Are you asking where I am?  I live on the north side of Lake Erie on Long Point.  I am about 2 hours from Buffalo and about 3 from Detroit.  The 429 is in a garage near me and he is asking $1500.  I am going to rebuild my Y-block next winter.  Love the sound too much.

Gordie T           Long Point, Ontario

An FE is the best swap for 54 up Fords With Al heads ans intake they are lighter than a Y block. BUT they are Freaking Expensive.

Unless you are going to race it may well be a good thing to stay with the Y.

Where are you? But I wouldn't give anywhere near $1500 for a 429 or 460. Too many of them out there ..

Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL

Fords came with FE blocks in '58. I had a 352 FE in my '57 Ford F250. I put a 429 in it and it was bolt in. I forgot exactly what I did regarding motor mounts, but it bolted right up to where the original mounts were. I had a C6 on it and from the Ford O Matic I had to move the cross member back about 3" if I remember right. I also had to cut the driveshaft because the truck was a Spicer and I changed it to a slider for the car C6. The Ford O Matic was air cooled so I simply added a trans cooler in front of the radiator. It was one hell of a motor and if I were you I'd do it in a heart beat. I don't think the weight difference is very much either.

Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL

The new issue of Fomoco Times(Crown Victoria assoc magazine) has a 55 Mainline redone as a mid 60's Gasser.It has a rebuilt 429 as the powerplant.Straight axle,big slicks,and fenderwell headers.quite a handful to drive I would think.

  

I was looking at a 460 for my 57, the width between the covers is narrower than the FE series. Which fits, 4.50$ a gallon got me to sell the bigblock. Mark





thanks, Mark

Ok, you've convinced me.  With the price of a used C6 trany, changing the three on the tree, perhaps the read end, rad, etc.  it's not worth it.  Anybody want at 429?

Gordie T           Long Point, Ontario

Gordie: I don't think you will get much encouragement here to do the swap. However, over on the 1957Ford.com site, several have cars with 429s & 460s. Another thing to keep in mind is that the 385 series engines are very heavy. I think about 700+ so front suspension upgrades might be called for.. ? Unfortunately, the 57 sites forum isn't much help.

Paul

Hi Gordie,   It will fit.  My '58 has a 460 and a C6 auto in it.  I used the mount kit transmission crossmember and headers from Crites Restorations  http://www.critesrestoration.com/ My '58 didn't have an engine or trans when I bought it and initially it was going to be a drag car that's why I put the big engine in it.

My other two 50's Fords have 312 Y-Blocks.  If you add up the cost for the 429 and the parts to get it in your '58, you've almost paid for a full rebuild on your Y-Block.  I'd keep the Y in there if it was me.

Larry D

Winnipeg, MB Canada Eh!


'57 Fairlane 500 Club Victoria

'58 Custom 300 Tudor

'56 Crown Victoria

'61 Starliner Z Code

'51 Ford Victoria

Gordie, I'm sure someone will know if the 429 will fit.  My GUESS is that it will as I have seen 390 adb 427 FEs in 56 thru 58 Fords.  Just a word ofr caution tho - I don't think the clutch/tranny will take what you are gonna dish out.  With that much torque, I'd consider a C-6.

TC

You gotta have the right tools and know how to use 'em.

TC - Austin, Texas