1978 460 engine

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Jun 3, 2004 | 01:55 AM

tkondro

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Joined: Jun 2004

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From: Saskatoon

1978 460 engine

I was looking to increase the performance on an old 460 engine. I was told that they delayed the timing in these engines and that if a timing gear off of a 429 engine was used in place of the stock timing gear, it would work to advance it to boost the performance. I was just wondering if that would work?

Jun 4, 2004 | 12:56 AM

neverenough

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Joined: May 2003

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IMO, it's not really worth it to dig into the motor just to switch out the timing gear. Now, if your timing chain is bad, or you are going into the motor for other reasons (cam swap, oil leak, ect..), then it would be worth changing to the pre '72 set. It will improve performance some. From 1972 to the end of carbed 460's, the cam was retarded 4 degrees to help with emissions.

Jun 7, 2004 | 06:00 PM

scroob

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Joined: Sep 2003

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I kind of agree, but as someone who owns a 429 and was mistakenly sold the wrong gear, it makes a big difference. Retarding the timing moves the torque up in the power band. My 429 lost a lot of it's grunt but wants to scream at 80 MPH. If I even have to remove the water pump, that gear is coming out and the correct one is going back in.