Time for upgrades!!
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 273
Likes: 5
From: Bardwell Tx
Time for upgrades!!
Mornin!!! It has been a few years since I poked my head around FTE!!!! I completed my build and have been enjoying my truck thoroughly!!!! Butt.... I know it has more to offer!!
Basics... (all rebuilt pre-covid)
76 F150 460 w/C6, 2.75's (with Tru-Trac) out back, Edelbrock Pro Flo 4 EFI and Cam Research Cam (See Attachment)....
I've been speaking with a trusted local builder about what to do to wake this joker up!!
First suggestion was to change rear end ratio from 2.75 to something around 3.25....
Second suggestion was to swap out the very mild cam for a Comp Xtreme Energy 230/236 Hydraulic Flat Cam for Ford 429,460 - COMP Cams®
or COMP Cams *****' Thumpr 234/249 Hydraulic Flat Cam for Ford 429,460 - COMP Cams®
What thoughts and opinions do yall have.... I dont have the motor build specs (wife burned them in the divorce!!!) however; I spoke with the builder and he stated with the second cam... I should be at least 550 at the flywheel
Basics... (all rebuilt pre-covid)
76 F150 460 w/C6, 2.75's (with Tru-Trac) out back, Edelbrock Pro Flo 4 EFI and Cam Research Cam (See Attachment)....
I've been speaking with a trusted local builder about what to do to wake this joker up!!
First suggestion was to change rear end ratio from 2.75 to something around 3.25....
Second suggestion was to swap out the very mild cam for a Comp Xtreme Energy 230/236 Hydraulic Flat Cam for Ford 429,460 - COMP Cams®
or COMP Cams *****' Thumpr 234/249 Hydraulic Flat Cam for Ford 429,460 - COMP Cams®
What thoughts and opinions do yall have.... I dont have the motor build specs (wife burned them in the divorce!!!) however; I spoke with the builder and he stated with the second cam... I should be at least 550 at the flywheel
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 2,212
Likes: 322
From: Central Florida
Prices post covid may shock you. Assuming that the rebuild was to stock specs, you can do well by focusing on the top end: cam, intake, heads and exhaust. All of these parts need to complement one another in order to get anywhere near 550 at the flywheel. There are kits on offer that purport to have done all of this thinking for us. Most of these assume a carburetor but EFI systems are also available and should be considered though they will generally cost more.
Good luck in this and please keep us apprised of your new adventure.
Good luck in this and please keep us apprised of your new adventure.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 273
Likes: 5
From: Bardwell Tx
Prices post covid may shock you. Assuming that the rebuild was to stock specs, you can do well by focusing on the top end: cam, intake, heads and exhaust. All of these parts need to complement one another in order to get anywhere near 550 at the flywheel. There are kits on offer that purport to have done all of this thinking for us. Most of these assume a carburetor but EFI systems are also available and should be considered though they will generally cost more.
Good luck in this and please keep us apprised of your new adventure.
Good luck in this and please keep us apprised of your new adventure.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 138
Likes: 34
From: Rockaway Beach, Missouri
Cam, heads and headers if you don't already have them. If you change cams, do yourself a big favor and go roller. The new oils lack zinc and other anti-wear ingredients that make flat tappet cams have a shorter and much harder life than days gone by.
Side note: how do you like your pro flo 4? I am getting mine soon, just curious what an actual user thinks.
Side note: how do you like your pro flo 4? I am getting mine soon, just curious what an actual user thinks.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 74
From: Hartford, AL
Without substantial head and compression quench 550 is a not happening. All need to work in unison.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 1,310
From: Pryor, OK
I've also heard that the Thumper Cam is made for the sound, not the power. Not saying they don't add power, just not the massive power that people think they are getting. Below is a good forum to give you a reference of what it takes to make power at different levels. I wouldn't take the info as gospel, but it will get you in the ballpark.
460 Horsepower Chart (revised 1/24/09) | 460 Ford Forum
460 Horsepower Chart (revised 1/24/09) | 460 Ford Forum
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,233
Likes: 297
From: Kenner,La.
460
In addition to engine work also consider having the wide ratio gear set added to the transmission. With a 3,25 or a 3.50 axle ratio it really will wake up even a stock engine. Stay away from loose converters, a good 460 has enough torque for the street.
Check out the 385 site, there are plenty combinations that you should look at before you start spending $.
Check out the 385 site, there are plenty combinations that you should look at before you start spending $.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,238
Likes: 475
Gears would wake it up more than anything else, other than maybe nitrous. Unless you do alot of long distance driving I'd say go to a 3.55+ ratio. Mustangs regularly run a 3.73+ gear for performance and they're lighter than these trucks, so we need more gear to get similar acceleration. Something like a 3.90 or 4.10 would really makes it scoot. Once you do gears, you probably won't want to do a cam, at least for awhile. The cam choice will also change with taller gears, so it's better to do it after.
One of your other posts says they did head work and put in flat top pistons, do you know the compression ratio? If it's at 10:1+ and had the heads ported, you might want to consider spending the money on a hydraulic roller cam to get the most out of it.
One of your other posts says they did head work and put in flat top pistons, do you know the compression ratio? If it's at 10:1+ and had the heads ported, you might want to consider spending the money on a hydraulic roller cam to get the most out of it.
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 1,310
From: Pryor, OK
I'll agree with speedfreak78 about the gears. I changed the gears in my truck last spring, from 3:55 to 4:56 with a posi. I was running 33" tires, now 35" tires. The lower gears were a huge difference compared to the engine work I did. I think it was less than $700 total to regear my back axle. Would have been less than $300 without the posi.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 273
Likes: 5
From: Bardwell Tx
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 273
Likes: 5
From: Bardwell Tx
10.5:1 Compression
Worked Heads (he stated that this generally means full port/polish/clearanced for the valves)
Owner suppled cam, springs and retainers
Stock rods/crank
Mahle Pistons/Rings/valves but didnt have the specifics
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 363
Likes: 108
how many RPMs do you want to turn... that would answer how to go about this. both the cams you shared list an operating range above 1800 rpm (1800 with the extreme energy and 2200 with the thumper) generally a cam isn't going to do much for torque or HP below say 3-3500 rpm so if you're going to drive it more truck like and not turn high rpm, gearing is where it's at. gearing will be the best bang for the buck for perceived power anyways. if you want to run higher RPM, the extreme energy has more lift and a better operating range IMO but honestly i don't know how duration and lobe separation really play into it by looking at the numbers.
low end torque and HP is pretty tough to increase in general... a stroker kit would be where i'd look for that.
low end torque and HP is pretty tough to increase in general... a stroker kit would be where i'd look for that.
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