Jon Kaase introduces Boss 429 hemi retrofit kit

[Don]

Source: Hemmings.com as published:
Quote:

" Jon Kaase introduces Boss 429 retrofit kit "

" Ford’s Boss 429 hemi was a loaded weapon intended for the NASCAR arena and aimed squarely at its cross-town rival, Chrysler. Unfortunately, Ford only constructed enough consumer versions to satisfy NASCAR, making them exceedingly rare, and as a consequence, highly valued.

Seeing the potential of Ford’s design and recognizing the lasting appeal of the Boss 429’s visual impact, noted race engine builder Jon Kaase has designed all-new components to create what he’s dubbed the Boss Nine Hemi retrofit kit. The kit is intended to fit on a standard Ford 429/460 Lima-style 385-series V-8 without requiring any custom machine work.

The key to the kit is the aluminum cylinder heads, which have revised ports and combustion chambers along with relocated spark plug locations, to enhance airflow and increase combustion efficiency. A new rocker system has also been devised in conjunction with W.W. Engineering to eliminate the potentially troublesome offset design of the original Boss; Manley valves designed for big-block Chevy engines were utilized to maintain parts availability while avoiding the costs of custom pieces. Similarly, the Boss Nine heads are mounted using stock 460 gaskets for the heads and the intake and exhaust ports; it also retains the stock 429/460 oil drain-back holes.

Kaase’s intake manifold is also revised, though it will fit on Ford’s stock Boss 429 heads. Those revisions allowed the new intake to make 50 more horsepower than Ford’s NASCAR single-plane manifold and 100hp over the stock dual-plane manifolds used on production Boss 429 Mustangs. Kaase’s manifold is offered for 4150-style carburetors or for 4500-series Dominator units.

While he was at it, Kaase also designed a new oil-pump housing for the 429/460 to eliminate the factory pump’s tendency to crack. The crowning touch for the Boss Nine Hemi kit is a pair of stock-appearing rocker covers.

To see and learn more, go to www.JonKaaseracingengines.com. "

- By Terry McGe