So my truck is an 87, but the previous owner said the block was out of a similar year truck, so possibly a bullnose truck. I have read that the timing chain is different in the older motors and you should replace it with a double roller.

Why do people replace the timing chain in the earlier 460s?

Are there markings on the block that would tell me what year truck the motor came from?

How do i decipher them if i do find them?

Thanks
Ryan

 

the only way to tell what year the block is, is if the metal tag is still attached to the dist (i think they only used these on early engines) or the paper emmision tag on the valve cover is still there and original to that engine. that will give the year that the engine was made for. the casting number on the block will only tell you the year the block was first used not what year it was actually cast (ie D0VE block translates to D=1970's , 0 = year 1970 (D1 would be 1971) V = first used in Licoln (but doesn't mean it came out of a Lincoln) and E = engine part) some blocks were used for multiple years like the D1VE block was used from 1971 till mid 1979 when the D9TE block came out that was used till the end of the 460. there is a casting date code on the block, but i am not sure where it is exactly. it is usually a couple of letters and numbers that indicate the date it was cast on.

as far as the timing chain, the 68- 71 motors used a straight up timing chain while the newer carbed motors (72 and newer) used a timing chain that was retarded 4 deg for emissions. a popular and easy power upgrade for the newer motors is to either install an early timing chain or upgrade to an aftermarket chain to bring the cam to a straight up timing. adds noticeble hp and torque improvement to the newer engines.

rgds
Mike

 

Thanks for the info. I was wondering if there was a way to tell becuase i was going to install a double roller if it was the stupid emissions motor. I guess ill just spend the 40bucks and the time and replace it just in case it is the crappy one.

Ryan

 

another thing to mention is that the 79 and newer engines are exteranlly balanced while the 79 and older are internally balanced motors.

quick and easy way to tell which one you have is to look behind the balancer for what looks like a spacer with a hatchet looking weight. that would be an externally balanced engine. the internally balanced engines would just have a plain round spacer behind the balancer.

rgds
Mike

 

I will check that when I get home this evening. Thanks for the info.