351 vs. 460
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 226
Likes: 1
From: IA
I've been stuck at a crossroads with this truck for a very long time. It has alot of sentimental value to me but at the same time I know its just a 1/2 ton with 302. I need to set a goal on it and get after it.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 366
Likes: 1
From: Harlingen,TX
Who cares about gas mileage when the 351 can't pull an empty paper bag off the porch. Haha
Rule of thumb that I've lived by.... 351, power of a 302, fuel mileage of a 460.
In a half ton I can see going with a 351. Other then the option of mass air and 4r70w I'd never own one with a 302. An f250 is junk with a 351. Sorry guys that have them, but I'm right and you're wrong.
460 is the way to go if you tow stuff. If you don't, and will use the truck as a car, buy what you find first.
I don't baby my trucks, they get used like Henry Ford would have envisioned.
I have had plenty of 351s and couldn't keep any of them. Sold them all with a smile. My 460 trucks.... Sad day to see them leave.
My opinion, I welcome yours
Rule of thumb that I've lived by.... 351, power of a 302, fuel mileage of a 460.
In a half ton I can see going with a 351. Other then the option of mass air and 4r70w I'd never own one with a 302. An f250 is junk with a 351. Sorry guys that have them, but I'm right and you're wrong.
460 is the way to go if you tow stuff. If you don't, and will use the truck as a car, buy what you find first.
I don't baby my trucks, they get used like Henry Ford would have envisioned.
I have had plenty of 351s and couldn't keep any of them. Sold them all with a smile. My 460 trucks.... Sad day to see them leave.
My opinion, I welcome yours
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,140
Likes: 4
From: Oak Harbor, OH
Having owned several one ton vans with the 351w and driven a few with the 460, the power is not all that different. Expect 16~17mpg with a 351w in a 2wd truck. Expect 10 at best with a 460. If you're not hauling huge loads (10k lbs or more) with it there is no reason to go with a 460. If you need a 'beast' go for broke and get a 'stroker.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,635
Likes: 3
From: Lansdale, PA
My daily driving of the 1/2 ton 351 regularly gets me around 7-8mpg around town, and barely out of the 13mpg on the hyway.
Ive had a 302 in a 2wd and it was super fun, it had that weird 4spd overdrive manual trans. I had a 351 and a c6, and it wouldnt get out of its own way. hard to compare a manual to an auto, but we do it all the time.
I use my trucks very hard, and expect nothing but flawless running. The efi 351 just doesnt perform like its displacement says it should. Now if we were talking a carbd 351, that would be a completely different story. Ive had plenty of those that were impressive.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,140
Likes: 4
From: Oak Harbor, OH
There had to be something wrong with that 351w truck. Every one I've owned (one '82 E350ext pass, '83 E350ext pass, '92E150 cargo, '93 E350 reg pass) all had 351ws and would haul *** if you needed them to. The '82 could pull the nose off the ground and it was WORE out. The '93 my dad used until about year ago as his work van for his carpentry business. It would run 70mph pulling a 8x16 cargo trailer in OD and not hunt for gear... Then again it's got a 3.73 rear end in it too.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 366
Likes: 1
From: Harlingen,TX
i have a 351 in a 1/2 ton and im still not impressed. I couldnt sell my 3/4 ton (351) fast enough. I made THAT mistake twice, and never again.
My daily driving of the 1/2 ton 351 regularly gets me around 7-8mpg around town, and barely out of the 13mpg on the hyway.
Ive had a 302 in a 2wd and it was super fun, it had that weird 4spd overdrive manual trans. I had a 351 and a c6, and it wouldnt get out of its own way. hard to compare a manual to an auto, but we do it all the time.
I use my trucks very hard, and expect nothing but flawless running. The efi 351 just doesnt perform like its displacement says it should. Now if we were talking a carbd 351, that would be a completely different story. Ive had plenty of those that were impressive.
My daily driving of the 1/2 ton 351 regularly gets me around 7-8mpg around town, and barely out of the 13mpg on the hyway.
Ive had a 302 in a 2wd and it was super fun, it had that weird 4spd overdrive manual trans. I had a 351 and a c6, and it wouldnt get out of its own way. hard to compare a manual to an auto, but we do it all the time.
I use my trucks very hard, and expect nothing but flawless running. The efi 351 just doesnt perform like its displacement says it should. Now if we were talking a carbd 351, that would be a completely different story. Ive had plenty of those that were impressive.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,635
Likes: 3
From: Lansdale, PA
Having owned several one ton vans with the 351w and driven a few with the 460, the power is not all that different. Expect 16~17mpg with a 351w in a 2wd truck. Expect 10 at best with a 460. If you're not hauling huge loads (10k lbs or more) with it there is no reason to go with a 460. If you need a 'beast' go for broke and get a 'stroker.
1ton van with a carb 460 c-6
1ton 4door f350 2wd with efi 351 e4od
the 1ton van will walk all over the truck and have nearly 2x the load doing it.
im building my 1/2 ton 351 as we speak, headers, mass air, intake, tb, cam, roller rockers, ported heads, and a few other things. It should wake the ol girl up... and if not, it will get a 393/408/427 stroker, and then ill just have to live with it.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,635
Likes: 3
From: Lansdale, PA
the last 351 i had, was a 97 3/4 ton, and had nearly everything replaced to make it run better. besides can and headers, everything was new to try and get the thing to be more impressive... but didnt help as much as i was in hopes of. It was a great truck, but choose my 270k mile 460 over it as often as i could.
I gotta say though, I yanked a 300-6 out of a 92 1/2 ton 4x4 xcab shortbed, 5spd, and swapped in a 351, That thing was darn fun, but wasnt completely stock.
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 306
Likes: 5
I had an 84 stepside with a 300-6 4spd and it would pull a car trailer with a car on it and get 16mpg. It worked, but barely.
Here's my new formula that works much better:
BIG TRUCK + BIG MOTOR + BIG TIRES = BIG SMILE
Oh yeah, I forgot- Chicks dig it too!
Here's my new formula that works much better:
BIG TRUCK + BIG MOTOR + BIG TIRES = BIG SMILE
Oh yeah, I forgot- Chicks dig it too!
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,635
Likes: 3
From: Lansdale, PA
Naa
I like efi. I like carb also but I nearly refuse to go backwards in technology.
Go to junkyard and pickup everything for mass air swap for $100.
Spend a weekend putting it all in.
You are now ready for fun.
Cam swap is more money and lots of time, but if you were to go carb, you'd still be swapping the cam.
Ported heads, or gt40 head swap, same as above. After mass air swap you can do nearly any mod you want, and it will compensate for most of it. It won't give you 100% it can until tuned, but you'll be very happy.
I say a carb is good for a toy or a truck that's been hacked up severely under the hood.
I like efi. I like carb also but I nearly refuse to go backwards in technology.
Go to junkyard and pickup everything for mass air swap for $100.
Spend a weekend putting it all in.
You are now ready for fun.
Cam swap is more money and lots of time, but if you were to go carb, you'd still be swapping the cam.
Ported heads, or gt40 head swap, same as above. After mass air swap you can do nearly any mod you want, and it will compensate for most of it. It won't give you 100% it can until tuned, but you'll be very happy.
I say a carb is good for a toy or a truck that's been hacked up severely under the hood.