Turning Point In Build

[t120r]

Today I sold my 200 in my '66. I have so much stuff I had to downsize. Can't even move around my garage. So the 200 is gone. I had to make a decision on which powerplant to go with. The 200 is a good engine, but I know I won't be happy with it and in the end that's what it all boils down to right? So I made sure that there was only 1 powerplant available to me in my garage. I've got a built 429/ZF/NP205. No writeups I can find anywhere, just a few hints people sent me along the way. Wish me luck.

 

[toddsrods]

that is a great drivetrain!
big for the EB engine bay, but will be stupid fun once she's installed.

Good luck!

 

[tasker]

BIGGER is better!!

 

[t120r]

I've heard all the arguments for and against. So I decided to go with it. I have motor plates so it will sit right where I want it to. I hear L&L fenderwell headers fit good. Someone told me I may have issues with the shock towers. I'll deal with that when the time comes. Another naysayer said the 429 is too heavy. Well mine will be pretty light. It's got aluminum heads, intake and I removed that monster water pump and replaced it with a marine block off plate for an external water pump. Shouldn't be much different than a stock 302's weight. The headers are a concern for me. Buying a set of those headers will hit me almost $1000 by the time they hit my door here in Canada. If they're not right, that's a huge dent in the budget.

 

[sykanr0ng]

Back around 1990 or so there was an article in one of the four-wheeling magazines (don't remember which) about a guy that put a 460 in an early Bronco (he wanted more power than the 351C he had in it).

 

[t120r]

I have 3 ZF transmissions and 2 NP205s for my 429. So for me it is my only option. I've had small blocks in previous machines and the just left me wanting more. I'm sure this 429 will make me want a 460.. Then a 512... Then a 545, but I'll deal with that in the future.
This will be a slow motor swap as I'm still messing with my Broncodesign body, but I should be driving next summer.

 

[El Kabong]

Subscribed. Out of the engines in my life the 429 in the Cyclone GT was by far the fastest. Gotta be a lot of fun in an EB.

 

[Slednut10]

Saw one back in June at MEB with a 429 stuffed in it. The radiator in it hung about a foot below the front bumper, so I'm guessing that he had a hard time keeping that monster cool in that small engine bay. Best of luck with this swap, I'm hoping that it works for you!

 

[TheGanzman]

Back ~152 years ago, when I was building 1956 F-100 "street rod" trucks, the hot tip was to find a '68-'71 Thunderbird and use the entire front clip; in other words, cutting the frame of the T-Bird off at the firewall and swapping it out w/the F-100 clip - and of course also using the 429 engine and that big ole' C-6 trannie...
MY thoughts, in no particular order:
1). Even w/aluminum heads, intake, etc., there is NO WAY that that powerplant is going to be "close to the same weight" as even an all iron 302; might wanna check your math on that again, IF it's important to you...
2). That engine is a torque MONSTER, which is great; not sure what your intended application is. Be prepared for some MONSTER fuel costs to go along with it!
3). I too keep coming back to the idea of a BB engine for my own '69 Bronco; my choice however would be a 427 BB in all aluminum configuration. I believe that the 427 would be a better overall fit in-between the shock towers of a Bronco, but hey, I'm spitballing it here...

Not meaning to rain on your parade, 'cause I ALWAYS like me some Big Block power! I would check your weight #'s a few times over, however - you may just be building yourself a "straight line Bronco" here...

 

[t120r]

There's no raining on my parade, no worries there. It's going to happen as i sold off everything i had for the inline six. I really don't care how much fuel it burns as it's just a weekend playtoy anyway. I do have quite a few mods done to the engine just to increase fuel economy. Not that it will be great, but I'm curious as to what the fuel economy will be.

I have no illusions of the 429 being lightweight, just i don't see it being that bad. I've probably shaved 200+ pounds off the engine. I will be moving the battery to the back, so that will help a little to balance things out. I'm not sure on the weight difference between my Broncodesign tub and the original steel body, but all said and done i do believe my EB's weight will be on par with everyone elses. I have a recycle yard nearby to weight it too.

 

[t120r]

Ordered my L&L 460 Fenderwell headers today. Gonna hurt by the time it gets to my door in Canuckistan. The tech guy said it should work fine but he thinks the shock towers will be in the way. We'll see when they get here I guess.

 

[Bukin 67]

Good luck with the build. The AMSoil Bronco racer at NORRA this year ran a 429. They really used that big torque to their advantage. That thing really got out of the turns fast, and hauled a$$!

 

[kyle]

Bob at All 4 Fun Offroad used to run a 429 in a Bronco. You might touch base with him for some tips.

http://broncobob.com/

 

[Prizefighter]

Bob at All 4 Fun Offroad used to run a 429 in a Bronco. You might touch base with him for some tips.

http://broncobob.com/

He died. His family is selling off his stuff from what I understand.

Ordered my L&L 460 Fenderwell headers today. Gonna hurt by the time it gets to my door in Canuckistan. The tech guy said it should work fine but he thinks the shock towers will be in the way. We'll see when they get here I guess.

Let me know how they fit. I was going to put a 429 in my Bronco a while back but put it in my 78 Bronco instead. I still want to do it anyway so I have an EFI 460 I'm going to do with a C6/205. I have everything already, just need to get some other priorities finished first. I'm also doing a 300/ZF/205 in one I like things that are different. Looks like you found my thread on 460ford.com about it. Still working on it!

 

[kyle]

I didn't have the heart to tell him he was dead when I talked to him this morning.

 

[Prizefighter]

I didn't have the heart to tell him he was dead when I talked to him this morning.

Oops, different Bronco Bob. This guy was in Boise, Idaho http://barnfinds.com/bf-exclusive-bronco-bobs-backyard-bonanza/

The guys at West Coast Broncos did a 460 conversion also. They sent me a lot of pics at one point and it looked very clean. They were on my old laptop that crashed or I would share them...

 

[Prizefighter]

Tracker Bain from OR has one in his Bronco that he competed in TTC in 2014? He has build pictures on his Facebook if you look him up. He wished he would have made the frame wider so he could've set the engine in lower and further back when I talked to him about it. That could be more than you want to tackle but thought I would pass it on.

 

[Mtgrizzlymn]

How in the world can you cool that thing? My 302 gets really hot on a day 80 and above. If it's cooler than that it runs 190 all day in town or the highway


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Prizefighter]

Found the pictures of the build West Coast Broncos did. They modified the firewall, removed the inner fenders, moved the battery back to the firewall, removed the mechanical fan and installed electric fans on the radiator, modified the front cross member to clear the crank pulley, made their own headers?, and looks like they left the engine towers in the stock location and used the WCB 460 engine mounts. They got the exhaust outside the frame rails as soon as possible.

 

[TheGanzman]

▲▲▲ Well - THAT was easy!%)