Why my dad didn't spring for the 429 (and a posi rear end, heated rear window, split front bench high-back seats, and delay wipers) originally, I'll never know. A couple of months later it was in my LTD (and the 400 lived on in the wagon which got sold a few years later). While in college during one summer, I was reading the classifieds and found a 1971 Ford station wagon for sale for $900 (this was back in 1989) that had low miles and the 429 in it. My dad originally ordered what became my LTD with the (craptastic) 400-2V engine. Would also light up the rear tires easily off the line, even with 2.75 gears in back! i have a 69 tbird with a 429 thunderjet engine which i need to rebuild, only problem is i live in the uk and need help amature you see lol is there an online source or ebook or somethiung etc etc which i can use to help me as a step by step guide etc. The 67-69 and 70-71 T-birds share a lot of the same mechanicals. The passing power was great, just a slight increase in pedal pressure (no downshift) and in a few seconds you were way over the legal speed. The big 429 Thunder Jet moves that thing pretty good. Great motor, I put a Holley ProJection fuel injection unit and a Duraspark II ignition system on it. I tried dialing the base ignition timing back (5-6 degrees IIRC) but it really kills the power which takes all of the fun out of it. I had one of these engines in my 1971 LTD, and like the other posters have said, you have to run the highest octane you can get AND add an octane booster (I used Insead-O-Lead which I think was made by Bardahls).

1969 thunderbird 429 quaddra jet