Getting ready to rebuild an engine for my truck and have 2 to select from. One is a 78 460 with a 2Y crank and the other is a 83 460 with a 3Y crank.
Which would make the better motor? The 78 is external balanced and the 83
is internal balanced. Any other info would be greatly appreciated. Going to look at the 83 Wednesday. Would like help before then. thanks

 

are you looking to make a stroker out of it?

If so the later motor block has slightly longer cylinder walls and better supports the piston on the longer stroke.

Otherwise the engines are pretty much the same thing (same heads etc) other then the balance. Either one would make a good candidate for a standard rebuild with neither having an advantage over the other. Pick the one that is in the best shape and cleans up with the least amount of overbore you can get away with.

 

The advantage one might have over the other is if one of them doesn't need the crankshaft turned or the cylinders bored. If you could disassemble both of them and mic everything, you would know which one would be the best rebuilt candidate.

This is, of course, assuming that you are not interested in building the stroker motor. If you are, then Monsters advice is valuable and you should consider it to be the tie breaker.

Hope this helps

 

Thanks Rob & Doc, this will help me decide. will probably go with the 83. it's never been touched the 78 bored 30, 10&10. looks like crank would need more work.
thanks again bill

 

Block casting number: D1VE-AB - AB1- AB2 = 1971/73 429 - 1971/78 & some 1979 460, internal balance.

Block casting number: D9TE-AB = Some 1979 & 1980/97: External balance, has a weighted crank spacer.