ArdWrknTrk Posted September 5, 2017 Share Posted September 5, 2017 I'm uneducated on big block heads, but I'm anxious to learn. Bring it on! 385 series engines started in 1968. Ethyl Hi-test 97 was available everywhere and the early C8, C9 & D0VE-C heads had small chambers and rail rockers but regular sized ports. D3 heads have bolt down rockers, big thermactor humps in the exhaust ports and a bigger chamber. Early engines also had a .022 lower deck height. Cutting block AND head costs more $ and results in needing custom pushrods. With dove heads I can deck the block, use stock pistons and pushrods to come in around 9-9.5:1 and have good quench. Guides and spring seats may need to be cut, depending on the cam chosen. Good info here from one of the acknowledged masters of iron headed 385 ' s http://reincarnation-automotive.com/casting-numbers-descriptions-1-index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
85lebaront2 Posted September 5, 2017 Share Posted September 5, 2017 Which ones, Bill? The one I am an admin on is "429/460 Big Block Fords" the other one is "Ford 429 460" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
85lebaront2 Posted September 5, 2017 Share Posted September 5, 2017 Good info here from one of the acknowledged masters of iron headed 385 ' s http://reincarnation-automotive.com/casting-numbers-descriptions-1-index.html Yes, he was a lot of help with recommendations for mine. As for pistons, 1968-1987, recess depth is 0.230" volume 21cc, 1988-92, recess depth is 0.072" volume 7cc, 1993-97, recess depth is 0.180" volume 16cc. Where the other factor comes in, compression height, distance from the pin to crown, 1968-87 1.752", 1988-92 1.752", 1992-97 1.772". I did a lot of research planning mine and I have a set of Cometic head gaskets, I will have to look at the thickness, that we ended up not using. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted September 5, 2017 Author Share Posted September 5, 2017 Yes, he was a lot of help with recommendations for mine. As for pistons, 1968-1987, recess depth is 0.230" volume 21cc, 1988-92, recess depth is 0.072" volume 7cc, 1993-97, recess depth is 0.180" volume 16cc. Where the other factor comes in, compression height, distance from the pin to crown, 1968-87 1.752", 1988-92 1.752", 1992-97 1.772". I did a lot of research planning mine and I have a set of Cometic head gaskets, I will have to look at the thickness, that we ended up not using. Good info in that link, Jim. Thanks. Bill - I asked to join your FB group. Let's see if they let a 335-type guy in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted September 8, 2017 Author Share Posted September 8, 2017 Good info in that link, Jim. Thanks. Bill - I asked to join your FB group. Let's see if they let a 335-type guy in. Didn't actually do it "to" my truck today, but I got this in from an FTE'er. The only one I can find in the catalog is as shown below. The only mention of it I can find in the literature is in the 1985 Accessories catalog on Page 6, as shown at the bottom, and it is for the van. It doesn't look quite right as the top bar on the van one appears to be round, and this one is rectangular with FORD on it. This one is supposed to be for an F-series, but doesn't have ID # on it. Does anyone know? Chris - Could you ask Bill if he knows? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctubutis Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 Didn't actually do it "to" my truck today, but I got this in from an FTE'er. The only one I can find in the catalog is as shown below. The only mention of it I can find in the literature is in the 1985 Accessories catalog on Page 6, as shown at the bottom, and it is for the van. It doesn't look quite right as the top bar on the van one appears to be round, and this one is rectangular with FORD on it. This one is supposed to be for an F-series, but doesn't have ID # on it. Does anyone know? Chris - Could you ask Bill if he knows? Gary, I asked Bill, he says the things aren't listed in the 1994 edition, they MIGHT be in the older versions on slides - which are in a box headed to your house. :) But you'll need a viewer. I guess there's somebody in a 70s forum on FTE also looking for one and it's more complicated in the older series because of different bumpers. For our 80-86, he doesn't hold out much hope, even if we get a part number - likely an E0TZ something-or-other; I showed him what you found & posted and he told me of a different Group number the things are also listed in but, again, there aren't any listings in the book, so to the fiche we go, but... then what? ~~ We will have to work on him to get him to join this site, he doesn't understand why yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted September 8, 2017 Author Share Posted September 8, 2017 Gary, I asked Bill, he says the things aren't listed in the 1994 edition, they MIGHT be in the older versions on slides - which are in a box headed to your house. :) But you'll need a viewer. I guess there's somebody in a 70s forum on FTE also looking for one and it's more complicated in the older series because of different bumpers. For our 80-86, he doesn't hold out much hope, even if we get a part number - likely an E0TZ something-or-other; I showed him what you found & posted and he told me of a different Group number the things are also listed in but, again, there aren't any listings in the book, so to the fiche we go, but... then what? ~~ We will have to work on him to get him to join this site, he doesn't understand why yet. Ok, thanks. Yes, I'm anxious to get that microfiche scanned. I think there's a gold mine in there, information we aren't going to get elsewhere. Ever. As for why this site, we will just have to win him over. 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 Didn't actually do it "to" my truck today, but I got this in from an FTE'er. The only one I can find in the catalog is as shown below. The only mention of it I can find in the literature is in the 1985 Accessories catalog on Page 6, as shown at the bottom, and it is for the van. It doesn't look quite right as the top bar on the van one appears to be round, and this one is rectangular with FORD on it. This one is supposed to be for an F-series, but doesn't have ID # on it. Does anyone know? Chris - Could you ask Bill if he knows? My spring rub pads should be here today. Hopefully they will eliminate some of the squeaking Unfortunately I've had something stuck in my one good eye for the past two days, so I'm pretty useless for work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted September 9, 2017 Author Share Posted September 9, 2017 My spring rub pads should be here today. Hopefully they will eliminate some of the squeaking Unfortunately I've had something stuck in my one good eye for the past two days, so I'm pretty useless for work. Eye problems must be going around. I lost vision in my right eye for 2 - 3 minutes a week ago tonight, and then it came back. That was/is quite concerning - and I have two good eyes. So I can't imagine what it is like to have a problem with your one good eye. Hope you get that sorted quickly. By the way, is the new layout on the nav menu any better? What about the impact on the text box? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 My spring rub pads should be here today. Hopefully they will eliminate some of the squeaking Unfortunately I've had something stuck in my one good eye for the past two days, so I'm pretty useless for work. Rub pads installed! Looking at the spring bushings in the front I really should replace them. (Are there part numbers on the suspension page?) Shouldn't waste my time if I'm going to do a D60 swap. That is down the road given my finances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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