The GM 454 has more units produced, I believe. There are more hot rod parts available for it at a lower cost than the other two, wether its the best is endlessly debateable.
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the big 3 all had the big beasty engine, which is the best? just curious
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As for stock engines, I'm going to vote for the 460. They were built tough and with plenty of torque right outta the box. The Bigfoot trucks all have 460 based engines with a header design to emphasize and enhance the torque. That's why they can wheelie from a standing start so much easier than any of the competition. The only other competition that I'm aware of is the Dodge Bearfoot and I gotta admit that it's engine had some good snort when I saw it perform live, here in the big city of Kalispell. Then there's also Gravedigger...a short wheelbase that can also wheelie without a 2nd thought.
I'm still voting for the 460 as the best stock engine, for durability and torque right from the factory.
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I kinda like them all.The 454 and 460 are alot alike. The 440 is more like a big small block chevy. I would have to tip my hat to the 440. It has a big bore and short stroke. It will rev faster and have less wear.
A very good friend of mine builds all of gravediggers engines and that is no stock 454. He does about two a season.
I have seen big block shootouts between all three and I have to say that they are all very compairable in stock trim.
The 440 with the better rod ratio is the better torque engine out of this group. The Pontiac or Buick 455 would be more or less close too the same torque as the 440.
I have a magazine article with a big block shoot out and the 460 didn't to well. But then again, I believe the 460 won in the Popular Hotrods Challange so it maybe more up to the builder.
On paper the 460 is the most oversquare(4.36X3.85) in theory could rev the highest.
The 454 should have the most torque with its 4" stroke(4.250X4")
The 440 could be a revver also @(4.32X3.75) but its inline valves could hinder ultimate breathing at higher revs.
The 460 and 454 have the more high performance canted valve heads IMHO.
The 460 is also dimensionally larger making a 514" stroker EZ. (I know GM has a 496 which is basically a stroked 454 but anything larger needs a siamesed block,502, or a tall deck.
I think it was a John Kaase motor(?) (460 Ford) that won the PH shootout this year.
on a practical note i think 460's win hands down. 454's may have had more units produced but they're pretty scarce around here. i saw two 460's in our local pick a part last weekend. didn't see any big Chevy's. and thats the way it almost always is. what good is a motor if you can't find one, and then be able to afford it. 440's are great but they're even more scarce than the Chevy's . of coarse I'm talking about my region can't say about the rest of the country.
there have been a couple of 440 builders in the paper here and they were asking $500 bucks for a worn out long block. i can go down to the junkyard today and come home with a worn out 460 for $75.
I would also vote for the 460. It is much more capable of putting power out than the others and it can be done as cheap as the 454 and way cheaper than the 440. Concerning availability I would imagine that there are as many if not more 460's or 429's out there than 454's. The only differnece between the 429 and 460 is pistons and crank otherwise they are the same. The 429 if I'm not mistaken is still in production today for comercial use.
Looking at stroker capabilities the 460 wins hands down in anything approaching affordability. The following are prices and capabilities from a reputable company:
Now someone mentioned John Kaase. He did win the 2003 Big Block Shootout and I'm a firm believer that this has more to do with the builder than the engine. John also won the 2004 small block shootout with a Ford.
460 Cons:
Short stroke...should have been a little more 'square'.
Terrible exhaust ports...factory SBC exhaust flows better.
Only 10 head bolts per side...should have taken a lesson from the General.
It's a Ford so swaps are a pain
454 Cons:
Ever seen a Gen III or IV that DIDN'T burn oil?
Weak factory bottom end (Rod chuckers at high revs)
Kinda scarce as far as finding a good rebuildable core go.
460 Pros:
Aftermarket parts availability...BIG INCHES FOR LESS $$$$
Bottom end is hell-for-stout (can do the same with 2 bolt mains that chebby does with 4...that's what you get for using big bolts)
Run well and don't burn oil (within reason)
454 Pros:
By far the most aftermarket support
VERY powerful from the factory
Doesn't need any port work on the exhaust side.
Oil companies love them
460 Pro:
Affordable parts
Good bore/stroke ratio
Largest CID
460 Cons:
Standard passenger car rods
Poor Valvetrain Geometry when decking blocks
Weak Distirbutor to oil pump driveshaft
Large Main bearings need high volume oil pump
454 Pro:
Large bore and large valves
Good bottom end and oiling
Easy to build and tune
Parts easy to get
454 Cons:
Poor rod ratio
440 Pro:
Good HP/CI
Very Large bores reduces valve shrouding
Short Stroke reduces piston speed
High block deck height
Highest Rod Ratio
Externally mounted oil pump
No coolant flows thru intake manifold
Easy to work on
Bullet proof shaft mounted rockers
High nickel blocks
Most Pre-74 have all forged internals
440 Cons:
Heavy internal rotating mass
Performance parts are slim
Expensive
Question? Has the 460 ever proved to be a performance engine on the street? I know that 454, 455 and 440's were all part of the muscle car era, but did Ford ever produce a performance vehical with the 460?
I've owned all three. Performance wise, the 440 wins hands down. The question was which is the best. Not which is the easiest to find, or whatever. To me, faster is better. This is speaking in stock form of course. Not modded in any way. Somebody will try to bring up the special 1 or 2 year 454 with aluminum heads, but that was a low production engine. Then there's the 440 magnum with a 6-pack, and the model with 2 4-barrel carbs. No doubt in my mind. I'm a Ford guy, but I've never had a stock 460 that was faster then a stock 440.
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