This coming spring I plan to start building a 460 for towing. 1985 F-250 HD rated for ~15,000lbs IIRC. Bumper towing as I am not a fan of 5th wheels. Currently running a C6 with 3.55 gearing but looking into a ZF5 swap. If that changes requirements for the build then assume it will be mated to a ZF5.

Wanted some input from anyone that has done a build or part swaps for towing. I have a short list running from little research and various engine builds I have seen. Nothing has been big block related though. If I get a good enough parts list, I can start looking out for deals and stock up. Would do it now but my garage isn't heated.

The only thing I know so far is that I want low rpm torque. Only have a couple specific products chosen but still a lot other items left to fill in.

• FiTech EFI setup along with what other fuel related items they recommend. Seen enough usage of these systems and I am sold.
• Cloyes Original Race True Roller Timing Set. To get back to straight timing.
• Canton Racing Main Cap Girdle. Sure I can live without it but I like the idea of bullet proofing.
• ARP hardware throughout.

So what I really need is parts to put together a long block. Not afraid to spend some money but would like to come in under $10k. Otherwise I would go have a custom crate engine built but that isn't as fun.

 

Well, make sure you have the good rods with the football bolts, I would think if all cast iron look for 9-9.5 cr and if aluminum heads look for 10:1 or so cr. An intake and cam combo for 5000 rpm would probably really snort. I like how the old dove head castings perform while towing, but wath that you get a later block or CR might be too high.

 

I did read that the D0VE heads are the ones to ****** up if you come across them. Mainly due to emissions not being in play at that time.

Watched a great series of videos explaining all that parts of a performance engine build like compression ratios, dynamic ratios, cam specifications, etc. Gained quite a bit of insight and feel better about building myself.

I'll come back as I get a parts or discussion comes up.

 

yeah, just remember that for towing compression can't really be anything over 10:1 and should be under. This is attainable so long as you use a d9 block with tall deck.

 

Gotcha. Thanks!

 

Pulled the motor and tranny out of the barn today to store in the lean-to off of the shop. There is a metal bench in there that should be good for tear downs. Made some progress after a couple years of slacking off, but I am sure that is how most builds go.

Here are some exciting pictures of the doner motor in transit.



Had to sling the motor all the way forward on the boom. Poor girl doesn't have the hydraulics for anything else.

 

gettin er done

plans still the same?

use an efi460 timing chain, they are striaght up

 

I have increase my ambitions with the EFI. I want to do a Holley Dominator and get a sequential timing setup. I will have to see what I can run for an intake manifold. I get various opinions about running injection direct to the port or at the throttle body. Again, MPG is not the focus of this build and could probably achieve the same results with a carburetor but a 460 with Holley Dominator is not common. I like doing things not so common / border overkill

With the dominator's bountiful I/O options, I pretty much want to add everything I can; crank position / rpm, cam position, speed, gear, fuel pressure, etc.

Also been following Banks' Monster Gauges. Like how they are looking at mass air density and using that to calculate HP / torque on the fly.

Internals and whatnot I will probably leave to an engine builder to spec out for me. Like the girdle is totally not needed but thought it was cool to have.

I plan to start tearing the motor down soon and will get some pictures up of that.

 

Awesome look forward to