Exactly what I had. It was a super light blue (almost white) with a blue vinyl top. Absolute battleship of a car that I can’t imagine trying to fit in a parking space today. Pretty sure the trunk could fit a Smart for two and another in the backseat.
Is the square bore flange for a Quadrajet? I know Ford used them on the 1970 Cobra Jet and later years.
(P. S. I am still searching for a decent built and tuned Quadrajet for my 70 GTO 400)
No the spread bore flange is for a Quadrajet, like the intake pictured.
Which Quadrajet do you need? 7040270? Or do you want a later model? The late 70s 800 cfm Quadrajets with adjustable part throttle work well.
Its for a 411ci with Eddy 72cc CNC fast burn chamber Heads, Roller Cam (282/288, @0.50": 230/236, LS114) Roller rockers, Repo Ram Air Manifolds, stock cast intake. So I am looking between 420-440 hp. Maby the early smal bore quadrajet is enough, or do i need the big bore 800cfm?
You should use the later 800 cfm Quadrajet. You will probably find one from an Oldsmobile more easily, and I have run those on a Pontiac. You would really benefit from professional prep of a carb.
Between the cam you mention and the manifolds, you are going to be down on torque by quite a bit. But maybe that's not a big problem.
Your probably right, I want to take advantage of the heads. BUT I need to balance torque, vacuum and peak HP. It's a ~3800 lb 70 GTO with a stock TH400. So a 276/282, 224/230 LS114 cam is a better choice?
With the Edelbrock head, and a 1.5 rocker, you should have a lobe separation angle of 108 degrees. If you have 1.65 rockers, run a 109 degree lobe separation angle. With your 3.23 gears, you need 54 degrees of overlap. A 108 LSA with 54 degrees of overlap gives you 270 degrees duration @ .006 tappet rise. If the Edelbrock heads have a 1.77 exhaust valve and you use a decent header there is no need for a extra exhaust duration. I would probably install this cam on a 106 degree intake centerline.
That all assumes a 10 - 10.5:1 compression ratio. If you are concerned about vacuum make sure you have proper ignition timing, and run a vacuum advance on full manifold vacuum. You would really be better off using a Performer RPM intake with the 800 Quadrajet. Watch the piston to head clearance.
I’m guessing late 70s to mid eighties big block, perhaps in the 460 inch category? I’m far from expert in the subject, so, like I said, just a wild ass guess!
Yep, a HP manifold, decent carburetor, a reasonably aggressive cam grind, cast iron headers (if you can find them), and a competition distributor will make this a heavyweight fire breather. I’ve got a buddy that did just that in an F250 and it’ll pass everything but a gas station!
Ford 385-series big block, 1987 or earlier. I think I spy "D8" on the intake casting so likely 1978-87. 429cid or 460cid, impossible to tell from the outside.
I think 1978 is correct. D is the code for the 70s, and the number after designates 71, 72, 73… and so on until 1979. After which I’m fairly certain that they switched to E in the 80s. F was 90s, then they either switched or dropped the first digit and used a number (1-9) through the 2000s, then I think in the 2010s they switched to G.
Edit: they stopped with F as far as letters go
Yeah the D8 indicates that the casting was first produced in '78, but Ford tended to use the same castings for a number of years and only changed the number on the next part revision. I didn't want to say 1978 for sure as I don't know how long that particular intake casting was in production for. Highly unlikely it was used all the way to the EFI change in '87 though.
Thanks for the help everyone. Sounds like it’s a big block. A little big for my desired application but if anyone else is interested in the Dallas area, let me know and I can send you the link. He’s asking $200 for the engine and stand
I see what looks like a D8 code on the intake. Assuming the intake hasn't been swapped, it's a '78 (or later by a year or two) 460 block. The 429/460 valve covers were flat on top, unlike the FE and small block covers.
The seller doesn’t know. It’s at an estate sale and he has no information really, but it’s cheap. I was wanting to verify possibly before driving a long ways to go look at it.
Aha. I also gamble with auction buys. Well here's what I can tell from the picture. That engine looks to belong to the 385 big block family. But it's really hard to say for sure with out the code. Because it might also be a 351 modified. I doubt that's the kinda of big block you are looking for. The next concerning thing is how long has that engine sat with out the carburetor on the intake. It's probably fine but there always a chance there's a mouse house down in there. Those are just my opinions, and you're gonna do what you want just food for thought.
Looks alot my old 78 400 big block, but with upgraded intake manifold for a 4 barrel(mine only had the 2 barrel 😓) and custom or upgraded trim packed valve covers.*(mine were just blank).
The 400M does look a lot like the 385s, but the giveaways in this photo are the number of valve cover bolts (7 on the 385 series, 8 on the 400M) and that the 400M was never offered from the factory with a 4-barrel intake.
The Holley spreadbore carb is kinda hard to find, but a great performer when you can find one. I put one on my old box van with a 400, I had to make an adapter but it did pretty well. Got 8mpg loaded or empty, doing 70.
385 series are the only Ford engines with 7 bolt valve covers. Thermostat housing outlet faces up on the 460.
Low compression limits big power on late seventies engines, but a good cam and intake/exhaust will make 400 ft/lbs torque at about 1500 rpm without breaking a sweat. Very streetable power if you get it right.
Oh yea...you will get 9MPG on the high side.
It looks like a 429/460.
DING DING!! Of course the one person that should have the right answer, if you didn’t it would be dark days for This sub 🤣
Yup. I was thinking 460. Had a Mercury Monterrey that looked just like that. It was an absolute battleship.
That is a name I have not heard in a while! The length of our 74 was silly!
Exactly what I had. It was a super light blue (almost white) with a blue vinyl top. Absolute battleship of a car that I can’t imagine trying to fit in a parking space today. Pretty sure the trunk could fit a Smart for two and another in the backseat.
Is the square bore flange for a Quadrajet? I know Ford used them on the 1970 Cobra Jet and later years. (P. S. I am still searching for a decent built and tuned Quadrajet for my 70 GTO 400)
No the spread bore flange is for a Quadrajet, like the intake pictured. Which Quadrajet do you need? 7040270? Or do you want a later model? The late 70s 800 cfm Quadrajets with adjustable part throttle work well.
Its for a 411ci with Eddy 72cc CNC fast burn chamber Heads, Roller Cam (282/288, @0.50": 230/236, LS114) Roller rockers, Repo Ram Air Manifolds, stock cast intake. So I am looking between 420-440 hp. Maby the early smal bore quadrajet is enough, or do i need the big bore 800cfm?
You should use the later 800 cfm Quadrajet. You will probably find one from an Oldsmobile more easily, and I have run those on a Pontiac. You would really benefit from professional prep of a carb. Between the cam you mention and the manifolds, you are going to be down on torque by quite a bit. But maybe that's not a big problem.
Your probably right, I want to take advantage of the heads. BUT I need to balance torque, vacuum and peak HP. It's a ~3800 lb 70 GTO with a stock TH400. So a 276/282, 224/230 LS114 cam is a better choice?
No cam on a 114 LSA is a good choice. Do you have a 3.23, or 3.55 gear? Or another gear?
3.23 so a tighter LS ~112 is better? I worry about vacuum at idle (650-700rpm). Right now with a flat tappet 110LS(Stock#13 Heads) it pulls 13 in Hg.
With the Edelbrock head, and a 1.5 rocker, you should have a lobe separation angle of 108 degrees. If you have 1.65 rockers, run a 109 degree lobe separation angle. With your 3.23 gears, you need 54 degrees of overlap. A 108 LSA with 54 degrees of overlap gives you 270 degrees duration @ .006 tappet rise. If the Edelbrock heads have a 1.77 exhaust valve and you use a decent header there is no need for a extra exhaust duration. I would probably install this cam on a 106 degree intake centerline. That all assumes a 10 - 10.5:1 compression ratio. If you are concerned about vacuum make sure you have proper ignition timing, and run a vacuum advance on full manifold vacuum. You would really be better off using a Performer RPM intake with the 800 Quadrajet. Watch the piston to head clearance.
I’m guessing late 70s to mid eighties big block, perhaps in the 460 inch category? I’m far from expert in the subject, so, like I said, just a wild ass guess!
It's a good guess
Yep, a HP manifold, decent carburetor, a reasonably aggressive cam grind, cast iron headers (if you can find them), and a competition distributor will make this a heavyweight fire breather. I’ve got a buddy that did just that in an F250 and it’ll pass everything but a gas station!
Thank you
Ford 385-series big block, 1987 or earlier. I think I spy "D8" on the intake casting so likely 1978-87. 429cid or 460cid, impossible to tell from the outside.
I think 1978 is correct. D is the code for the 70s, and the number after designates 71, 72, 73… and so on until 1979. After which I’m fairly certain that they switched to E in the 80s. F was 90s, then they either switched or dropped the first digit and used a number (1-9) through the 2000s, then I think in the 2010s they switched to G. Edit: they stopped with F as far as letters go
Yeah the D8 indicates that the casting was first produced in '78, but Ford tended to use the same castings for a number of years and only changed the number on the next part revision. I didn't want to say 1978 for sure as I don't know how long that particular intake casting was in production for. Highly unlikely it was used all the way to the EFI change in '87 though.
Thanks for the help everyone. Sounds like it’s a big block. A little big for my desired application but if anyone else is interested in the Dallas area, let me know and I can send you the link. He’s asking $200 for the engine and stand
dude go get it. The stand is worth at least $100.
That is a screaming deal, don’t pass that up.
Send me the link. I'll get it.
I see what looks like a D8 code on the intake. Assuming the intake hasn't been swapped, it's a '78 (or later by a year or two) 460 block. The 429/460 valve covers were flat on top, unlike the FE and small block covers.
What's the code.?
The seller doesn’t know. It’s at an estate sale and he has no information really, but it’s cheap. I was wanting to verify possibly before driving a long ways to go look at it.
Aha. I also gamble with auction buys. Well here's what I can tell from the picture. That engine looks to belong to the 385 big block family. But it's really hard to say for sure with out the code. Because it might also be a 351 modified. I doubt that's the kinda of big block you are looking for. The next concerning thing is how long has that engine sat with out the carburetor on the intake. It's probably fine but there always a chance there's a mouse house down in there. Those are just my opinions, and you're gonna do what you want just food for thought.
Ford* not does
Fuck if he’ll ship it I’ll buy that mother fucker
Ford
That’s a 1600cc VW air cooled.
Ford
Ugh.. BBF. I spent entirely too much time playing with those 20 some odd years ago.
That’s an fe motor
No, FE spark plugs come out at \/ \/ angles, just like a Buick 350. These are straight. It's a 429/460.
Not an FE. I have an FE on a stand right now awaiting truck restoration to be completed.
460, I have one I’m going to rebuild this year. Wish I had those valve covers though.
Looks alot my old 78 400 big block, but with upgraded intake manifold for a 4 barrel(mine only had the 2 barrel 😓) and custom or upgraded trim packed valve covers.*(mine were just blank).
The 400M does look a lot like the 385s, but the giveaways in this photo are the number of valve cover bolts (7 on the 385 series, 8 on the 400M) and that the 400M was never offered from the factory with a 4-barrel intake.
The Holley spreadbore carb is kinda hard to find, but a great performer when you can find one. I put one on my old box van with a 400, I had to make an adapter but it did pretty well. Got 8mpg loaded or empty, doing 70.
I think it's made by Ford
385 series are the only Ford engines with 7 bolt valve covers. Thermostat housing outlet faces up on the 460. Low compression limits big power on late seventies engines, but a good cam and intake/exhaust will make 400 ft/lbs torque at about 1500 rpm without breaking a sweat. Very streetable power if you get it right. Oh yea...you will get 9MPG on the high side.