1) i was told mine was a 429 when i got it - in my findings, 7 bolt pattern depicts a 429 and a 460 vs. other big blocks. This block indeed has the 7 bolt pattern so I'm going with that for now. It's one or the other but sounds like I need to be in the block to look up other things to confirm it's a 429 or 460?

2) The block just below the heads/and above plugs, and in a couple of areas does have stamped "DOVE A". Seems my research on this as well is 429/460.

3) The heads have imprinted in them 9K29 - anyone know what this means? 

4) Direct above my fuel pump mount i have imprinted a mirror image/reverse image of  the #'s 460. Does this mean anything and just a coincidence?

5) Just below passenger side head, I have this stamped OJ120825 and OK710 or OK 71D - does anyone know what these #'s represent?

Any assistance is greatly appreciated. Going to buy exhaust manifolds and want to get the right ones. 10+ weeks from Stan at FPA and I can't wait and let this car site for close to 3 months. 

9K29 is a casting date code

9 = decade year ending in 9, (1969, 1979, 1989, 1999, 2009 etc)

K is the 10th month of the year / October (I is not used)

29 is the day of the month

October 29, 1969 ? the DOVE cast code fits this date, early 1970 model year production

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OJ120825 could be a partial VIN? 0 (zero / not O) is the model year production of the original vehicle, J is the assy plant and the rest is the consecutive assy line sequence number of the VIN

OK710 or OK 71D may also casting date codes but you have too many digits and there are no months with 71 days, try to clean them up and get a better reading of them. pics?

0Kxx would be September of 1970, 1980, 1990 etc but would fall into early 1971 model year production, almost a year after the block was cast. not likely they came as an original factory built engine.

and from what i can find they use standard  / not CJ or Police exhaust manifolds

https://www.diyford.com/cylinder-heads-valvetrain-interchange-big-block-fords/" rel="nofollow - https://www.diyford.com/cylinder-heads-valvetrain-interchange-big-block-fords/

429/460

Cylinder-head selection for 385-series engines is simple compared to the FE series big-blocks. Throughout the lifetime of the 429/460 engine family, cylinder head design didn’t change much, except for combustion-chamber size. As compression ratios dropped in the 1970s and 1980s, chamber size increased accordingly. There were three basic 429/460 heads used of which you should be aware. They are in the table and images to follow.

The most common 429/460 head is the standard head found on non-Cobra Jet/Police Interceptor 429/260 engines. This head yields adequate compression for most performance applications. Port size keeps low- and mid-range torque acceptable for street use. Certainly rare is the D0AE Cobra Jet head of 1970–71. Because Ford didn’t make a lot of these to begin with, they are not easy to find today. However, the 1972–74 429/460 Police Interceptor head is a good substitute for the Cobra Jet head because it offers improved breathing with a slightly larger chamber (reduced compression). It also has hardened valve seats for use with unleaded fuels. It is a great low-dollar alternative to the Cobra Jet and Ford Motorsport SVO heads. The thing to remember when you’re shopping for heads is that bigger is not always better when it comes to port size. Larger ports lose low-end torque. Smaller ports bring excellent low end torque for good streetability.

 

Block info: http://highflowdynamics.net/" rel="nofollow - http://highflowdynamics.net/

 

http://www.429-460.com/t15631-engine-casting-identification" rel="nofollow - http://www.429-460.com/t15631-engine-casting-identification

 

Hope this is helpful.

1. Get a thin dowel rod about a foot long

2. Pull a spark plug out 

3. Insert the stick into the spark plug hole

4. Rotate the engine til the piston reaches the peak of its rotation

5. Mark the stick at the edge of the hole.

6. Rotate the crank 180 degrees so the piston is at the lowest point of its rotation. 

7. Mark the stick at the edge of the hole.

(That was easy-- next part is even easier)

8. Measure the distance between the marks - this will give you the stroke length........

429 =3.59" 

460 =3.85"

So, if your stroke is only about 3-1/2", it's s 429.  If your stroke is over 3-3/4", it's either a 460, or a stroked 429.

You need to see what crank is inside to determine for sure.

hogfiddles wrote: what's inside actually determines it...

But a simple test like I described is even simpler than pulling the pan. Pull one plug.  If the stroke is for a 429, there's your quick answer.

There was a third 385 series engine, the 370. Used in trucks. It was a de-bored 429.

Not sure on years of production.

4.05" bore, 3.59" stroke.  Installed in heavy trucks(F-500 to 700) from 1979 to 1987.  I think.