I am about ready to rebuild the 390/C6 in my 1972 F250. I have a 428 crank to make it into a 410. I am not into racing but instead want a good tow rig that will last forever. And yes, gas mileage running empty is important to me.

I have convinced myself that fuel injection is the way to go. I keep stumbling over the fact that the late model 460s were set up by Ford for EFI - different heads, and an already engineered intake. My problem is that I have no experience with the 460.

I have looked at several and have not been impressed. The 385 series engines just do not have the "meat" of a FE block. Yet those who have them think they are great truck engines, and no one has complained about their longevity.

I do not want to start a flame war between us and those who run the 460s, but would like to hear a comparison between these engines when used in a low speed high torque application. What do you think?

 

The 460 is the newer style of building engines. Better metal in the blocks means you don't need the FE style anymore. I have both a '67 F250 with a 390 4V and a C6 and a '84 F250 Supercab Superduty with 460 4V and a C6. The 390 will still out mpg the 460 but that's because of the 3.73 gear compared to the 4.10 in the '84. EFI will get you better fuel econemy and preformance, because it adjusts to the condition at the monent. Carbs have to be set as a compromise and you live with it. The 460s in trucks are tough and powerful. I wouldn't worry about the reliability. Still you notice I still keep my FE engined truck.

 

Thanks, Bear. Do you notice any power difference between the two when you work them? Also, when you say better metal do you mean something like they put more nickel in the mix or some other basic change to the cast iron?

 

The very late FE blocks got the the new alloy too. The 460 has a bunch more torque but the 4.10 gears helps it a bunch. Since I put the 390 together with the GT cam, heads and carb it horsepowers better. The 460 truck is rated to 8,800 load and will still tow near 12,000 lbs. The 390 can't come close to that. We got the bigger truck because the camper went from a 9 1/2 footer to a 13 footer that weights 3,300 empty. Then the trailer got bigger(was a 16 foot race boat, 1200 lbs, and trailer at 650 lbs) with four quad to tow on a 16+ foot dual axle flatbed that weighs better than a 1000 lbs itself and the quads all go 500+ to 600+ lbs. Haven't had the C6 down shift by itself yet and it never drops below 55 mph with the cruise control set.

 

I am an FE fan, but it would be difficult to compare a 390 to a 460. Let's see, the 385 is a newer, if not better design, it has a longer stroke (more torque), it has a bigger bore than even the 427, comes with EFI right from the factory, and it is certainly more available. For anything from towing to Pro Mod, the 385 is going to do it easier, and likely cheaper. The only reason to use the FE is for nostalgia, or because it's what you have. I have the FE because they have more "uniqueness" than the "cookie cutter " 385s. If I were only concerned with performance, it would be a 700+ inch, all aluminum, supercharged 385 for me.

-Scouder

 

For me, it was mostly laziness. My truck came with an FE, so an FE is what I built. You can do aftermarket EFI (TBI) on an FE, but it ain't cheap.

If your not looking for a, extreme hot-rod, the 410 should be a good all around truck motor.

 

Check out the 3rd post on this one:

http://www.fordtruckenthusiasts.com/...d.php?t=324586

$2600 for EFI. Or, you will have to transplant and fiddle with the entire stock set up from an EFI 460 donor.

IMO: Build your 410 nice and strong, put a modest or even a small carb on it, and spend the EFI money on Gear Vendors OD. (assuming you're not 4x4)

http://www.gearvendors.com/

If you didn't already have the 390 and were looking at all the transplant work in mounts, crossmembers, tranny, radiator etc etc, then I'd say do the 460 lock stock and barrel.

 

I already have a 3 speed aux transmission if I need it - and there is no question that I will do EFI on whichever motor I go with. If I wanted to stay with a carb, I would keep the 410 (390 with 428 crank.)

The reason for going with the 460 would be because it already has efi heads and intakes - I would need to machine the intake for the 410, and take my chances on how well the fuel and air mixed.

My only question is if the 460 was as stout as the FE - and Scouder along with the others have set my mind to rest on that issue. Thank you.

 

Read this one (you probably already did, it's on the same page as yours) You needn't go to a 460 to get EFI.

http://www.fordtruckenthusiasts.com/...d.php?t=316615


Of course the 460 is stout, my only point is that by sticking with your FE you concentrate on engine buildup vs. all the swap issues like mounts, radiator, ps pump hookup, etc etc etc that you go through with a change from one series to another.

Good luck and Happy Motoring!

 

A 460 does not have a longer stroke than a 428 crank. 460 - 3.89 410/428- 3.98
390/406/427 - 3.78 A 460 has a bigger bore. I would stick with your FE and build it with the 428 crank, covert it to EFI if you want, and I think you will be happy. I agree with 85e150six4mtod about not having all the engine swap issues you will have more money to build your FE how you want. Gearing is a big part of all this and FE's are a great torque motor. 429/460 engines have an advantage in canted valves and a better high-RPM valvetrain along with the bigger bore. But with the RPM's your probably looking at turning an FE's valvetrain has an advantage of stabilizing the pushrods (or so I have read). I would thing that with the right bore size and good flowing heads that the above benefits on a 385 would be very debateable. With the renewed interest by consumers for the FE, aftermarket stuff is becoming more available. Plus, FE's are just neater in my opinion. Good luck in whatever route you go though.

 

I think everyone has given you some good advice. I own 4 F250's from 68 to 76 2 of them are 2wd and 2 4wd and they all have 390's in them. I also own a 1992 F350 crew cab 4x4 with a efi 460 5 speed and 3.55 gears. I have done a lot of work to the 460, headers, 3" exhaust, efi intake kit, cam and a mild port on the heads and it runs real well. I have a 25' enclosed trailer that I pull with the 92 that I have also pulled with the 72 2wd and my 69 4wd the trailer weighs 8000 loaded. The 92 has more power but all of my 390,s are pretty close to stock someday I plan on putting a 428 in one of the trucks and from what I have been told by a customer of mine that has one it will run circles around the 460. If I was you I would stick with the 410 with the right build and efi the 410 will run just as good as the 460 and as others have said you won't have all of the swap issues. I would have never bought the 92 if my wife had not insisted I needed a crew cab but I am partial to the old stuff anyway and I love the old FE stuff. Good luck on whatever you decide.

Richard

 

Well For one Annihilator the stock 385/460 has a 3.850 stroke not a 3.890" stroke and it has stock 4.362" cans in it.. It does stock build more Tq Than the FE..the stock FE is about 375 lbs at 2500rpm...and the 460 is about 425 at the same.. But with that being said... I was going to go to the 460 swap in my 70 F250...But it wasnt for Towing reason's but for Hi-po.... you have the FE in there now, Like mentioned above, Take it the next bore over to clean it up..Run your 428 crank in there to make your 410 0r 416 depending on the bore...and if you plan on running headers ? A smaller tube diameter will give you more low end torque, But cut back some on the top end... And dont open up the Exhaust ports on the heads..A cleaning of them to get rid of casting flaws is great...but if you have them ported it will make more HP but cut down on low end TQ.... I run 35 year old heddman 1 7/8" headers on my 396" ford and I lost some comp. with the 406 Heads, and run a 750 holley..and she run's pretty good.. but a 410 or 416" with smaller tube header's and bring the compression up to say 9.0 to 1....650cfm holley and an aluminum Performer intake..
And I think you'll have all the Torque you need...

Sorry guys for the book I wrote... Just My .02 cents

Russ

 

Sorry about that Russ. I just meant to say that a 410/428 crank does have a longer stroke than a 460.

 

The only reason I used an FE was because I wanted a big block that didnt weigh 700lbs and with all the aluminum it doesnt come anywere close to that.

 

Mine either. I got 511ci at around 460lbs with everything including carb, waterpump, alternator, balancer, etc...

-Scouder