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I'm new to this forum but am looking for a little help. I just found a beat 1976 F250 Supercab with a big block in it. The guy says it's a 460 but I want to be as sure as possible without tearing the motor apart.
What's the story on the number of valve cover bolts? I heard something about that being used to identify but can't remember what it was.
The FE motor has the different intake/head setup right? They meet under the valve cover. Those would be like the 390. So if it's not like that it's a 460 or is there another motor built on the same block?
The other block would be a 429. I'm sure thats not the engine. You are right about the fes. i think the 460 has 7 valve cover holes. 4 on the bottom and 3 on top. I'm not a 100% sure on that.
A 76 could have had a 460 in it, and 460s have 7 bolts in valve cover. Could it be a 390 though? 390s are a "big block" of the 60s era, and 76 was the last year of production for them. Lots and lots of Ford Trucks have 360/390s in them. 390/360 or FE motors have some unique distinquishing anatomy. Easiest is: if you look a the spark plugs on a head, do two of them tilt one direction and the other two the other direction? if so an FE. The intake manifold is also strange in an FE in that it is very wide and forms about a 1/3 of the seal on the vavle cover gasket. You may well have a 460. The 429 is a close relative of the 460 and shares the same block, but I dont' think 429s were put into the trucks in the factory. In 76 I believe the engine options were : 300 I6, 302, 360,390,460.
Got over there today and it's a 460. 7 valve cover bolts and the right head/intake configuration. After seeing that I found the valve cover sticker under the dirt saying it's a 1976 460. Wish I had found that yesterday. Oh well, I'm just happy I got the motor I was looking for.
Thanks for the info and help. I'm sure I'll be back once I tear into the beast!
I need to find out what size motor I have. Here are the numbers listed on the engine. D4AE-B2A and 6C15. Can anyone help. I am wanting to rebuild it and need to know what size I've got.
Well that engine part you have was designed in 1974 (D4) & received numerous design changes ( B2A) before it was cast March 15 1976 (6C15) for use in large Ford car (A).