Alright so I'm slowly learning what the PO of my truck did and didn't do to her so well and so far I've found almost everything wrong. Loose bolts here, shorted wires there, and plenty of WTF moments abound. Just starting to address the trucks driveability issues, namely the fact that for a 460, it feels kinda sluggish. Sure I know it's powering a 4,000lb truck with a position rear end and an auto tranny, but I'd kinda think it would be a bit snappier. Especially because the 429 in my '72 T-Bird feels a lot snappier and it's bone stock.

I'm well aware of the famous camshaft retardation that Ford did to these engines when they installed the offset timing chain. I know how to see if its skipped a tooth or stretched, but is there a way to tell without disassembly if someone put in a "straight up" Pre '72 timing chain?

I question the chain because if the following symptoms (bear in mind I haven't yet checked timing, but if it was left alone then according to the valve cover it should be at 12*.

- It's a slug from the drivers seat.
- It only backfires on the highway after an extended stretch at 65-70mph. It will randomly lose power, backfire, and continue on its merry way only to do it again in maybe 20 miles.

Otherwise it runs fine! Idles decently (carb needs a rebuild), revs smooth, doesnt start hard when warm, doesn't ping, etc.

It's a 460 with an edelbrock 1411 carb on it. Verified choke comes all the way off when warm. Stock everything else. C6 trans, Ford 9" posi rear end.

Thanks!

 

The previous owner also has the vacuum advance plugged into the manifold vacuum port of the carb. I've done lots of reading as to which port is best, but when I tried plugging the advance into ported vacuum, the motor really became a turd. So currently the vacuum is plugged into manifold vacuum and that makes it at least a little bit snappier from the drivers seat.