Mach 1 Club

I have a 66 Ford 4x4 4spd, 3:70 gear ratios, I bought it a few years ago and one of the previous owners put a 429 in it.

Now the problem:
I started it up after it sat for 3 months and started pouring blue smoke out of one side of the dual exhaust (no cross over pipe) and I found a bent push rod and a stuck Exhaust valve on the #4 cylinder, I don't think I'll get lucky with a valve seal being the problem with the massive smoke screen.

Took the head off and found the piston didn't hit the valve, the cam lobe, lifter is toast so I'm thinking a rebuild is in order and now the problem.

The 429 has the following:

429 CJ finned aluminum valve covers (don't know if P.I's came with them)

D2OE-AB Heads Police Interceptors (D1OE6A564AA Push rod guide plates)

D1A9425-BA 4bbl intake (Heaviest intake I've taken off in a long time)

Motorcraft 4bbl

Pistons marked D1OE6110HA (CJ pistons)

Block is a D1??? couldn't see all of it. will clean it and look today.

The engine was strong before this, anyhow the problem is deciding if I should just install a 460 and keep the 429 for a Mustang or another Ford project as it seems like a waste to have this in a truck. I have other projects and don't plan on keeping the 4x4 for more than a year.

Now the big question:
What would you guys do? I know it's between a standard 429 and a CJ but I'm having a hard time deciding which way to go.

Any input would be appreciated, Thanks

I would just slap in a cheap 390 FE in it and run it for a while then sell it.

Put the 429 engine on an engine stand and slowly make it your own and build it the way you always wanted to build one.
High end parts all the way.

Later when you get the project vehicle you want you already have your dream engine.

Yeah keeping the 429 is the way to go as it has all the good parts to begin with, unless you want to go radical! The only problem is a 390 won't match the bell housing of the transmission. Ford didn't make it simple on us as pretty much each engine series has a different bell housing. JTS 71 Mach1
(ps one thing chevy did manage to do right)

I agree, put in a 460 and save the PI for a 71-73 Stang or 70-71 Torino. Does it still have the correct exhaust manifolds? It might even be a four bolt main...

(09-06-2011, 12:11 AM)csgt428 Wrote: [ -> ]I agree, put in a 460 and save the PI for a 71-73 Stang or 70-71 Torino. Does it still have the correct exhaust manifolds? It might even be a four bolt main...

I just pulled the pan this afternoon and it's not a 4 bolt main, it looks like the block is a 71 and that it has been rebuilt at one time using the Ford flat top pistons and P.I rods.

The Exhaust manifolds are from the P.I engine and no cracks in them.

Looks like the truck will be getting a 460.