hello all can someone tell me why ford didn`t put 460`s in 73-79 f150 4x4`s,i was told the biggest motor you could get was a 400m thanks

 

ford was being stupid was the only thing i could come up with!

i think maybe emmisions had something to do with it.

 

I would guess that they (Ford) didn't realize the there would be a market for them in those years. Later, after many people were doing the conversion with lincoln engines, they did start with factory 460 truck engines in the 4x4's. It was the early mud boggers, vw crushers and rock crawlers that deserve the credit for the awakening by exposing the buyers desire.

 

I would think back then, that the oil crisis was on and they couldn't get enough MPG to justify putting one in there. Most buyers back then were somewhat concerned with gas mileage as they are today.
I am sure that a gas guzzler tax would have been required if they had that back then.
It's all about the EPA and politics.
Jimmy

 

I think my f250 4x4 w/ a 460 gets better mileage than my f250 4x4 w/ a 360. That stock 360 really sucks the petrol

 

Might have been a weight issue. Whe you go boggin, you do not want a real heavy motor, it will weight you down too much, that might have been their thinking.

 

My opinion, and that's all it is, is that Ford limited the engines as they did because of warranty issues. They were responsible for repairs until the warranty expired and thus their risk was greater with a bigger engine. This policy continues today in my own opinion, note all the aftermarket hop-up kits showing large horsepower gains for the newer engines. I can just imagine the beancounters' furrowed brow at the thought of a warranty on a 460 powered F-250 4x4 with a 2 speed transfer case being driven wide open by a 'don't give a hoot, its under warranty' idiot. A power train is only as strong as it's weakest link, hence..little tires and weak engines.

 

i see some good opinions as to why ford did not offer the 460 in the 4X4 and i will go ahead and add mine. i think the 460 was not an option due to engineering. the 460 is a fairly tight fit in the 4X4's due to the frame designs and chassis component locations and i think ford decided it was not worth the investment for the limited market. they would have had to tool up a lot of parts and probably did not anticipate a large return (it would have been a different set of parts for each chassis style). if you look at what a 460 swap entails you will see it involves a lot of stuff and even if you are using a kit it does not leave a lot of room around components. i have a 460 in my 77 1/2 and the oil pan is less than 1/2 inch from the front crossmember and i have banged up a few oil filters and front driveshafts. the thing i really hate is the way the PS pump fits as i think the pulley is just way too close the steering box. it has never rubbed but i don't like it at all. hawkrod

 

The 460 was available in the 2WD trucks way before the 4WD trucks. This still baffles me. Not to mention integral power steering was offered in 2WDs before 4WDs. Who knows?

 

Heavy Haulers are all 4x2 or 6x4. 4x4's were not originally intended to haul heavy trailers, and they have lower weight ratings as a result.

 

Quote: I would think back then, that the oil crisis was on and they couldn't get enough MPG to justify putting one in there. Most buyers back then were somewhat concerned with gas mileage as they are today.
I am sure that a gas guzzler tax would have been required if they had that back then.
It's all about the EPA and politics.

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I dunno if that is the reason Jimmy.

Ford didn't seem to have a problem building a 2x4 Camper Special with a 460 and they got about 8-10 MPG

 

That may have been a weight/payload thing there. They used the hogblock to counteract the weight that hung out to the bumper that was extended way out.

 

I second the drive train theory. You could already do damage to the dana 44 with what came from the factory. Ad a BB and you have scattered parts every where.

As for ford not wanting to retool. They made a 4X4 van and it had a 460 in it. I have only see two of these in my life. I read someting on them once but I can't recall what it was that I read.

The odd part about the 4X4 van was it had to front pumkins instead of one. Talk about retooling something. I think the van has a dana 60 rear axle. Not an F150 but ford did make an odd ball item. Maybe the two pumkins had something to do with stregth?

 

ford did not make the 4X4 vans. the van conversions were made by a private company from regular 4X2 vans. i have never seen one with two pumpkins but out here the 4X4 vans are pretty common and i know of at least a half dozen just in my neighborhood (i live in the CA desert). also, when ford did start offering the 460 the trucks still had the 44 front axle so that could not be the issue. hawkrod

 

Learn something new every day. Kind of like my centurion bronco?

The first one I ever saw I can not recall if it had the 44 or the two pumkins. The used dealership by my house had a parts van and it was a 460 4X4 with the two pumkins. I tried to buy it for motor parts but he wanted to much for it. it has since be moved along.