I have a 1979 F-150 4x4 that I am wanting to swap a 460 into. What is the best engine to rebuild? It will be mated to a C6, does this change anything? I am looking to gradually build this engine into a monster, but not over night. This pickup is just a toy/show ride.

 

I don't know what your budget is but I would look for a 70's Lincoln or thunderbird, ltd, marquis with a running 460 in it. Sometimes you can get it pretty cheap and then you have all the acc, stuff too. Might get the motor and sell the rest for the same price. If it runs then you have a good starting point. The 80's 460's are a different breed so I wouldn't use them. I would stay with the D3 heads with the lower compression. 73-79. 460. They work better for todays gas.

 

^^^ I agree with this guy! If your doin a stock rebuild, this was the hay-day for the 460s. They made the biggest power then.

 

A) If you ever plan on stroking I would go with a later truck block that has slightly longer cylinders for more piston support at BDC.
B) 460's went to external balance as a running change during the 1979 model year.
C) D3VE-A2A heads didn't change right up through the end of carbureted production in 1987 (like mine)

 

^^^ Good info right there. I think someone even mentioned that the deck height changed slightly in one of the earlier years which would affect your compression ratio. But even if your running stock everything, it shouldnt affect it so much that youll have to run different octane gas. Expert to confirm?

 

FTE is a great forum, however you might want to check out Ford460.com forums. This kind of question comes up often in that forum. You probably want to read the stickies in the Engine Tech archive. There is a lot of 460 specific information there.

 

The really early heads have small enough chambers that compression is too high for optimum results with current pump gas.
The pistons are too far in the hole for effective quench.

Stay the heck away from the one year wonder '72 heads. They are the worst of both worlds.

The only real change with the D9 block is less room in the crankcase. (no need for the bigger internal balance porkchops.)
Deck heights varied somewhat, changing to 10.32" in 1972, but remained the same after that.
The rotating assembly spec's the same for all 460's.
Rod length, crank throw, compression height= same.

I have no idea what Dirtracer is saying about '80's engines being different, except for the change to external balance during 1979.
...D9TE casting number above the starter.

Yes, there is good info over there in the "proven builds" section.

 

the older blocks around d1 early 70s are easier to do 4 bolt upgrades because of the main caps are machined evenly accross. if wanting to really make a monster this is a good thing. also some of the early blocks you can bore out to .100ths pretty easy have heard of more but never seen. stout cylinder bores but if you see a casting that is of poor casting be wary. if running a newer block the castings at mains are casted different and require more work to get a 4 bolt main cap. just money$$. if really building a monster OEM heads are out of the question. they do run well but not monster worthy. I run OEM heads and ported/flowed on 472 but bigger engine running cobrajet heads. If concerned with quench gonna need to do some machineing of block and heads and proper piston selection. run the older heads with smaller combustion chamber. the oldert heads have adjustable valvetrain at studs and less expense. some have positive stop studs an usually a stud change and maybe a pedistal machineing at most. usually can get away without machining stud pedistal in most cases. 500 hrsp isn't hard to do with ported OEM heads of the early yrs and adjustable valvetrain. all oem heads flow similar but a few will give you a little more. cobrajet heads different subject. catch you later. remembering stuff and getting late.

 

oops sorry guys I got my threads mixed up.

 

He asked about 460s, not 300s. Whole lot more potential in a 460

 

I am looking to do a full rebuild and am shooting for 450hp 550tq if possible. I am not looking for a full out race engine but a very fun toy. I still am not sure if I want to stroke it or just leave it as a 460. There just sounds like several different 460's to choose from and I am wanting to know which year/years would be the best source for a full rebuild. Thanks guys!

 

There's no replacement for displacement.
More cubes will always meet your goal with a less "high strung" build.
If you don't have race class restrictions to meet and you want it to have street manners stroke it and take the least overbore you can get.

 

You shouldn't have to go too overboard to get nice power out a early 460. I haven't gotten mine on a dyno yet, but the shop estimates right around 450hp/500tq.

72' Lincoln D1VE casting block
Early non-smog D3 Heads
Straight up timing set
High comp. dish top pistons
Full COMP hydraulic roller valvetrain
PRW 1.7 Rockers
Edelbrock Performer RPM Air-gap intake
Holley 650 vac. secondaries
Port and polish on heads

Running that with a built '71 w/shift kit really lays the rubber down


My $0.02
Jameson

 

^^^ Whats your compression ratio with that set-up?

 

I wish I could tell you. I bought the engine as-is, so I don't know what kind of pistons it has, what the cc of the pistons is, compressed thickness of the gasket and bore of gasket, deck height, ect.

If I go with stock bore and stroke, figure 24cc pistons, a .010 deck clearance, FelPro's gaskets (4.500 bore, .041 compressed thickness), and 93cc D3 heads: Compression ratio comes in at 8.21:1, which would be less than 1972 stock w/d3 heads. I'd love to know what the real ratio is, but I don't think there is any other way then using the info like I did above..


Jameson