What I have...'77 F150 short box 4x4, automatic, 3.50 gears. The 351m is tired so I'm going to pull it. I have a '77 460 out of a F350 camper special. The 460 has 80k miles and the original owner took excellent care of the truck. The engine runs like a watch. I'm going to put the 460 into the F150 here yet this summer. While the 460 is out and I have to put a new oil pan on it and will also put in a new HV oil pump and I'm also going to replace the timing chain and advance the cam timing 8 degrees if I've been hearing and reading everything correctly. I don't plan on changing the cam but am open to it. Looking at the Weiand Stealth intake and I also have a set of DOVE heads that are untouched.

Would you rework/port the exhaust on the DOVE heads and use them and run the Stealth intake? Also want to install a set of roller rockers. If I keep the D3 heads on it I will get the Crane retrofit kit for the rockers or if I use the DOVE heads I will get roller rockers for that as well. Or leave the D3's on it as it is and run it for a while and save everything else for a complete rebuild for future?

I only run the premium 91/93 octane gas. Why? The lower grades in my area are all reformulated gas and it eats the rubber hoses etc...So I'm not worried about the DOVE heads bumping the compression.

The truck is only being used for enjoyment only. Will pull the boat once in a while but that's about it.

Trying to keep cost down for now and as good as the stock 460 runs I don't want to spend a ton of money on it for now. Saving the extra cash for a paint job/body work.

What would you do?

Thanks, Shortbox4x4

 

everything sounds good. i would use the DOVE heads if you have them, only bumps the compression about 1 pt so from around 8-1/2 to 9-1/2, still pump gas friendly. advantage is that you just need to replace the studs to use roller rockers, no adapter kits and you will have a truly adjustable valvetrain.

if you are going this far i would definetely change the cam to something little more aggressive but still street and towing friendly. lots of choices out there. will have to change the springs on the heads, but that should be done anyways. never know what shape or tension the 30 or 40yr old springs have anymore. porting the exhaust is a good idea also as this is the real restrictive part of the heads. lost of sights out there showing how to do at home if you want to. also the 460 really responds to opening up the exhaust (headers, dual exhaust, mufflers).

the Stealth is a good intake but maybe a bit big for what you want. the Edelbrock Performer RPM is a little smaller runners, but if you have the Stealth (as long as it is not the CJ version) i would stick with it.

get the dist recurved, make sure you have a good fuel supply, good plug wires and a good coil, and you should really wake up the 460.

good luck
Mike

 

Mike, Thanks for posting! Yes I know about recurving the distributor. Forgot to mention that.

I'm going to use the factory exhaust manifolds. Going to have them jet hot coated. I'll run 2 1/2" dual exhaust and magnaflow mufflers.

Understood about the valve springs. If I switch heads let alone the cam I would get matching valve springs etc...

From what I searched on line about the intakes was the Stealth was over all better than the Edelbrocks. So that is why I was thinking about the Stealth.

Later, Shortbox

 

The oil sump screen is likely jammed full of nylon shards from the stock cam sprocket.
A high volume oil pump is not really necessary unless the clearances are really loose. It only puts added strain on the pump shaft and distributor gear.

You want to set the cam timing 'straight up' not advanced (or retarded as the stock timing set is)

BTW, it is 8* at the crank, 4* at the cam.

I'd avoid any question about keyways by using a double roller timing set intended for an '88 and up 7.5l efi engine.
These were not retarded.