Yeah thats I how I look at it to. If I could get the swap for real cheap I would do it. But in the end I would pry be nickled and dimed to death. I don't really tow enough to justify having a diesel. I like the idea of a 460, because it has power and if it gets 10 mpgs I would be satisfied with the features I garner over my current dd. I lose 3mpgs, but garner an extra seat, 4x4, towing power, and lastly I cut my insurance from 84 dollars a month like 557 every six to something like 157 every 6 or something like that. So I figure I would roughly be able the same in terms of costs.

 

I went ahead and flushed the radiator, pulled all the hoses, and the heater inlet or outlet had a flushing t from the previous owner. I can't figure out how I am to go about hooking it up to a garden hose though. So I just flushed the t and had all the hoses removed except the other heater core hose, I couldn't get it busted loose. I was reading my Ford shop manual says apparently my system is supposed to take like 13-15 liters or fluid. I went ahead and ran 2 gallons of antifreeze, and a little bottle of anti rust stuff. It was full after that point, so I am not quite sure whats going on. I would venture a guess that air is in the system.

I left the radiator cap off and turned it on and let it idle to burp the air out. I lost radiator coolant, on a side note it shows me my water pump is still working. Any ideas how to bleed it? My coolant gauge also did not move and I'm not sure how I would go about replacing it? I didn't want to idle my truck too long because the engine started to get hot, and I got worried that coolant wasn't running through. I anticipate that oil is dripping onto something through worn valve cover gaskets and is creating that distinct hot smell.

So the cliff notes version:

How do I bleed the air out of a 460 radiator system, or is 2 gallons and little bottle of anti rust stuff the true full level of this system? Also how do I connect to the heater t to flush the system?

How do I replace the hot and cold temp guage?

Would smoke on start, and a dripping/hot smell be indicitative of worn valve gaskets?

I plan to drain the oil tomorrow and run a new filter, could I pour some gasoline or diesel into the crank case to clear it all out, and then pull the pan and oil screen? From what I gather like 1 part oil 3 parts diesel would suffice? After which I run a cheap oil with the dirty filter, and then clean oil and a new filter.

I need to alter the timing but am not sure how I can go about adjusting this, without a timing light?

 

Bottom line: if you factor in the initial cost of a diesel swap, then factor in more expensive fuel (unless you plan on running alternative fuels) and increased maintenance costs, it will take a LONG time to payoff from a financial stand point.

 

My 460 gets awful mileage. I have about a 6-7 mile trip to work and it uses 1/4 of the front 13 gal tank to do the round trip. I have a new carb on order for it. I'm also doing a total sertvice job whan that gets in. i had a Edelbrock 460 intake I was going to use, but some theving ***** stole it from my garage.

 

You just know how to figure MPG. I love a 460 for some things, BUT these people who say they are getting anything more than 8 mpg are either high or figureing MPG going down hill in a Tail wind. Real MPG figures for a 460 in all types of driving is in the neighborhood of 5 to 8 MPG.

 

I average 8.5-11, and that's with an odo that's low by ~5%.

83, RCLB, T-19, 4x4. I'm using highway tires, properly inflated, and the engine has new plugs/wires/cap/rotor/etc.

No A/C might help, too. 3.5 gears (can't remember if Ford used a 3.50, 3.54, 3.55...etc)

 

Man I dont know how anyone can justify a 460 (or any LARGE ford) daily driver if you dont use your truck as a heavy hauler for your job. I use mine for 1. Playing and 2. Hauling stuff when I need. Big blocks are very coool, but my opinion, if your just trying to get back and forth to work save the money you would spend on mileage parts or an engine swap and buy a 4 banger compact

Even if its a beater, if it gets 20 mpg imagine the fuel cost saving you can now put into your "toy".

So my 2c is your after saving $$$ in fuel efficiancy you got the wrong vehicle

 

Big blocks have a cool factor involved with truck owners... much like folks who drive expensive sports cars. You gotta pay to play!

 

I can get 12-13 mpg with my 460, unloaded on the highway.
Put the slide in camper in the bed and hook up the boat, mpg drops to 10-10.5 on the highway.
10-11 around town, I drive real easy.
I know people with 302s,318s,360s,350,351w getting worse mpg than me with a 460.
Keep your foot out of it! it ain't NASCAR!

 

It isn't?

 

I love my 460's, granted i like the '85 better, than the '90. For me they a great for shorter hauls, my diesel's are better long distance hauling.

 

I figure that those who hate the 460 are just compensating for something.

 

x2. OE/stock 100K Mi '86 Supercab 4x4 w/460 (see sig). Mileage improved to 12.6 on the highway after I installed the 3" Flowmaster cat-back system w/70 series BB2 muffler (no cats on this truck ever...Non-catalyst ). The best my 4x4 F150 w/300 could muster on the same trip was 16 MPG. I know I'll never get there without an overdrive, but I can't complain and as noted by others in this thread: the 460 rocks on the open road!

 

Good to know I plan to install a dual exhaust on my Ford. I drive what I like to drive and I bought a v6 that was plain jane. I'd rather buy a cheap truck fix it up and love what I drive. Compared to what I drive now its a good deal. In the end I may sell my dodge and buy a honda car, but I hate driving cars they ride like a piece of junk to me.

 

When I check my '85 with 3.55's, it is from fill up to fill up. with that said I average 13 mpg! My '90 with 4.10's is 9 mpg