Notices

460 blocks

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 2, 2020 | 10:01 PM
  #1  
lvhdude's Avatar
lvhdude
Thread Starter
|
4wd Low
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas
460 blocks

I have questions about the different 460 blocks maybe I can get some learnin' here? I have 2 1970 429 blocks, pretty sure I know that's the standard to build, short of a CJ or SCJ block. I also have a 1978 460 from a van, and a 1995 also from a van with efi. I understand that the later blocks have a taller deck height? Can they be milled down to match the earlier units? Is the deck thicker only, or are the water jackets also raised? Taller deck means different intake manifolds? Are the later units worth trying to use, or just wasted cash? Thanks!
 
Reply
Old Jun 3, 2020 | 12:19 AM
  #2  
Doosenberry's Avatar
Doosenberry
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 530
Likes: 89
Yes, later blocks have a taller deck.

Yes, they can be milled down.

I don't know about the water jackets.

Same manifolds, the decks aren't that much higher like the difference between a 302 and a 351w.

Later blocks will work fine.

What kind of HP goal are you aiming for? I currently have mild build with a D9 block and it's at 450hp.
 
Reply
Old Jun 3, 2020 | 06:05 PM
  #3  
lvhdude's Avatar
lvhdude
Thread Starter
|
4wd Low
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas
Thanks Doosenberry, you didn't say whether you had decked your block or not? Do you order pistons for the taller deck? Or just take that measurement into the calculation for compression ratio? Looking to build a torque motor for the 95 Van. Use it to haul the dirtbikes, and camp in. Racks and such like an outfitter rig, lifted to drive the backroads, not 4X4. Be nice to keep the efi, I understand it can run up to 450 or so HP? Is that another whole story? Or bigger injectors and keep all the sensors? The computer will tune? Maybe just easier to go with an old fashioned Holly mixmaster?
 
Reply
Old Jun 4, 2020 | 07:45 PM
  #4  
Doosenberry's Avatar
Doosenberry
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 530
Likes: 89
My block was what they call "zero decked". You install the crank, rods, pistons, and find out how far "in the hole" the top of the pistons sit then have that much material removed so that they sit flush with the deck. My compression ratio is somewhere between 9.5-10:1. I don't recall the exact number, but it definitely needs premium gas to run.

I would head over to 460ford.com or 429-460.com if you have a lot of questions. I'm not knowledgeable enough to give you that kind of insight, but there are quite a few legitimate engine builders over there that can advise you. There's also a lot of info already posted if you use the search feature.
 
Reply
Old Jun 5, 2020 | 10:44 AM
  #5  
mark a.'s Avatar
mark a.
Lead Driver
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,922
Likes: 153
Originally Posted by lvhdude
I have questions about the different 460 blocks maybe I can get some learnin' here? I have 2 1970 429 blocks, pretty sure I know that's the standard to build, short of a CJ or SCJ block. I also have a 1978 460 from a van, and a 1995 also from a van with efi. I understand that the later blocks have a taller deck height? Can they be milled down to match the earlier units? Is the deck thicker only, or are the water jackets also raised? Taller deck means different intake manifolds? Are the later units worth trying to use, or just wasted cash? Thanks!
No, later (D9) blocks do not have a taller deck. it's not the deck, it's the length of the cylinder. A D9's cylinder extends farther down in the block making them a good candidate for stroker cranks.
 
Reply
Old Jun 5, 2020 | 04:00 PM
  #6  
85e150's Avatar
85e150
Super Moderator
20 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,475
Likes: 2,800
Club FTE Gold Member
10.322" from '72 on, right?
Kelly hotrod - Ford Engines Page 1
 
Reply
Old Jun 6, 2020 | 02:51 PM
  #7  
Doosenberry's Avatar
Doosenberry
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 530
Likes: 89
Originally Posted by 85e150
10.322" from '72 on, right?
Kelly hotrod - Ford Engines Page 1
Yes, the later blocks have a slightly taller deck.

It's also true that the D9 blocks have deeper cylinder walls due to the cranks being externally balanced. If you try to put an internally balanced crank into a D9 block it's going to hit a lot of things.
 
Reply
Old Jun 12, 2020 | 01:22 PM
  #8  
Crop Duster's Avatar
Crop Duster
Logistics Pro
Veteran: Air Force
10 Year Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4,463
Likes: 954
From: Tri Cities, TN
Club FTE Silver Member

You say you have two 1970 blocks. Look at the casting numbers if they are D0VE blocks they are 10.300 deck and have the same main bearing webs as the Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jet the difference is they don't have 4 bolt mains. If you look at a C9VE or a D1VE you will see there is a lot more metal in the D0VE main webs. You used to be able to find them in those big old Mercury's and Lincolns but sadly most of those cars have disappeared into the crushers.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-2

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-6

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-9

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jul 31, 2020 | 01:14 AM
  #9  
Mitch Huested's Avatar
Mitch Huested
Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 85
Likes: 1
Most engine parts manufacturers, I have found, use 10.300 for their compression calculations. Contact them before you order parts to make sure though. Then calculate your compression using your head's cc's. If your block is 10.322 you can add about 5cc's or have it decked to 10.3"
 
Reply
Old Mar 10, 2025 | 02:52 PM
  #10  
lvhdude's Avatar
lvhdude
Thread Starter
|
4wd Low
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas
A bit late here, it got sidelined for a bit. I have a D1VE block, deck ht 10.300. I found one side pistons at .035 below the deck, the other side was .032-.037 ft to rr, so I am having it milled by .010. The Speed Pro flat tops (1 VR) are .005 higher than the stock at 1.890 so they should be at .020 below deck, with a .040 head gasket it gets a bit better for the quench area on my 75 cc heads. Eddys 60679. It should come in at about 10.5:1 comp.
Now I'm looking for cam suggestions. It's going in a F-5 Cobra with a T-5, Astro gear set, 3.55:1 rear gears. Going to run a carb, probably a 770-850 CFM Vacuume secondary, on a New Performer intake. As I understand there are some hood clearance issues for the 385 series in these cars. Might be the wrong forum to ask, but info transfers, Thanks.
 
Reply
Old Mar 11, 2025 | 07:44 AM
  #11  
manicmechanic007's Avatar
manicmechanic007
Hotshot
5 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 10,354
Likes: 2,588
From: Near Salt Lake City
Club FTE Silver Member

You have 2 1970 blocks? What about the cranks?
I would sure use one of the older internally balanced cranks, and the older block to build a hotrod motor with
 
Reply
Old Mar 11, 2025 | 09:54 AM
  #12  
lvhdude's Avatar
lvhdude
Thread Starter
|
4wd Low
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas
Oh yeah, complete engines. Have a couple 460s as well. latest block 1978. This one still had the nylon toothed timing gear, and it was in great shape. I have never seen one come out of a motor this good, not that I would ever reuse one. Crank is nice, just chamfering oil holes and having it polished after the balancing. Also looking for details about radiusing the oil flow into and out of the pump, and drilling a drain hole to lube the dist driven gear. I will clean up the casting rough edges when it comes back from the machine shop.
 
Reply
Old Mar 11, 2025 | 01:40 PM
  #13  
DaveMcLain's Avatar
DaveMcLain
Cargo Master
5 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 2,654
Likes: 776
Originally Posted by lvhdude
A bit late here, it got sidelined for a bit. I have a D1VE block, deck ht 10.300. I found one side pistons at .035 below the deck, the other side was .032-.037 ft to rr, so I am having it milled by .010. The Speed Pro flat tops (1 VR) are .005 higher than the stock at 1.890 so they should be at .020 below deck, with a .040 head gasket it gets a bit better for the quench area on my 75 cc heads. Eddys 60679. It should come in at about 10.5:1 comp.
Now I'm looking for cam suggestions. It's going in a F-5 Cobra with a T-5, Astro gear set, 3.55:1 rear gears. Going to run a carb, probably a 770-850 CFM Vacuume secondary, on a New Performer intake. As I understand there are some hood clearance issues for the 385 series in these cars. Might be the wrong forum to ask, but info transfers, Thanks.
The thing about the deck heights on factory blocks is that the height figure is pretty "nominal". The factory didn't control that all that closely on production blocks. The 460 in my truck is built in a '69 block and with a KB dished pistons, stock rods and stock stroke the pistons are + about .005 with a block that has not been milled. As far as structural differences go on the 429/460 blocks it really makes no difference what so ever under about 800 horsepower with a 4.500 or less stroke. A skinny web 2 bolt block will have no trouble.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
OrangeJuice
Big Block V8 - 385 Series (6.1/370, 7.0/429, 7.5/460)
18
Jan 21, 2018 04:13 PM
wantaford
Big Block V8 - 385 Series (6.1/370, 7.0/429, 7.5/460)
1
Nov 8, 2004 10:36 PM
rmcgraw351
Big Block V8 - 385 Series (6.1/370, 7.0/429, 7.5/460)
1
Dec 4, 2003 01:55 PM
bolo4u
Big Block V8 - 385 Series (6.1/370, 7.0/429, 7.5/460)
44
Apr 14, 2002 08:12 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:37 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-1
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-2
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-3
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE