Technical 460? Identification

Have purchased a supposedly rebuilt 460 Ford for a V-drive boat. Came in a package, with partial VIN matching on both the block and a flat top C-6. Casting numbers on block are DOVE-A, heads are DOVE-C, Vin stamped on engine and trans are matched at OZ567772.Casting number on trans case is RF-C8MP-7006.
I found conflicting info, maybe one of you that knows might lend a hand.

Thanks in advance,

TJ

 

http://www.mustangtek.com/pulley/Pulley.html

All the engineering numbers you need on Ford stuff. Blocks, heads, pulleys,*******s, etc.

SPark

 

are you sure it's a 460? Z is a 429



but the D0VE things mean it's a 1970 design casting.

 

As a side note, check the block in the back where it mounts to the bellhousing. Big block Ford marine engines are prone to crack there if all the water isn't drained out for winter storage.

 

The vin stamp on the left upper side of the block tells you the year and which****embly plant.
OZ would be 1970 and the St. Louis plant, the other numbers are the cars consecutive #.

The D0VE-A block is the best Ford performance block , same block they used for CJ/ SCJ.
On the left side front there should be a "A" cast in a square. Thicker bulkheads and flat machined
main bearing webbing to accept 4 bolt mains if needed.

Desirable for sure.

 

thanks for the info on the VIN. When I looked it up, I did not see the Z code listed for****embly plants, but I did see it listed for engines. And the VIN does not have enough numbers, so I kind of guessed whether the Z was the 2nd or 5th character.

 

If it was a Z for the 5th letter on the vehicles vin it would be a Boss 429.
Boss 429's also used a C9AE casting # in there blocks.

Heres a typical year/****embly plant/ vin on a Ford engine.
1970, Dearborn

 

Thank you all very much for the great info. When I get home I will look it over again for the extra markings and such. I'm really not sure whether a 429 or 460, at this point. I really don't care what era motor goes in the boat, but I have been hearing about this boat since I was about twenty years old. If this package had value I might sell it to someone who wants the right parts in a car.

A good lifetime friend had a 19,000 mile Boss 429 he let me drive 40 years ago, when I was a kid. Same friend drove to Pasadena about 1975, with his friend who special ordered the boat from Mandella Boats. I was not looking for it, but it found me. For some reason all car people understand, I want to save it and get it back on the water.

Doesn't really make sense, but I figure in retirement it doesn't have to make sense anymore. I've attached pictures of the boat, he named it "Black Velvet".

 

C6 in a boat ?

 

That looks like my pickup.... Great color!!!!

 

429-- 3.59 stroke
460-- 3.85 stroke

If you wanted you could crudely find out what cubic inch it is by sticking something down the
spark plug hole and measure TDC to BDC. 1/4" difference in stroke between the two, so it should
be easy to spot.

460 might more desirable only for the ease of getting parts. if the engine is rebuilt like you say
then it shouldnt be a problem anyways.

 

thanks for the info. I know how GM partial VINs work, but not so much on the Fords.

 

No, the C6 was just part of what I had to buy to get the engine. The boat has a velvet drive, so no need for the C6.

 

Thanks!

 

Thanks. Promised myself I would finish getting the shop insulated and the SNB pu project before I tear into the boat. Sure is tempting though.

 

The only difference between 429 and 460 is crank and pistons. If it's going in a boat, I expect you'll be replacing the oil pan anyway, so look for the ID cast on one of the counterweights.
4U or 4UA is 429
2Y, 2YA, 2YAB, 2YABC is internally balanced 460 ('68-'78)
3Y is externally balanced 460 (79" - up)

 

Thank you. Got home last night and looked, the "A" is there as you described. Headed to get bolts this morning for the engine stand, will pull the pan and learn more.

 

Good info!
This engine should be internal balance. Look for a sleeve behind the balancer. If it's a straight sleeve
it's internal, if it has a "hatchet" as part of the sleeve it's external.

 

Keep in mind Ford had a couple different 429 engines. They had the Boss 429 which came in mustangs and other hi-performance applications. Then they had a 429 called the Thunderjet which was in Lincoln's and other full size vehicles of the day. Thunderjets were also found in marine applications. I have a 69 429 sitting in my garage right now and the casting code on the heads is C9VE. Things to look for in a BBF are rear main leaks, also the heads from 1973 upwards are very restrictive. Exhaust leaks on stock manifolds are almost a guarantee. Other than these small items BBFs are almost bullet proof and can be stroked with off the shelf parts all the way to 557! I love them i think they are awesome.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Don't get to hung up on Ford casting numbers either. The casting number is just that, it was a number for the mold guys to use to****emble the mold. What the cast part was machined into could vary widely. Ford would often use the same molded or cast part and turn it into a variety of different parts during final machining.

Nice Boat! That should do a very good job of turning fuel into noise.

 

The 460 was very popular in jet drive boats. I worked with a guy that had one, quite fast on the water.