Ford 429/460 Engines - How to Rebuild & Modify

Author: Charles Morris Published by: Car Tech ISBN: 978-1-61325-492-9 Price: £25

This revised 144-page volume on rebuilding Ford’s late-Sixties big-block muscle car V8 engines contains a remarkable 600 colour photos. It concentrates on the so-called Lima engine, officially Ford’s 385-series introduced in 1968. It replaced the ageing FE and MEL (Mercury, Edsel, Lincoln) big blocks, the successor to the Fifties Y-block. Simply put, there were two versions: the 429cu in from Ford and the 460cu in used by Lincoln. Both were powerful, high-torque engines, with ample opportunity for aftermarket modification and tuning. They were famously referred to as the Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jet in particular versions of the late Sixties and early Seventies Mustangs and Torinos (plus others, as mentioned above), though within a couple of years were ‘smogged’ into oblivion.

Despite the factory performance suppression, those in the know persevered with these monstrous V8s, achieving excellent power and reliability in the process. Even Ford Racing Performance Parts caught on eventually, so that these days there are a wealth of components to get the most out of these engines. The book’s sections start with determining whether your engine needs a rebuild. Presuming it does, it covers preparation and removal, engine disassembly, inspection and parts cleaning, machining and parts selection and assembly. There's a history of the Boss 429, followed by the 351cu in Cleveland V8, advising on parts interchangeability. Engine installation, start-up and break-in concludes the instructional material.

The book finishes with a useful appendix with comprehensive specifications and a parts source guide. Essential reading for Ford big-block fans.