How To Rebuild Your Ford V-8 351C-351M-400-429-460.pdf - Index of

429 four-bolt '70-'71 SCJ and '70 CJ Compression height of two pistons is different, so same connecting rods can be used in
engine block. End caps are still of the two- the same block with different stroke crankshafts. Compression height of 460 piston is
bolt variety, whereas center three use four 0.130 inch shorter than 429 piston.
bolts. Photo courtesy Ford.
351C-All 351C connecting rods are the
same except for the Boss and HO bolts
and nuts and the method used to inspect
these rods. Boss and HO rods are fitted
with high-strength (180,000 psi yield
strength) bolts and nuts, and are final inspected
by MagnafluxingB to ensure they
are free of cracks. Otherwise, a 351C connecting
rod is forged steel, it has a centerto-center
length of 5.78 inches, a big- and
small-end diameter of 2.4365 inches and
0.91 1 inch, respectively and spot-faced
rod-bolt-head seating surfaces. The bolthead
seating surface is machined so it
describes a radius on the inboard-side of
the bolt head as viewed from the top of
..
the bolt head similar to the 429CJlSCJ
pictured below. This reduces stress concentration
on the rod at the bolt heads.
35 1M/400-The 3 5 1 MI400 engines use
the same connecting rods regardless of
the engine or year. They have a 6.580-inch
center-to-center length, small-end diameter
of 0.9738 inch, big-end diameter of
2.4356 inches and the rod is spot-faced at
the bolt-head seating surfaces.
4291460-Although there is more than
one 4291460 connecting rod, their vital
statistics are identical. They are forgedsteel,
have a 6.605-inch center-to-center
length, 1.309-inch small-end diameter and
2.6529-inch diameter at the big end.
What distinguishes the different 4291460
connecting-rod assemblies is the machining
of the basic connecting-rod forging
and the rod-bolt design. Although there
are two connecting-rod forgings, C8VE-A
and DOOE-A, the type of machining and
the rod-bolt design are the major things
to be aware of.
All early 4291460 connecting-rod bolthead
seats were broached. Rectangularhead
bolts were installed in these assemblies.
To increase the fatigue strength of
the rectangular bolt head, the bolt-headto-shank
radius was increased in 1972.
This change didn't make the bolt or rod
suitable for heavy-duty or high-performance
use. Consequently, a new connecting
rod with spot-faced bolt-head
seats and bolts with "football" heads
were used. These rods were installed in
429 CJ and SCJ, 460 truck and 429 and
460 Police engines. Use of the broachedrod
was continued in standard 4291460
engines.
With all this connecting-rod information
in mind, consider these choices. If
your engine is for everyday passenger-car
use, the broached rod with rectangularhead
bolts is adequate. However, if you
are preparing your engine for heavy-duty
use, take advantage of one item that will
interchange between the 335- and 385-
Series Fords-the rod bolts. Use the high-
strength 351C Boss/HO bolts in your
spot-faced rods. If you're going to use
broached rods, upgrade them with 35 1C
BosslHO bolts. They won't be as strong
as the spot-faced rod assemblies, however
they will be much stronger than before.
PISTONS
As with most 335 and 385 engine components,
the pistons are similar, but different
in one or more respects-piston
diameter, wrist-pin diameter or compression
height. They appear similar because
most have two intake-valve reliefs. However,
the differences become apparent
when it comes to interchangeability.
351C-2V, -4V, and CJ-These cast-aluminum
pistons are the same, consequently
they are fully interchangeable between
2V, 4V and CJ engines. Their flat tops are
only disturbed by two intake-valve reliefs.
35 1C Boss and HO-Boss and HO versions
of the 351C pistons are quite different
from the standard piston design. They are
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Standard 429/460 connecting rod on left and 429 SCJ and CJ rod on right. Only
difference between them is machining at their bolt-head surfaces- broached versus spotfaced.