Hey I'm sure it s been asked lots. But I have a 77 f100 step side it had a 302 I pulled. I be been thinking on what to put back in. I be been thinking a 68 69 351w if I can find with a c6. Or seeming if I can find a 429 460 with a c6. Stock off the start is fine I d do it put over time. The truck will be a week end truck something that can be quick and mpg does nt really matter. So what's pro con s between the two? Cost to buy parts cost? Weight to power? Any thing else. Thanks guys

 

There is no replacement for displacement. If you have a budget of 2 grand you will always get more bang for the buck if you are starting with more cubes

 

How are the big block of performance parts cost to small blocks?

 

Big block parts are on par with small block parts. You will not see a huge difference in price. As stated there is no replacement for displacement. You can spend a lot of money to get power from a small block but starting with a 460 is much better. You should be able to find a 460 for cheap as they made them for a very long time. I would not be so worried about the years. I am not familiar with some formalities of the 460 (possible some years had some really poor flowing heads? Do some internet research.).

Headers, intake, and maybe a cam at some point will make good power with a 460 without buying aftermarket heads.

Finding a 69W block is going to be really really tough and very pricey. And you may not be happy with the results. Plus they were designed for leaded fuel.

 

If fuel economy isn't a factor and its going to be a weekend truck, you might as well go big. Parts will be pretty close as far as price and availability.

My advice for a moderate 460 would be as follows

Intake and 750cfm carb to get everything flowing in USED $200-300

High pressure oil pump. It is my understanding that these engines have a problem with oil distribution. $37 new from summit

A big cam to gain power and some thump. New valve springs are a good idea and may be required depending on the cam. $150 for a generic cam, or $500 for a comp cam kit with timing chain.

Headers to help flow $200 used and $8 for a rattle can of paint.

IF you don't mind to take the heads off have them milled down to gain compression and avoid buying pistons. While they are off you should port and polish them to help flow. Aluminum heads are so expensive, but do make a big difference if you have the cash. Machine shop cost plus gaskets.

That build should yield a pretty stout engine with impressive torque numbers, for the money. Buying used will help bring down the price quite a bit.

 

Unless things have changed over the years, all things being equal iron heads make more power than aluminum. Of course you also gotta factor in the 35 pound difference.

 

Go big with a 460, there are so many available out there cheap.......429's are much scarcer, since they only had a short production run. One thing to consider, is a 1977 subject to emissions control/testing where you live? If not, your good to go......Im gonna assume you may have had a basically stock 77 302, probably with a 2bbl carb and some emissions crap on it......likely somewhere between 120 and 135 Hp.......
It will cost you next to nothing to get 225-250 hp out of a 460.

 

No emission s and that's what I'm leaning for. Is there better years of the 460? I ve never done a gas engine I ve rebuilt a few diesel s before. And is it better to get a truck vs a car for the brackets?

 

I'm 50-50, I run a 460 in my 79 and a 390 in my 65, but I'd have no problem with a 351W as a replacement for either. Windsor makes enough power stock, and they fit real nicely in anything. Extra room under the hood makes it easier to work on.

 

My truck had a 302 c6 factory but a "mechanic" wanted a 79, so he did the grill and dropped a 79 302 with a aod, I think he got feed up of it not working so I bought it lol, So I'd have to get a big block truck for the cross members and mounts? Any thing else I d need? And would I have to shorten the drive shaft or make it longer?

 

Not so much better years as a base line start engine rather just one year to stay away from. Don't start with a 72 429/460 as the D2VE heads where open chamber and very prone to detonation.

Otherwise if your doing anything to it at all, pretty much any of the engines where a good starting point. Yes some guys will tell you the engines with D0VE heads made more power from the factory and that is true but mainly do to straight up timing chain (which is one of the first things you should replace anyway so it's a mute point) and higher compression from the factory. Which if your rebuilding becomes a non issue as you just buy pistons to get you where you want to be.

I personally stay away from the 71 and earlier ONLY because people think that they were ssssoooo much better and they are priced accordingly. They are wrong and your paying for a year that is a non issue.

If your thinking of doing a stroker in the future look at the later blocks (79 and later) as they have longer cylinder walls and support longer strokes better. Those your looking for D9TE block casting numbers. BUT stay away from them after 87 just because the FI heads don't match up to carb manifolds.

Don't worry about trying to find one of the performance engines like the cj/scj unless your racing in a class that requires iron heads (truck pullers) and you still need stupid crazy unstreetable HP it's a waste of time and money for a start.

 

Im just curious when this has ever been the case, honestly I've never seen that said. I don't claim to know anything, so that's why Im askin

 

Iron holds heat much better than aluminum. Better combustion and possibly better scavaging effect. Now this is not to say you cant build aluminum heads better. But with porting the same, combustion chamber the same,valves the same Iron is better. How much better I dont remember, but it was a pretty substantial difference. Do a search ,maybe popular hot rod or some other mag. They can explain it better than I.

 

My two cents is everybody is wanting to do a 460 swap be different and keep the 302.
Heck I could lay plenty of rubber in my 73 F100 and it had the stock 140HP 302.
Had a 75 F100 with 302 with 4v intake and carb with towing cam. That thing would not stop roasting tires if you laid into it.
Still have a 1979 F150 with 302 and a few mods and I've ran down plenty of people with it.
Got a 1992 F150 with 302 that will go everywhere but straight when you lay into it.

 

Ya I still don t know if I should go big or small block. It s set up for a small, how are the big blocks vs small for handling and stopping any different? How are the 460 s when you have them rev ed up? And what would I need to put on in just mounts and crossmember?