Performance, Ford Small-Block Engines: How to Build Max Performance, Fox Body Mustang Restoration 1979–1993, and Ford 429/460 Engines: How to Build Max Performance. He is an automotive enthusiast and has owned and restored multiple enthusiast vehicles, including various Mustangs. Smart resides with his family in Southern California.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 4

Introduction 6

Chapter 1 Building Basics 10

Organization 10

Parts Selection 12

Compression Ratio 14

The Physics of Power 17

Wasted Power 19

Building a 429/460 Stroker Engine 20

Stroker Power Pointers 21

Assembly Techniques 22

Mock-Up Phase 22

Ford Part/Casting Numbers 23

Basic Part Numbers 24

Date and Foundry Codes 25

Ford Muscle Parts 25

Good, Better, Best 25

Controller Kit 26

Dominator Kit 26

Chapter 2 The Block 28

Aftermarket Blocks 32

Budget Blocks 32

Boss 429 Block 33

Block Identification 35

Block Preparation 35

Fasteners, Clean Threads, and Torque 39

Chapter 3 Rotating Assembly 44

Crankshaft Selection 46

Forged Steel Crankshafts 47

Crankshaft Differences 47

Connecting Rods 49

Rod Ratio 51

Piston Selection 51

Stroker Kits 54

Building a Stroker 56

Strength in Stud Girdles 56

Harmonic Dampers and Flywheels 57

Dynamic Balancing 61

Chapter 4 Lubrication 62

Pump Blueprint Recipe 63

Improved Oil Control 65

Oil Pan 66

Chapter 5 Cylinder Heads 68

Boss 429 71

Aftermarket Cylinder Heads 72

Aftermarket 429/460 Wedge Cylinder Heads 77

Head Work 79

Valve Spring Pressures 80

Spring Height 81

Airflow 82

Chapter 6 Camshaft and Valvetrain 84

Camshaft Technical Talk 85

Street Camshafts 86

Dual-Pattern Camshafts 90

Racing Camshafts 90

Why Degree a Camshaft? 90

Timing Components 92

Lifters 93

Rocker Arms and Pushrods 95

Valvetrain Geometry 95

Rocker-Arm Adjustment 96

Chapter 7 Induction 97

Carburetor Selection 98

Carburetor Size 99

Holley Carburetors 100

Edelbrock Carburetors 102

Carter Carburetors 103

Demon Carburetors 104

Quick Fuel Technology 104

Weber Carburetors 104

Bolt-on EFI 105

Intake Manifold 106

Quick Power 110

Supercharging and Turbocharging 113

Chapter 8 Ignition 115

Spark Knock 118

Breaker Point Ignition 118

Dwell Time 118

Electronic Ignition 118

Ignition Coils 119

Distributor Types 119

MSD Ignition 119

Mallory Ignition 120

Performance Distributors 121

Ignition Wires 121

Spark Plugs 123

Charging System 124

Starters 124

Senders 125

Chapter 9 Exhaust 126

System Sizing 126

Secondary Tubes and Collectors 130

Equal-Length, Step, and Tri-Y Headers 130

Exhaust System Selection 131

Stainless or Aluminized? 135

Chapter 10 Break-In and Tuning 136

Break-In 138

After Break-In 139

Chapter 11 Power Builds 140

429 Super Cobra Jet 140

460 Street/Strip Build 145

MCE 598-ci T-Rex Build 149

Defining Blueprint 150

MCE T-Rex 598 on the Dyno 151

Appendix: Engine Math 156

Source Guide 160

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews