I am thinking of doing a 460 build from the bottom up, rather then spend the money to get a rebuild/new engine (the one that I have is shot). I would like to see what some people have to say who know what they are talking about, and if I would be running into issues.

Because this is a low-budget build, some of the new products that I will be using are a bit on the lower end of quality. The new pieces would be intermixed with surviving parts from my 79 460. Here is what I have so far

1: 1978 460 block bored 30 over stock
2: Rebuilt cylinder heads from a non-smog 1977 460, w/ Casting # D2VE-A2A.
3: Xtreme 4x4™ hydraulic flat tappet cams from Comp
4: Edelbrock Performer intake (1500-6500 rpm)
5: Edelbrock 650cfm Performer Carb
6: most other misc parts from surviving 460
7: Engine dress-up from Edelbrock

Here is where I need help
1: Pistons. What kind would I need? What would be the advantages to a dome top over a flat top?
2: Crankshaft. I was thinking of a mild stroker, but I have no idea what to look for in a stroker crank.


All this would be going into a 1979 F250 Ranger Lariat Camper Special, 2wd with C6 auto, A/C enabled. Would also do some exhaust work (Headers, mufflers)

 

Are you sure of the casting # on the heads? Could it be d3ve?
Flat or dish pistons are probably what you need, with 15cc dish pistons set flush with the deck you'll get about 9 to 1 compression, assuming 95cc heads. What are the specs of the cam?

 

The casting number is what the seller of the heads provided me with, so it could be a error on his part. As for the cams, here is the specs sheet 34-231-4 - Xtreme 4 x 4

 

If the heads ARE D2VE they are NOT 77 heads they are 72 adn are considered teh worst heads ever used on the 429/460s STAY AWAY. They are open chamber, very prone to detonation and there was a reason ford only used them for 1yr. No such thing as a "non smog motor" after 71 when it comes to the 429/460s.

Also if the seller is making the claim that D2VE heads came from a "non smog 1977" he doesn't know what he is talking about and I woudln't buy from him personally.

 

D2VE-A2A This casting shares the same port sizes and shape with the other passenger car castings. It is basically a revised D0VE-C casting with slotted pedestal rocker arm bosses. Beware as this is the only year of the large round OPEN combustion chamber design. Chamber size is near 100 cc's.They are prone to detonation due to the lack of a quench pad.and are unsuitable for high performance use!
Valve sizes are 2.09" intake and 1.65" exhaust.

D3VE-AA,A2A etc. For '73 the casting was completely reengineered. The bath tub chamber shape was back but at 97+ cc's. The chamber is slightly larger but the main difference is valve seat depth. The seats are .100" deeper compared to the '72 and older castings. The valves are consequently .100" shorter. They have pedestal rocker arm bosses and use stamped steel 1.73 to 1 ratio rocker arms.

As for the other items, they look good, but I would go with either a Holley Street Avenger, or Truck Avenger carb instead of the edelbrock. The Comp 4x4 Cams are a nice series of cams, I am running one right now with no complaints.

A KB P/N 206 Hypereutectic with a 15cc dish will put you in the 8.5-9 cr range which that cam will like. Also, "Cheap" and "Stroker" are not words that work well together, I would suggest sticking with the stock crank.

 

Compression math will vary it will depend on your deck clearance, gasket crush, gasket bore, dome height, valve reliefs, yadda yadda yadda.

Dome will give you a higher compression but will be more stable and the flat tops will give you a lower comp but will be less stable becuase of air turbulence in the chamber. Fords have a problem distributing air in the chamber and dome pistons help spread it out more.

I am running 95cc chambers with flat tops with a -3cc valve relief and have a 10.85 com ratio so it isn't set in stone till you know the finer details of the engine