The distinctive enormous valve covers on a semi-hemispherical head Boss 429 engine
The Boss 429 was produced in limited numbers in 1969 and 1970. Its origin is twofold: allow Ford to homologate its new Ford 385 engine-based semi-hemispherical 429 V8 for NASCAR racing, and to provide a big block alternative to the 5.0 L and under Trans Am Racing bred small block Boss 302 Mustang.
Ford had already produced successful high-performance 427 cu in and 428 cu in racing engines from older blocks, but was looking to develop one based on its newest engine family to go forward with; specifically to attempt to challenge the extremely powerful but aging Chrysler426 Hemi in NASCAR's Grand National Division, now known as the NASCAR Cup Series. NASCAR's homologation rules required that at least 500 cars be fitted with this motor and sold to the general public. After much consideration at Ford, the Mustang was selected as the platform to offer the highly modified motor in.
The Boss 429 engine featured four-bolt main caps, a forged steel crank, forged steel connecting rods, and aluminum cylinder heads with a semi-hemispherical type combustion chamber which Ford called the "crescent". These used the "dry-deck" method, meaning the coolant circuit for the block was separate from the cooling circuit for the head The "dry-deck" method of design is intended to strengthen the block by removing the open coolant jackets around the cylinder and reduce hot spots by providing more direct cooling. Each cylinder, oil passage and water passage had an individual "O" ring style seal to seal it tight. Although a head gasket is used, it only seals the cylinder for combustion so a failure at one point won't compromise the others.[clarification needed]
The Boss 429 engine came standard with a 735 CFMHolley 4-barrel carburetor mounted on an aluminum intake manifold that flowed well for its time.[1] 1969 cars featured hydraulic lifters, switched to solid lifters in 1970 models to minimize valve float at high RPMs; the dual exhaust system was improved, but rated power stayed the same.
The Mustang's engine compartment was not wide enough to accommodate the massive Boss 429 engine, so Ford contracted with Kar Kraft of Dearborn, Michigan, to modify 4-speed Cobra Jet Mustangs to accept it. Kar Kraft was a Ford exclusive experimental facility that functioned as Vehicle Engineering for Ford's Special Vehicles.
Production of the Boss 429 began in 1968 at the Ford Rouge plant, where front apron assemblies revised to accept the large Boss 429 engine were installed during vehicle construction. These also provided a stronger and cleaner front structure, important considerations on such a performance car, and were coupled with reworked front fenders. The cars were then shipped to Kar Kraft's new assembly plant in Brighton, Michigan for engine installation and further modifications.
Such a large big block engine made the car nose heavy. To help offset this, the battery was relocated to the trunk, and a 3/4" sway bar was added to the rear end to limit body roll. This was the first Mustang ever fitted with a rear sway bar, giving it better handling than the other large engine Mustangs of the time, making it a much more capable track car. So did an oil cooler which allowed both high RPM and endurance loads on the engine, and a manually controlled hood scoop for bringing in denser air for more thorough combustion. For better ground clearance the front spoiler was made shallower than the Boss 302's, and a 3.91 ratio rear axle came with a "Traction-Lock" limited slip differential. Other features included, color keyed dual racing mirrors, an 8,000rpm tachometer, and AM only radio.[citation needed]
A total of 1359 original Boss 429s were made.
With the release and homologation of the extreme 440-powered Charger Daytona by rival manufacturer Dodge, the Boss 429 Mustang's NASCAR plans were scrapped.[why?] However, as the Boss 429 engine was homologated in the Mustang, Ford used it in NASCAR until 1974 in other Ford and Mercury body platforms,[example needed] and later in NHRA Pro Stock class during the 1980's, its main proponent there being Bob Glidden's championship winning Pro Stock Thunderbird.[citation needed]
Rated output
The cars were advertised at 375bhp (380PS; 280kW) at 5200 rpm and 450lb⋅ft (610N⋅m) of torque at 3400 rpm.[1][2] Period dynamometer testing supports Ford's rating. The speed equipment manufacturer Crane Cams tested engines that were stock as manufactured, with the exception of substituting tubular headers for the stock cast iron exhaust manifolds. For the 1969 hydraulic lifter engine, they measured a peak of 352.0bhp (262.5kW) at 5500 rpm. The 1970 mechanical lifter engine measured better, with a peak of 366.5bhp (273.3kW), also at 5500 rpm.[3]
Both model years featured a toned-down exterior compared to other performance Mustangs of the era (seeBoss 351, Boss 302, Mach 1), in that the only external identification of the car were the Boss 429 decals on the front fenders and unique enlarged hood scoop. The rest of the car featured a very clean look that was atypical of most performance Mustangs that Ford had produced, which often emphasized appearance over its reality. [4] Both the spoiler and window louvers commonly seen on 1969–1970 Mach 1's and Boss 302's were missing.
Instead, to show just how special these cars were, they were given special NASCAR identification that was placed on the driver's side door. Each car was given a "KK" number which stood for Kar Kraft. KK #1201 was the first Boss 429 and KK #2558 was the last Boss 429 made.[5]
However, sales started to drop off for the 1970 Boss 429 Mustangs and with higher production costs and other internal Ford problems, it was decided that 1970 would be the last year of the Boss 429.
Today, these cars are highly sought after. As of 2008, auctions on eBay and at Barrett-Jackson have brought bids of over $375,000. In 2013 an unrestored black 1969 Boss 429 sold for $417,000 at Mecum Auctions in Kissimmee, Florida. In 2016 a restored black 1969 Boss 429 sold for $500,000 at a Barrett-Jackson auction in Palm Beach, Florida.
1969 Model
In 1969, Ford produced 859 Boss 429s. Also, two Boss 429 Cougars were produced for the Lincoln/Mercury Race Division. All 1969 Bosses had black interiors and came in one of five exterior colors: Raven Black, Wimbledon White, Royal Maroon, Candy apple Red, or Black Jade. The fully functional hood scoop was body color and was noticeably larger than anything else offered on any Ford or Mercury vehicle. That scoop would carry over to the 1970 model year, but would be painted black on all cars. To this day, it is the largest factory hood scoop ever installed on a production Mustang.
All cars came with 4-speed manual transmissions and a rear-wheel drivetrain.[6] The huge engine, shoehorned into a modified Mustang front end, left no room for air conditioning. Some early cars were known as "S" code cars and as such had a slightly different engine, with magnesium valve covers, NASCAR style forged internals, and close to no smog or emissions equipment. They are said to be more powerful than the later "T" and "A" code engines (which had the emissions related equipment to satisfy government regulations). The engines in some cases were removed from the cars for use in other applications such as tractor pulling, due to the extreme torque and horsepower the engine was capable of producing.[citation needed]
1970 Model
In 1970, Ford produced 499 Boss 429s. Five new exterior colors were available: Grabber Orange, Grabber Green, Grabber Blue, Calypso Coral, and Pastel Blue. Interior color options were either black or white and black. The hood scoops were all painted matte black. A Hurst shifter was standard equipment. A dealer-installed option of a six-pack intake and three two-barrel carburetors was made available, though very few of these were sold.
Classic Recreations produces the 1969-70 Ford licensed Boss 429 as of April 2018.[7]
The Ford Mustang is a series of American automobiles manufactured by Ford. In continuous production since 1964, the Mustang is currently the longest-produced Ford car nameplate. Currently in its seventh generation, it is the fifth-best selling Ford car nameplate. The namesake of the "pony car" automobile segment, the Mustang was developed as a highly styled line of sporty coupes and convertibles derived from existing model lines, initially distinguished by "long hood, short deck" proportions.
The Ford Torino is an automobile that was produced by Ford for the North American market between 1968 and 1976. It was a competitor in the intermediate market segment and essentially a twin to the Mercury Montego line.
The Ford FE engine is a medium block V8 engine produced by the Ford Motor Company and used in vehicles sold in the North American market between 1958 and 1976. The FE, derived from 'Ford-Edsel', was introduced just four years into the short-lived Ford Y-block engine, which American cars and trucks were outgrowing. It was designed with room to be significantly expanded, and manufactured both as a top-oiler and side-oiler, and in displacements between 332 cu in (5.4 L) and 428 cu in (7.0 L).
The Ford 385 engine family is a series of big-block V8 engines designed and manufactured by Ford Motor Company. The family derives its 385 name from the 3.85-inch (98 mm) crankshaft stroke of the 460 cubic-inch V8 introduced in 1968. A 429 cu in (7.0 L) version was also introduced the same year, with a 370 cu in (6.1 L) variant appearing in 1977.
The Mercury Cougar is a series of automobiles that was sold by Mercury from 1967 to 2002. The model line is a diverse series of vehicles; though the Cougar nameplate is most commonly associated with two-door coupes, at various stages in its production, the model also was offered as a convertible and a hatchback. During its production as the mid-size Mercury line, the Cougar was also offered as a four-door sedan and five-door station wagon.
The Ford 335 engine family was a group of engines built by the Ford Motor Company between 1969 and 1982. The "335" designation reflected Ford management's decision to produce an engine of that size with room for expansion during its development. This engine family began production in late 1969 with a 351 cu in (5.8 L) engine, commonly called the 351C. It later expanded to include a 400 cu in (6.6 L) engine which used a taller version of the engine block, commonly referred to as a tall deck engine block, a 351 cu in (5.8 L) tall deck variant, called the 351M, and a 302 cu in (4.9 L) engine which was exclusive to Australia.
A shaker scoop is an automobile term for an air intake for combustion air that is mounted directly on top of the engine's air cleaner and protrudes through a hole in the hood. Since it is fastened directly to the engine, it moves with the engine's movement and vibration on its mountings, thus the 'shaker' name.
The Ford Torino Talladega is a muscle car that was produced by Ford only during the first few weeks of 1969. It was named for the Talladega Superspeedway, which opened the same year. The Talladega was a special, more aerodynamic version of the Torino / Fairlane produced specifically to make Ford even more competitive in NASCAR racing, and it was sold to the public only because homologation rules required a certain minimum number of cars be produced and made available.
The Ford Boss 302 is a high-performance "small block" 302 cu in (4.9 L) V8 engine manufactured by Ford Motor Company. The original version of this engine was used in the 1969 and 1970 Boss 302 Mustangs and Cougar Eliminators and was constructed by attaching heads designed for the planned 351 Cleveland to a Ford small block. The construction was aided by the two engines sharing a cylinder head bolt pattern, though the Boss heads had to have their coolant passages slightly modified.
The Ford small-block is a series of 90° overhead valve small-block V8 automobile engines manufactured by the Ford Motor Company from July 1961 to December 2000.
The Ford Modular engine is Ford Motor Company's overhead camshaft (OHC) V8 and V10 gasoline-powered small block engine family. Introduced in 1990, the engine family received its “modular” designation by Ford for its new approach to the setup of tooling and casting stations in the Windsor and Romeo engine manufacturing plants.
The Shelby Mustang is a high-performance variant of the Ford Mustang built by Shelby American from 1965 to 1967 and by the Ford Motor Company from 1968 to 1970.
The Ford Mustang Mach 1 is a combination performance and appearance package offered as an option for the Ford Mustang in August 1968 for the 1969 model year.
The Mustang Boss 302 is a high-performance 302 cu in (4.9 L) H.O. V8-powered variant of the Ford Mustang originally produced by Ford in 1969 and 1970. Developed to meet homologation requirements to compete in Trans Am racing, it was Ford's response to the success of the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 in the 5 L (305.1 cu in) and under SCCA series since 1967. While substantial modifications were required to the stock Boss 302 to be competitive on the track, many thousands were sold to the public in a street-legal form that included a refined high-performance motor and upgrades to the suspension and brakes over base Mustangs.
The Mercury Cyclone is an automobile that was marketed by the Mercury division of Ford from 1964 to 1971. Introduced in 1964 as the Mercury Comet Cyclone, the Cyclone replaced the S-22 as the performance-oriented version of the Mercury Comet model line. The Cyclone became a distinct nameplate for the 1968 model year, as the Mercury Montego was phased in to replace the Comet.
Ford Mustang variants are the various versions of the Ford Mustang car, modified either by its manufacturer Ford Motor Company or by third-party companies. Ford and several third-party companies have offered many modified versions of the highly popular Mustang since its creation in 1964 in order to cater to specific portions of the marketplace outside of the mainstream. High-performance enthusiasts seek more powerful, sharper handling, sports cars such as the Shelby Mustang, the Ford Mustang Mach 1, and variants made by Roush Performance and Saleen, while collectors and purists seek limited production and alternate or nostalgic styling, such as is commonly found on many commemorative editions. Still, others were made purely for experimental concepts such as the McLaren M81 and the Ford Mustang SVO, which later influenced production model design. Most variants include both performance upgrades, and unique cosmetic treatments that are typically minimal to maintain the familiar appearance of a stock Mustang. Although most of these Mustang variants were aimed at enthusiasts, an exception was the Special Service Package which was designed specifically for law enforcement. Race variants include the FR500, Boss 302 and Boss 429.
The first-generation Ford Mustang was manufactured by Ford from March 1964 until 1973. The introduction of the Mustang created a new class of automobiles known as pony cars. The Mustang's styling, with its long hood and short deck, proved wildly popular and inspired a host of competition.
The third-generation Mustang was manufactured and marketed by Ford from 1979-1993, using the company's Fox platform and colloquially called the Fox body Mustang. During its third generation, the Mustang evolved through several sub-models, trim levels, and drivetrain combinations during its production and seemed destined for replacement with a front-wheel drive Mazda platform. Company executives were swayed by consumer opinion and the rear-wheel drive Mustang stayed in production, while the front-wheel drive version was renamed the Ford Probe. Production ended with the introduction of the fourth-generation Mustang (SN-95) for model year 1994.
The fourth-generation Ford Mustang is an automobile that was produced by the American automobile manufacturer Ford Motor Company for the 1994 through 2004 model years. Marking the first major redesign of the Ford Mustang in fifteen years, the fourth generation of the pony car was introduced in November 1993 with the launch taking place on December 9, 1993. The design, was based on an updated version of the Fox platform and was the final vehicle underpinned with this platform. It featured styling by Bud Magaldi that incorporated some stylistic elements from the classic Mustangs. A convertible model returned, but the previous notchback and hatchback bodystyles were discontinued in favor of a conventional 2-door coupe design.
The fifth-generation Ford Mustang, is a two-door four-seater pony car manufactured and marketed by Ford from 2004 to 2014, for the 2005 to 2014 model years — carrying the internal designation S197 and marketed in coupe and convertible body styles. Assembly took place at the Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Flat Rock, Michigan. The fifth generation began with 2005 model year, and received a facelift for the 2010 model year.
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