Well I need help with getting this thing to run right. I have a 460 with Streetmaster intake and eddy four barrel carb.

Today I set the timing at 14 btdc and it ran better but know there is a hesitation when you press the gas.

Checked all the wires and they are in the right spot.

Tomorrow I was going to fool around with the jets to know they are set right.

Also a lot of water comes out the exhaust. Maybe a symptom?

Any advice would be great never had a 460 before always 302's.

Also what should be the rpm's at idle.

Any opinions or advice accepted.

 

Check the carb and make sure it is set right.

I don't know exavtly what idle rpms it should be but my guess is around 600-1000rpms


You will notice alot of power over the 302 with this 460

Once you go big, you will never go back.

 

Check that your accelerator pump is working properly.

 

My Edelbrock was way,way off from the factory. You can get tuning directions off their site.

Advance the timing more and see what happens. Mine ran better with more but I can't remember where it is set.

 

Mine took about 3 weeks of tuning to get it nice.

For me, water in the exhaust comes from numerous holes in the muffler and pipes. Could be something else for you though

 

Exhaust is 3 hours old and is welded up tighter than a drum. Not sure how water could have got in.

I will fiddled around with it tomorrow will post up more questions if I can't get it.

 

Water vapor is a byproduct of the combustion process. Fuel, air temperature, and humidity all affect it.
Unless you have a blown head gasket or bad intake manifold gasket, the excess water vapor isn't anything I would worry about.

 

2X with Mike.

Plus, if it's a chilly morning, moisture in the air will condense on the insides of the tubing and should stop after the tubes get warmed up.... Think about a cold beer on a warm day... beads of water will form on the can...... Now think of it inside-out. Dig?

 

Yep my 2 1/2" tubes with super 10's spit out a surprising amount of water when first started. And she's parked in a garage.

 

Thought I would add that this why exhaust systems rot out on the bottom side.

 

I run my 460 at 16-deg initial advance. Pop off your distributor cap and see if the vaccum advance mechanism is working properly - when you apply vaccum to it, the pickup should slightly move around the armature. Also, when you remove the hose from the advance can, there's an adjustment nut inside that you can adjust with an allen-wrench to change how fast it advances.

 

Any number of problems can cause your symptoms

Go back to the basics. Check plugs, cap, rotor, and wire condition. Nothing worse than trying to tune an engine that's got a bad ignition part. Next, check for vacuum leaks, they can cause a multitude of problems. Side note, your have ported vacuum to the dist. correct ? NOW set your base timing, with the vacuum hose to the dist. removed (although you should have NO VACUUM on this hose at idle).

You stated you set it at 14* and it runs better, but now has a hesitation. It did not have the hesitation before ? What was the setting at then ? Did the engine detanate at the previous setting ? How about at 14* ? Cam, intake, dist. curve, compression ratio, carb, exhaust will all affect detonation. A lot of the time you can keep adding advance until detonation, then back it off a couple degress and it'll be very close.

My guess is a vacuum leak, or improperly routed vacuum lines since you just replaced the intake. Make sure the intake is properly seated to the heads. Reading your signature, the 460 is in front of a manual trany ? Idle speed should be between 700-800 unless you have a healthy camshaft. Tuning a 460 shouldn't be any different than your previous 302.

 

Well I just started looking at it then I saw that all the wiring was so screwed up, so that is what got done today. Tomorrow will be for playing with the timing. The PO cut up the wiring harness really bad, can you just get engine harness for this to replace the one for coil, distributor and water temp. I have duraspark not sure which one. I have the timing at 14 btdc but is still backfiring so should I go more.

 

Well put new wires and spark plugs on it and it runs a little better but know it blows a lot of exhaust out the valve cover breathers.

I think its time for some Dove heads.

Searched in craigslist and came up with a couple finds. Would you guys look and see if these are any good. Also what should I pay? Or if anyone has some stock heads that are ready to put on and run in the phoenix area that would be great.

phoenix auto parts classifieds "460 heads" - craigslist

I will be rebuilding the motor later but the F150 is down for restoration so I need it to run and drive.

Don't know what to look for in heads so any advice would be great.