I am considering converting my 460 efi to a carb setup to facilitate further mods in the future. Is this a good idea or should i convert to mass air? I have heard it's much easier to work with a carb setup than to fiddle with the ford efi system. I don't want to spend $2000 on an aftermarket efi system either. So to anyone who has done this swap your input would be appreciated. Also is there any way i can control my e4od trans with a carb setup? Or would a manual conversion be a must?

 

Price Motorsports Engineering for the TB to Carb adaptor
Baumann controls for the E4OD controller.
I believe there are other controllers out there cheaper.

 

I was thinking of going to carb heads instead of efi. Which heads have more potential? I also Would not mind buying a new distributor and intake.

 

EFI heads have very efficient ports. However if you are stroking it or wanting to run on race fuel there are better places to start.
The "most" potential is totally dependant on goals, AND budget.

 

It will need a rebuild soon. I do plan on using a stoker crank at that point. I want this monster to run on pump gas though. So you're saying that the carb heads are better for stroked engines?

 

The carb'd heads have a larger port cross sectional area, Strokers are more likely to take advantage of that.
The right head would still depend on the final goal.
If you are looking at OEM Iron, truck/tow rig engine, D3's will be easier to keep it on pump gas.
Some will insist on D0VE heads, but with MANY builds they are not necessary, and offer little (to no) performance improvement.

 

I need this build to run on pump gas. I was thinking of a 550ish cubic inch stroker. My final goal would be about 550-600hp. I don't tow, so this would be strictly a street rod.

 

are aftermarket heads in the budget?

 

Would it be easier with aftermarket aluminum or stock iron? I could port the stock heads or buy aftermarket heads, but which is more cost effective? It must run on pump gas though. Also what do you think the cost of the rebuild will be? I don't think this engine would hold up for very long after performance mods with 247,000 miles on it.

 

Doable either with OEM iron or Aluminum heads.
just much easier with aluminum.
do without the stroker and buy the heads if its one or the other IMHO.
Probably more cost effective in the end.... depending on what head you go with.

 

I could do the stroker with aluminum or iron heads. Which provides more bang for you buck? If the cost of porting and other work on the iron heads matches the cost of buying aluminum heads I will go with the aluminum heads.

 

in the long run, by the time you invest the money and time in rebuilding and porting the factory cast iron stuff, you will be way farther ahead by buying some decent aftermarket aluminum heads. for a 550 ci engine i would be looking at the aluminum SCJ heads offered by a few different vendors (Lem Evans for one sells them along with others) . they will more then meet all of your goals and more.
iwouldn't waste my time or money on the factory cast iron stuff considering what is out there for aluminum heads these days.

Rgds
Mike

 

I will probably go with the scj heads. Can anyone recommend an intake and carb to go with them?

 

First off, I've never done this so think it through before trying my suggestion...

I can't think of a reason why you couldn't use the stock ECM to control the trans. You'd just need to make it think it was still running the fuel injection. So use the stock throttle position sensor on your carb and either leave the o2 sensor or stick an emulator in it's place. At that point the ECM is getting the feedback it needs to run the trans and not throw codes. I think. Anyone have a reason this won't work??

 

And my idea would be really cheap to try, so if it sucked you'd only be out some time...