Club Cobra - 429 Engine with Manual Trans.

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429 Engine with Manual Trans.

Hi Friends,
I´m buying a 429 engine for my Cobra, but I would like put a manual transmission. The seller of engine said me somethings that I don´t know what is better.
I will buy a TKO500 or TKO600. What is better?

Please could you comment about the text below?

"You will need flywheel for an internally balanced (no counterweight)neutral balance set-up.Please be careful about what you choose.I will help you get what you need,because it can get tricky. The engine block year isnt the important thing,but the crankshaft is.The crank was manufactured in 1969,and they were used only with automatics,so to use with a manual,you can go one of 2 ways,both will work.Either you can machine the crank for the 1.375 pilot bearing,or get a pilot bearing with the center hole diameter the same size as the input shaft size,and just turn down the outside diameter to 1.250 for an interference fit.I can also do this for you,this is what I did with my other 429 engine to use with my 4 speed top loader with big input shaft.I plan to use with my 184 teeth flywheel,however some say it wont work, I soon will know! "

If someone have another idea, please feel free to comment.

Thanks a lot,
Regards,
Cristiano

You may realize this already but a 429 engine is not an FE series. They are larger than the FE so make sure it fits in the car you are building.

Thanks for asking. But I think that it will fit. I saw some cobras in the web with 429 engine. (look some examples at http://www.bccobraclub.org/sales.html)

About the changes, what is better?

The TKO 600 would be better than the 500, its stronger, plus 1st gear is better suited for a big block

Thanks for the information. I will choose the TKO600.
But I would like know if is it necessary machine the crank or could be installed without changes?
thanks a lot.

I`m no 429-460 expert, but my understanding is that the pre 72 429-460`s used the same pilot bushing/bearing as a FE engine . The engines after 72 used the much smaller pilot bushing/bearing, the same as the SB, 351W&C, 400 etc. Since the first 429`s came out in 68 Tbirds with automatics, maybe some of the early cranks were "oddball" in the area of the pilot, but I don`t know.
Regardless, if you do have an oddball crank, rather than get involved with expensive machine work, why not just get a used "normal" crankshaft with the correct factory piilot hole?