429 Head Question.

Hi,
I've just brought a Cobra with a 429 in it. Now I don't know bugger all about these engines so sorry for any obvious questions. I took the tappet cover off yesterday and just want to know if the heads look stock or not. (I've just realised that I can't see a add photos button, any ideas?)
Cheers.

Kudu wrote:Hi,
I've just brought a Cobra with a 429 in it. Now  I don't know bugger all about these engines so sorry for any obvious questions. I took the tappet cover off yesterday and just want to know if the heads look stock or not. (I've just realised that I can't see a add photos button, any ideas?)
Cheers.

Tell us the casting number on the heads and people can tell you what it is supposed to have.

Fifth digit on the cars VIN should tell you what engine it originally came with, although the original motor could be long gone.

N- 429 Thunder-jet

C- 429 Cobra-jet

J-429 Cobra-jet ram-air

Heads should be either D0VE-A or D0OE cast in them.

Never mind, I thought you meant a Torino Cobra...............

Hi. Yes since the engine is a transplant I don't have the original vin. The heads have C9VE-A cast into them on the outside and 9C14 R the tappet cover.

Kudu wrote:Hi,
I've just brought a Cobra with a 429 in it. Now  I don't know bugger all about these engines so sorry for any obvious questions. I took the tappet cover off yesterday and just want to know if the heads look stock or not. (I've just realised that I can't see a add photos button, any ideas?)
Cheers.

whats the 5th letter in the vin?

As above it is a motor that's in an AC Cobra so I don't know what the engine came out of.

Kudu wrote:As above it is a motor that's in an AC Cobra so I don't know what the engine came out of.

lol, I was thinking TORINO when you said cobra

With C9 heads it's not a CJ engine

It's referred to as a thunder jet or regular passenger car one.

The VIN number is usually stamped on a smooth pad on the rear of the drivers side (left side) cylinder bank on the rear of the block.
It could be complete, or partial.

BBFTorino wrote:The VIN number is usually stamped on a smooth pad on the rear of the drivers side (left side) cylinder bank on the rear of the block.
It could be complete, or partial.

Only on a few ... not all.

Hi bfftorino. My engine has been transplanted into in an AC Cobra. So there is no vin tag to go off. So I dont know any history of my engine... Which is what I'm trying to find out.

C9VE heads came on engines manufacturered for the 1969 model year.  They are essentially the same as the sought-after D0VE head and the C8VE head in that they are early-style high compression heads that can easily accept 7/16” rocker studs for a rollerized valve train.  If you have a complete C9VE engine, then the 1969 engines (429 & 460) generated about 325 real-world horsepower.  They can be rebuilt to make a lot more if you want for your Cobra—500 hp is easy, for example, and more than that too.

Thanks for that Paul. It has had some work already done from what I can tell as it has a roller valve train in it.