I am going to build an engine for my 79 1/2 ton 4x4 pick up intended for :
1. Off road play like touring woods, hills, trails of the Carolinas
2. Competition in casual ameture mud events locally
3. On road use to drive with resonable fuel econony to off road locations
4. Budget freindly cost of construction with basic parts and factory iron heads

My plan right now will likely use my 460 block and a set of iron heads I had stock refresh already some years ago ( Not sure chamber cc of these heads but I will use fluid to verify size. These are mid 70s heads I think. ) heads were refreshed with stock valves and machined seats and stock springs.

I'm debating weather the 460 or 429 crank option would be best. I know "no replacement for displacement" but the 429 is in consideration because of possible better fuel economy and better ability to hit a fun rev. range of a cam with some higher lift and rev range than stock. My belief is a 429 built right should make plenty of torque for a unloaded 4x4 and only 35" tires. I can imagine the 429 throttle response and quick rev up to be better because of shorter stroke.

I do intend to use long tube headers, 4 barrel Holley, aluminum duel plane intake, and new electronic ignition. I'll have machine shop bore block as required to establish good bores, then provide machine shop new piston and stock rod to establish best piston to block deck clearence and to torque plate hone cylnders to piston manufacturers spec..

I'm not sure what would be best combo of 429 or 460 crank and pistons, how far down to have pistons in hole, what piston ie flat top or dished, forged or hypertectic to use, weather to have heads shaved for ideal ratio. ( 9 to 1, 10 to 1? )

This truck is 79 1/2 ton, short bed, C6 auto, 35" mud terrain radials, 3.50 gear ratio. I would want to run 87 octain gas. I don't mind giving up some fuel economy for a good sounding engine and a mean roar on the throttle. I would prefer to limit the head work to maybe poket port and removal of emission hump in exhaust port if nessesary. I would get by with stock non adjustable rockers if possible or invest roller rockers and screw in studs if I really need to.

If you have experience with a simmilar type build what would you do exactly? What cam lift and duration, compression ratio, engine size? What power level and MPG would you expect?

 

Well that makes over 100 views of my thread of people viewing a performance 385 series engine forum. I'm surprise there is not even 1 in the 100 with some feedback or experience in building such a combo. Maybe I put too much info and most people just go to next thread.

 

This is not really a "performance" forum. It's a truck site, so most here have issues other than performance. That said, there are a few running these things over 2500 rpms here, you just haven't hit one yet.

Compare and contrast your build ideas here, and wait for more reponses. BTW, build the 460 and it will rev quickly and and high as you want with the right innards.

460 Horsepower Chart (revised 1/24/09) - 460 Ford Forum