Hey all, I am thinking about getting a newer truck, and I have my eye on a 97 f-250 HD with the 460 and a 5 speed. Since my online searches haven't produced enough info and since my knowledge is pre-computers, my question for anyone who knows is, what can be done to get more power from that motor without changing the Ford efi system out? What I mean is, can I rebuild the motor and add things like a roller cam, heads, and increased the compression, and still be able to use Ford's cpu for the efi without screwing up anything? Lastly, are there any aftermarket intakes that can be used with Ford's efi system on the 460? Any advice and info is appreciated, thanks.

 

Only camshaft that I know of works on the 460 EFI Speed density trucks is the comp 34-255-5 flat tappet cam.


They don't make an efi head for the 460s however one guy on here had an idea of using an adapter plate for carb intake to efi head and just flipping it over however as far as I know nobody has tried it.


Increasing the compression will be fine.

Really if you are talking about going to radical of a build you will have to probably swap to MAF or go carbed which I believe some 97 460s were MAF so I would find that out.
Trav

 

+1 I though the 1997's 460's had mass air. Check for it out.

 

My understanding is that the OBDII engines were all MAF and the EEC-IV were all SD.

Common knowledge is that all vehicles produced in '96 or later were OBDII, but common knowledge is wrong in this case. Almost all '96 and '97 F-250s and F-350s were EEC-IV (at least with gas engines, I can't speak to diesels). The exceptions (I think) were California trucks, which (I think) were all OBDII.

So, long story short, if the truck was originally purchased in California it's probably OBDII and MAF and therefore more mod-able. If it was purchased anywhere else it's almost certainly EEC-IV and SD.

 

Only the later California emission 460s were mass air

 

Not all 460's were OBD2. My 97 f350 460 is obd1 SD

 

Is your truck a california emission truck?

 

Both of my 97 crew cab long bed 4x4s
My last one was obd1
and my current one is obd1 Shipped and sold in Claifornia
Back when they were sold new they did not make the weight requirement for obd2

 

Aside from the cam, the speed density system is very forgiving to changes.

Compression, long tubes, head porting (or aftermarket), and intake porting will unleash the beast.

The late 460 efi heads, like the ones in question, are very good in terms of stock heads of that era. Full port and milling for compression will support quite a bit of additional hp.

One of the absolute best things about the 460 is its inexpensive path to huge cubic inches. 550 cube stroker kits are under 2k. Obviously not practical unless you just want the monster and have the money, but certainly something to seriously consider if a rebuild is ever required.

The hurdle when building efi 460s is the fuel supply. The 24lb injectors won't support a proper air fuel ratio at higher rpm with the above mods. There are ways around it, one of which is an adjustable fuel pressure regulator...it's barbaric but it does work, assuming the pumps can keep up of course.

You can expect 1hp per cubic inch at the crank with the above mods done properly...a wideband and fuel pressure gauges will virtually be a must, just something to consider in terms of cost.

 

But are they cali emissions?

 

He had no idea IIRC...the VECI labels are long gone. I have stated time and again, he may live in Cali. But those trucks are Federal Emission.

 

Pretty simple to look under the hood and find a MAF

 

Ok, that is where I was confused