I've got a 78 460 I'm putting a list of materials together for a build up. The engine will mostly be stock.. Only aftermarket accesories such as manifold, headers \, etc. No internal changes.

I am currently running a Holley 4 bbl (p/n 0-804572) with no problems.

I have read alot about the new truck avenger and was wondering if it's worth the 400+ bucks. Also, is it pretty much plug and play like with most other holleys?

I like what I ahve been seeing in the advertisements, but I would hate to spend that much on something that's not worth the money.

Any inputs is appreciated....

Mike

 

Mike,

I have seen an installation on a '79 460 owned by one of our associates in the Huntsville, AL location. He gets all the benefits of fuel injection and said it was a breeze to install. If I could just get him to sit at a computer without having a apopleptic fit due to fear that he'd screw it up, he'd be a great member of this board. He also installed an overdrive box behind his 4 spd transmission. Other than the engine, I'm not sure anything in the truck is factory original. He sat in a 2000 F250 and liked the seats so much he went and found a wreck and fitted the seats into the '79.

 

I also have purchased a 770 truck avenger Holley for my basically stock 460 (other then Edelbrock Performer Cam, Intake, & headers). I would like to hear of other folks experiences with this carb in the future. I haven't installed mine yet. My truck isn't quite done from it's facelift yet so, it still has a quadrajet from a Cheby sitting atop the dual plane.

Some say it's too much for a stock 460 but, I'd rather have a little much then a 670 thats not enough. I figure I can try some smaller front jets for better fuel economy when I get it on and get it going.

Later,

 

Mike,

While I have to start with the disclaimer " I haven't used one personally..."

I have an acquaintance who is, or was, using the 770 or his 460. He has switched to a Q-Jet. He liked the carb; said it was easy to set up (though he is semi-familiar with Holleys, enough to get a reasonable tune, anyway)...but he is an avid off-roader, and said the truck Avenger didn't even perform as well as the first Holley he had, when climbing hills. Constant stalling, difficult restarts, flooding, & so on. This was important to him, thus the switch to a Q-Jet. He did get a small increase in mileage with the 770; didn't notice any power change..

I did not set up either carb for him, so I can't speak for his quality of work.

If you aren't going to go off-road, vertically that is, it might be worth a look. Also depends on your rpm range, too. The 600 you have will work fine for towing & so on.

Three mods that might be worthwhile to consider would be 1) pocket porting and reworking/removing the Thermactor bosses in the heads; 2) some sort of mild RV/towing cam, lifters, & springs; 3) an early '68-'71 timing set, or aftermarket double-roller set. The stock intake manifold, though heavy, isn't bad under 3500-4000 rpm; depending on your needs and budget, you might want to leave it till later & do the internals first. The stock cam, later timing set, exhaust manifolds, & exhaust ports all suck. Just a thought. The heads can be drastically improved with an hour or two's work, even by a first-timer.

Hope it helps, Mike (yeah, another one...the most popular name in America at one time!)

 

I ditto everything Homespun91 said. That is all. -Dale