I was told by a machine shop that the DOVE heads I am planning on putting on my 79 460 block will cause overheat problems on long hauls up steep grades.

Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated!

They suggested instead taking a couple thou off of my block.

I threw a rod and am going to do an overhaul. I was planning on using a set of orig. DOVE heads(replaces my D3 heads), standard pistons, RV cam., standard intake exhaust and carb.

I have had no over heat problems in the past with my D3 heads.

Thanks much.

Greg

 

The only difference that i can think of between the year models would be: The d9 block may have external balance rotating assembly, and the deck height will be taller than say a 70 model block. Be careful with your piston selection and don't go overboard with compression . I would ask the machine shop to elaborate on there suggestion before allowing them to sway you. There is a mountain of experience on this site that will prove or disprove their theory. Personally I would rather have a piston pin height that would provide close to zero deck clearance and the dove heads. Get the technical specs on the pistons that you are going to use and you may have room to deck the block to insure it is square. The last 460 that I built was off bank to bank and front to back in relation to the main bore.

 

basically the more horsepower you make the more heat you make. I am runnin a 429 zero decked, with DOVE heads, hot cam, 10.5cr pistons. I am running the stock rad for my truck with not even a hint of heat problems.

I have found that I needed to research my engine myself as most machine shops are cluless to big block fords. Figure out what you want for horsepower and your budget, from there I am sure the people on this site can give you a good idea of what you need to do. It is important to not let the machine shop tell you what they think you should do unless they are expert 460 builders. Remember, it's your money!

 

I, for one think he is incorrect. I always 0 deck my engines but I think he's concerned about cylinder pressures & pre-ignition. I've got a set on my motor home with no problems. I've used them on everything & never had a heat problem.....

 

Quick!! Drop your machinist like a crack habbit. I agree that more horsepower will make more heat, but what WILL cause your truck to overheat is too high a thermastat, no fan shroud, too small a radiator, etc. So, if your truck has a good radiator, fan, and shroud you should be ok.

 

I'm running a 78 460 with early 429 heads. My block was zero decked. I used TRW L2404 pistons and the compression ratio ended up being 9.44 to 1.

I have a new 4-row desert cooler radiator, fan shroud and 7 blade fan. On 95+ degree days, on loooong hills at 6% or better grade with about 13,500 lbs GCVW, the temperature really starts to climb. But, it has never boiled over. I hope it never does.

That was last year. Over the winter, I changed to a better fitting shroud. I hope it's enough to make up the difference.

Use the heads. More power, more better.

 

idaho crew,

I assume you are taking the locally famed Lewiston/Clarkston grade?

Greg(Spokne, sometimes Clarkston)

 

No, but that hill would do, that would do. :-staun Especially in the middle of summer. I have not had my crewcab up that hill as I haven't gone that far North with my truck yet. I used to make trips up that hill regularly while going to school in Moscow. But, I didn't have my crewcab then. Another killer hill enroute to Lewiston is White Bird Hill, near of course, the town of White Bird.

There are plenty of other hills here in Southern Idaho, Nevada and Northern California that I have used more gas on than I care to admit.

It seems like the only direction I go from here is up.