Question about 1985 460
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From: Socal
Question about 1985 460
Hi there I own a 85 f250 4X4 460 non catalyst 4 speed. It has been less than a year since I bought it. Gotta say the truck pulls hard it has lots of power, very impressive. But from my understanding 80s engines are chocked up with emissions. Looks like 460 specs are 245 HP 385 lb ft. So my question is the 460 really chocked up? I was surprised. How much power could I gain with an intake & headers. I could only imagine
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From: Northeast Ohio USA
Hi there I own a 85 f250 4X4 460 non catalyst 4 speed. It has been less than a year since I bought it. Gotta say the truck pulls hard it has lots of power, very impressive. But from my understanding 80s engines are chocked up with emissions. Looks like 460 specs are 245 HP 385 lb ft. So my question is the 460 really chocked up? I was surprised. How much power could I gain with an intake & headers. I could only imagine
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Orlando area
The bottom end on a BB Ford is very stout. The crank can handle up to 1000 HP stock. The weak link is the rod bolts. So if you were doing a mild rebuild, putting in a set of quality ARP rod bolts is a must. It's cheap insurance.
The heads have a very poor flowing exhaust port. Intake is not too bad. Some grinding work on the exhaust port is necessary to improve flow. Better yet, put on some aluminum heads (then you can bump up compression by just using a head with smaller combustion chambers).
Camshaft is not suited for any performance. You want a cam with a duration around 210 to 220 degrees (at .050" tappet lift) and a valve lift around .500".
Lastly, add a nice dual-plane low-rise manifold and 4bbl carb, and you have a nice running truck.
With just intake and headers (and a decent carb) you might see up to 10 HP increase.
The heads have a very poor flowing exhaust port. Intake is not too bad. Some grinding work on the exhaust port is necessary to improve flow. Better yet, put on some aluminum heads (then you can bump up compression by just using a head with smaller combustion chambers).
Camshaft is not suited for any performance. You want a cam with a duration around 210 to 220 degrees (at .050" tappet lift) and a valve lift around .500".
Lastly, add a nice dual-plane low-rise manifold and 4bbl carb, and you have a nice running truck.
With just intake and headers (and a decent carb) you might see up to 10 HP increase.
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
Hi there I own a 85 f250 4X4 460 non catalyst 4 speed. It has been less than a year since I bought it. Gotta say the truck pulls hard it has lots of power, very impressive. But from my understanding 80s engines are chocked up with emissions. Looks like 460 specs are 245 HP 385 lb ft. So my question is the 460 really chocked up? I was surprised. How much power could I gain with an intake & headers. I could only imagine
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From: Socal
Yes the government will pay you to junk your car IF the vehicle doesn't pass smog.But there are ways to go around this if the vehicle doesn't pass.
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Junior User
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From: Socal
The bottom end on a BB Ford is very stout. The crank can handle up to 1000 HP stock. The weak link is the rod bolts. So if you were doing a mild rebuild, putting in a set of quality ARP rod bolts is a must. It's cheap insurance.
The heads have a very poor flowing exhaust port. Intake is not too bad. Some grinding work on the exhaust port is necessary to improve flow. Better yet, put on some aluminum heads (then you can bump up compression by just using a head with smaller combustion chambers).
Camshaft is not suited for any performance. You want a cam with a duration around 210 to 220 degrees (at .050" tappet lift) and a valve lift around .500".
Lastly, add a nice dual-plane low-rise manifold and 4bbl carb, and you have a nice running truck.
With just intake and headers (and a decent carb) you might see up to 10 HP increase.
The heads have a very poor flowing exhaust port. Intake is not too bad. Some grinding work on the exhaust port is necessary to improve flow. Better yet, put on some aluminum heads (then you can bump up compression by just using a head with smaller combustion chambers).
Camshaft is not suited for any performance. You want a cam with a duration around 210 to 220 degrees (at .050" tappet lift) and a valve lift around .500".
Lastly, add a nice dual-plane low-rise manifold and 4bbl carb, and you have a nice running truck.
With just intake and headers (and a decent carb) you might see up to 10 HP increase.
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
You only need to beef up the bottom end if you are going to rev it high in the upper rpms. If you are going to drive it normally, not over 5000 rpm, the bottom end should be strong enough.
Aluminum heads are going to wake that engine up.
Aluminum heads are going to wake that engine up.
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Junior User
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From: Socal
will I be able to use the stock camshaft. And then upgrade later on ?
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From: Virginia
Yes. The new heads should make your valve train adjustable (from the factory it is not) so you can run any camshaft you choose, just redo the valve lash after installation.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 437
Likes: 4
From: SE Missouri
if you put in a straight up timing chain and gears with the intake and headers I believe you would be surprised how much better it pulls. If you know anything about porting just knock the smog bump off the exhaust side and you will be golden, but yes a better cam with all this will make it even more golden. She will definitely walk the dog.
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