Got no replies in the 460 section so here it goes.


I have recently purchased a 1986 f250 with the carborated 460. I have a few questions that may seem stupid so I apologize in advance. I'm new here so don't be to hard on me haha.

So the odometer reads just over 5,500 miles. PO says it only rolled over once so that's 105,500 miles. I do not believe him so im going to say it has 205,500 miles. How much life can I expect out of this engine assuming its had better than **** por maintenance but not great.

What oil should I be running, assuming the engine is all stock.I've been reading on here and it seems like the"modern" oils are not good for these engines? And I've read about people running diesel oil or additives.
Please enlighten me on this as the threads I've looked at get confusing.

And this isn't an important question but would a drop in k&n air filter have any benefits over the paper ones on this old thing?

Those are my questions so far
Thank you for your time,
Spencer

 

You should expect whatever it gives. There is no LAW on how long a motor lasts.

A high mileage oil would be ok to use but id leave the additives alone.

Any improvement in air flow will help. Especially a big boy like a 460.

 

Well I just was wondering what they average mileage wise...
Thanks for the reply

 

It really varies. How its taken care of. How hard its ran. Rpm range it lives at. Some have blown at 50k some have been to 300k. They are good engines if you treat them right.

 

My original engine made it to 28x,xxx miles before it spun a bearing on startup one COLD morning.
I did maintain it but beat on it too.

I'm going to assume you're talking about the lack of ZDDP in oils for catalytic equipped engines?
It can't hurt anything to run a diesel oil like Rotella or Delvac.

I used a K&N for some years.
I'm back to paper now.
If anything, the area of the aircleaner inside the filter looks cleaner with paper.
I never noticed an improvement in power.

Welcome to the forum Spencer.
Hope you are enjoying your 'new' truck.

 

As for oil & additives, do some research on flat tappet cams:

Let me google that for you

 

I use Rotella T. Been using it in my Rover V8 flat tappet engines and figured it would be good in my 460.
I don't use K&N because they let through more dirt. Engines generally don't like ingesting dirt.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. I sort of bought the truck to beat on but make nice at the same time. My DD is a 2003 f150 so this truck does not always new to be drivable which gives me time to work on it.

So far I have changed the oil, I believe I usesed castrol high mileage
I have changed the transfer case fluid with dex/merc ATF
I have changed the the trans out with 80w90w
I flushed the radiator with a garden hose and refilled it
I have also had to put a new oil cooler, starter and alternator on it.

I'm thinking about replacing all the bushings with the ones bronco graveyard sells. Good idea? Are there better brands?

Is there any other maintanance you guys would recommend?

Also do the newer beds look ok on these trucks? Mine has holes in the fender wells and I have a rust free 88 bed available to me for free

 

They look okay.
I'd rather see a clean bed than worry about the different wheel arches.
I think the squarer tailights will swap into the newer bed.
Gary Lewis was looking at them.