Hey guys, I have a 1997 Ford F250 HD XL 4X4 w/ the fuel injected 460. The truck has 80000 miles on it at this point, and has developed a main seal leak. The gas mileage is absolutely killing me right now, I think I'm getting like 6-8 miles to the gallon. I don't tow or haul anything, I have a high flow exhaust and intake on the truck, plus upgraded plugs, wires, and MSD ignition. I'm not understanding why the gas mileage is so bad, but some say its just how the 460 motors are. Is there something that can cause the fuel economy to become this bad? I doubt I'm getting even 12mpg right now. I'm thinking maybe its time to look at either rebuilding/swapping the motor. Would swapping to a small block high performance crate motor get me better hp/tq with better gas mileage? Would I be better off rebuilding my 460? Are there any good high performance 460 rebuild kits out there? I intend the keep the truck indefinately. I'm looking to get a good strong motor with lots of torque, at least semi-decent gas mileage, and good reliability (off roading, towing, daily driving). Based on this, what do you guys think I should do??

-Thanks
-Dan

 

I'm pretty sure the aftermarket support of the 460 will surprise you. check out http://www.northernautoparts.com and http://www.fordracing.com

 

Thanks for the links. I see FRPP offers some nice crate motors. I guess my real question is, if I go with a built smallblock that still makes at least 400lbs of torque and decent hp, is my gas mileage going to improve from what my 460 is simply because its a small block? I'm trying to decide if going with a small block in my truck will help gas milage. Or will simply building up my 460 be the best alternative??? I want a good, reliable, every day motor with good hp, good torque, and at least bearable gas mileage.

-Thanks
-Dan

 

To achieve that torque, the compression is bumped up pretty high on the small blocks, and as a result all of the torque comes on in the upper RPM range. You are better off going with the 460, either rebuilt to stock, or stock guts and a good set of heads. Personally I think the best route is to go with the stock bottom rebuild and a good set of heads.

 

You will spend just as much if not more in gas getting the small block to move that truck weight.... Work over the 460, there has to be something holding you back from getting up into the double digits.

--Mike

 

Rebuild the 460.

Port/polish the heads, drop in some high-compresssion pistons, valve job, blah, blah, blah.

We all know that factory engines are built on a watered-down budget, and I pretty much guarantee that money you put into this engine will get you better mileage than a SBF and that money you waste on going smaller in such a big truck.

 

Well how much money do you want to spend? if you have enough spare cash you could swap in a 5.9 cummins into that truck. That would give the pulling power you want and better fuel mileage. Checkout www.fordcummins.com they offer kits and they have about 6 or so complete '04 5.9 cummins motors out of dodges that had some misfortune for sale. The only problems i've seen with this option is the cost of the entire swap and the time it would take to install the motor. I wanted to do this to my 1989 f250 but with cost being a big factor i'm not able to...yet.

 

Ok guys, so the general concensus seems to be that I should rebuild my 460. Is it possibly to do this with some extra parts for under $3000.00??? I'm looking to keep my budget under 4 grand if possibly. Should I simply rebuild my 460 and add aftermarket heads? Do I want to change out my cam? What specs should I go with to build a streetable 460 making good hp/torque/driveability??? Are there any good websites that offer 1997 460 parts/packages???

-Thanks
-Dan

(all this engine building is new to me, so bear with my questions...thanks-)

 

A shop should be able to do the machine work for around $700. Then the heads are gonna be 800-1000. Miscellaneous stuff like gaskets, is gonna be another 500. Be sure to put in a high volume oil pump, and new shaft.

 

mattsbox99,

Thanks for all your advice so far. I've been looking around for heads, and alot of them seem to be for 460's from a different year, or aren't really streetable. Any advice on a particular set of heads that offers a nice hp/tq gain, stays streetable, and will work on a 1997 f.i. 460???]


-Thanks
-Dan

 

I think you are gonna have to port and polish your current heads, it appears that all the aluminum heads are made for carbureted engines.

 

So I should simply rebuild my 460 stock with the heads ported and polished? What kind of hp/tq gains are seen with a port/polish job on the heads?

-Thanks
-Dan

 

I'd definetly upgrade the cam.

 

Ok, so far I'm thinking I rebuilt the motor, port and polish the heads. What kind of cam would give me a nice streetable hp/tq increase? Is a new cam, and a port and polish job all you'd do when rebuilding the motor? Sorry to ask so many questions, I just have no idea where to begin when I do my motor.

-Dan

 

You might check around in the 385 forum. I don't know what the best type of cam for fuel injected motors is. I'm sure you will want something that resembles a dual energy cam from Comp, don't buy the Edelbrock one if you can avoid it.