Well...its time. I've got a good running stock 460 from a '77 Grand Marquie I'm gonna swap for the 400 in my '79 F 350 4X4. I have some long term plans for the motor but for the time being (next 5 yrs) i don't have the time and money to do it all.

It leaks so I'm gonna replace all the gaskets and remove the heads so I can remove those damn mountainous humps in the exhaust ports. I'll also replace the timing chain and main/rod bearings and add a high volume oil pump.

I plan to use an earlier timing chain ('71?) to "stand up" the valve timing. Is this correct? I also have plans for headers but will probably use some truck manifolds for now. Given the truck manifolds maximum performance, would I even gain anything by porting the exhaust ports?

Although I have a Holley 750 double pumper, I am leaning towards keeping the stock carb for the time being. I have used the Holley on a previous 460 build and removed it. It was WAY to much carb even for all the heavey mods I did.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

I'm being told Pre 1970 for the timing chain but I could be wrong. Interested to see how it comes out im in the same boat as you.

 

A 88-97 timing chain is straight up, so you can use those. I'd do the porting while your there so that whenever you get headers you're done. ID measure the deck clearance while you've got it apart and figure out what your compression is, then find a way to bump it to over 8-1.