Hey Paul,
Looks like the missing piece was pounded to powder into the top of the piston. Found a very few pieces of really fine grit in the oil but nothing else. Will let the head shop find out if there are any pieces stuck in the valves for sure, but it doesn't look like it.

Pulled the driver side this morning and all looks well there. No obvious damage. LOL I did figure out that this motor has been rebuilt once, just couldn't find out what the mileage was when it was done.
Will let you all know more as I discover it
Judi

 

Judi, Judi, Judi...(Cary Grant)

You have the intake, heads, exhaust and many, many other parts off a 98,000 mile motor.

If I was looking at a broken piston, at that point, come on,... I would get a remanf. short block and start over - especially if I lived in the motorhome as you indicate you do.

You are certainly going to pull that piston and check it out, now you have the pan off. A new head job will put additional strain on the bottom end, so the odds are getting too long for any reasonable level of reliability, if you ask me.

 

The only thing I would say different would be a long block instead of a short block.

 

Judi, Sorry to hear about the issues with your 460. As someone else already said if you have a burned piston or a piece gone pounded into head do not waste your time just trying to patch it.

If need be I can get you a smokin' deal on a reman 460 here in PHX area as good friends with owner of a engine reman place. For probably less than you can patch that engine. shoot me a PM.

 

Judi you have gotten past 2nd base and are standing on 3rd... Just do the bottom end, or get a new short block.. why patch it, on 98,000 miles? spend a few bucks more, and you have an essentially new engine.. Go for the home run.... spend it and forget it!

 

I agree with Paul... do it right and only cry once as they say.

Judi, I am at Ina rd and the 10, north west side of Tucson

Randy, can you share the info? i have a 390 i need rebuilt

 

Bill, That would be Five Star Engine Exchange here in Glendale. Owner is Chris and have known him for 30yrs a good family friend. Give him a call and say Randy sent you. He did a 351w Lightning long block for my 92' F250 Plow truck and it never missed a beat, I added engine balance and a zero deck. Along with the hydraulic roller cam. The complete long block was less than I could basically buy parts for. Plowing snow for 2yrs and not a single issue. In the past have always done my own but would have taken me too long.

I think his pricing is too cheap for what you really get. Kind of like a factory he just has it down pat on how to do it. I can be a go between if you want.

If it were me I would request zero deck or no more than .010 in the hole and balancing.

Five Star Engine Exchange

899.00 for a 390 long block with a 1yr unlimited mileage warranty is pretty hard to beat. Difficult to buy the parts and a bit of machine work for that price. He buys so much parts he passes the savings to the customer. Request about any thing you want in brand names.

 

That's a great deal! seriously I spent about $4000 on my build up, between parts and milling... the block and head milling was over a grand alone...

 

Be aware that if a reman 460 short or long block is ordered, that Ford changed the 460 mid-year 1979.

1971/78, some 1979's: The block casting number is D1VE-6059-AB = Does not use a weighted spacer.

Some 1979's, 1980/97: The block casting number is D9TE-6059-AB = Uses a weighted spacer.

The harmonic balancer and flexplate used with the D9TE block are not the same as used with the D1VE block.

 

That is a good tid bit to know Bill! great input!