Sorry...its not a mustang question, but its still a Ford question.

Has anyone heard of the 429 Thunder jet engines? I can pick up a 68 T-bird pretty cheap($1200) that has a running driving 429 thunder jet. Are these very desireable engines? I guess they made 365 hp stock. I read that by following a build guide you can make over 450 hp and run the thing on 87 octane! I'm thinking of possibly buying it and selling the engine (I'm 17 and cash for other car projects is always nice...I'm finishing up the build on my 383 Plymouth Sport Satellite and need a good set of gears and a cam) or maybe keeping the thing and just drive it. So let me hear it. If you know ANYTHING about them I want to hear it. If you even heard a guy at the grocery store mention it I want to hear it! Thanks all.

- Scott

 

ya it was a precursor to the cobrajet

 

It's a decent engine, just not one that's worth buying the car just to sell the engine IMO. It would make a nice start to mod up, however. The way it came from factory, it's kinda just a big engine, really no "hi-po" parts on it (2 bolt mains). But again, its a good start. Here's a site with some more info on the engine.

http://www.fordclassics.com/enginespecs.html

Good luck!

 

your right its not hi-po but the thunderjet heads were better than the stocker but no tmy much i think the thunder jet 2 hears were bettter but they were then replaced quickly with cobrajet

 

From what I remember the Thunderjet name was just a name that Ford gave the 429 originally. I don't remember if it has any different parts from a base 429 in later years. Surely no parts that I would consider performance worthy. I would probably not go to the effort of getting that particular motor and would instead grab a 460 for the extra cubes.

I should add Harlow that I would strongly suggest building a small block Ford instead if you want to run a Ford, maybe a beat Fox bodied Mustang. The 429/460 gets terrible gas mileage. My 429 SCJ Cobra Torino was lucky to get 8 miles to the gallon. Parts tend to be more expensive and a small block Ford gives you more vehicle options if you ever decide to put the motor in another car.