Whew! Glad you found this Pro. I just stumbled across it and ruptured a blood vessel in my brain until I saw realmen's post and yours. Kind of starting to remind me of the discussion in the NW forum about the 400 vs the 460.

 

Keeping the 6 would be the best for fuel but the point is he wants the hp, and to sound like the big boys.

I have a 400ci bored 30 over and am very happy. The trick is with gas going up and showing no drop in sight find another ride to drive and save the $$$ for the weekend.

460ci are a bad bad motor when built but the cost is the ?.
My stock 400 cost me $1200.00 to rebuild and pushes a modest 350hp.
I have not put that to a test yet but it sounds good and has high torque and can run circles around my friends with their Chevy 350...

 

I may be the minority, in fact I'll just assume that title as I am not a fan of the 460 or it's 429 twin. YOu can get power, but at a weight an mileage disadvantage. I am a BIG fan of the old FE block- 390 is a tough, fast and torque worthy motor- stroke it and it's a different animal. I know the rear main is a joke but, imo, it's the only disadvantage-other than parts perhaps. I have owned built versions of both and drove an old firetruck (12 ton) with a 390hd that would not die.

I would then go to a Windsor---pre 74 (???) as a SOLID second choice as you can get it to breathe with aftermarket heads- make it similar to a cleavor and it will rock and roll to whatever tune you wish. It has a great oiling system- maybe the best- and ya gotta have oil to keep the horses alive and kicking. Leave the weight for the fuel you will need- nope...not a fan of the 460.

 

I6 power, how money do you have? I ask because swapping in that 460 is going to cost-alot. Consider the what you have-a 300, consider what you want-a 460. That radiator that the 300 used is not going to cool that 460. Those coil springs(assuming it's an F150) will not hold that 460 properly. You also need motor mounts, 385 series bell housing, and lots of other parts. Plus consider the cost of rebuilding the 460, even a bone stock rebuild will probably cost about $1200. I'm not saying don't do it, I'm saying consider the cost.

If I had the cash I'd go PSD-NOT 460. JMHO

 

The 460 gets a lot of heat here for weight, mileage and expense to rebuild. But, each motor has a ryme and reason. I pulled a 79 crew 1600 miles from Tucson to Sioux Falls S.D. a month ago and used a 77 reg cab with a 400m. It did ok. But, when I use either my 460 crew 4x4, or my buddies 2wd crew with 460, cubic inches talk. The stock 460's will hold up to any 300, 390. 351. My crew and my buddies are bone stock, except for the intake and carb. Mine has the L and L headers. I will not take that long of a trip without using my crew with 460 again.

Without putting quite a bit of aftermarket stuff into the 390's, 300's and 351's they just are not the same as what the 460's have. I have had mid 70's trucks forever, I have a whole bevy of them. Each motor has some things they are better at. But, if I am going to pull a 7-10 thousand pound vehicle 1600 miles, up and down mountains, thru citys with speeding autos, give me a 460. The 10 to 11 mpg I get with a 7000 lb 79 crewcab/460/4x4 pulling a like vehicle, in comfort and style is not to bad. Depends what your going to use it for. If you want good gas mileage, throw in a diesel (I know of a 77 F-250 4x4, the guy put in a overseas kind of 4 cylinder diesel). The truck he claims gets 22-24 mpg.
I love the 300's also, they are darn near bullet proof, but still give me my cubes to pull the big stuff.

 

I love my 460's. They are one of the best engines. If you decide to do a swap make sure you get all the accessories and brackets.

 

just got done pulling a 351 w out of my 82 bronco and droping in a 87 460
theres no replacement for cubes
good junkyard commercial duty moter $1200, remote oil filter $100. rebuilt c6 $1200,
rebuild holley carb $150, instillation $1600, adapter moter mounts $120, wiring cleanup $200, tuning for calif smog regs $200, still need to upgrade axles radiator driveshaft's/u-joints $800+.
manuvering through los angeles traffic with authority PRICELESS!!!!!!!
and age dosent change things much at 43 my other vehicle is a 93 gmc g3500 van with a fuel injected 454 that weighs app 10,000 lb. and rocks
if you can afford it and REALLY want it...
also what ever happened to destroking engines for bullet proof moters as in chevy 302's?

 

I love both motors. The 300 is an industrial engine that will outlast nearly any gas engine ever put in a truck. Most people get close to 300k miles or more before any major work. It's got more torque than any ford engine under 400 cubes (351,360,390). However, with out some serious build up, it's not a reving engine and it's not the best engine for an automatic because it likes to be lugged in high gear. But since you already have the 300, you know what it's good for. As for the 460, if you've got the time and money at 19 to build what you want, go for it. I'm 29 and I just finally bought my dream toy (A 78 4x4 camper special with a 429.) At 19, I would have been estatic with a mid 70's truck with a 300. Now that I have my 429 with L&L inframe headers, aluminum intake, perf cam, I quickly learned to appreciate the power of a big block. Since it's a toy and nearly a show truck, the mpg doesn't bother me. In fact, my future plans are to build a 514 SCJ when I fully restore the whole truck. 650hp and 600ft/lbs is my goal. If I had an everyday work truck, then I'd probably opt for the 300.

 

I owned a 300, two 351M, a 400m, 360,390, 429.

I liked the 300 the least, 390 the best and 360,429,351m in that order. The 351m is a dog unless stroked out to 400 and built low, the 429 was built and was a beast- but was not nearly as well balanced motor as the 390. The efi 300 wasn't even in the running in a 89F150 4x4 that could not get out of it's own way but did get 13mpg- Must have had some torque locked in there somewhere just never found it.

 

I think there is a balance between ci and building a particular motor inthe way it's supposed to be built to an all around machine. IMO there is no need to go to the weight and bulk of a 385 block unless you are pushing major weight. Between the 390, 351W, 400m you have all the choices you need to get from low end madness to major hp or economy.

 

Love my 460. Added a 250 gallon gas tank and now I can drive across town without refueling (just kidding, relax). At today's gas prices, a 460 or a PSD will really cost you at the pump. Lots of get up and go though. Not sure I'd spend the money to swap a 460 in there. Might consider picking up a truck with one in it already and going from there. Used to drive my dad's 300 but was never really all that thrilled with the performance. Good truck but just not my type.

 

i bought my bronco for $1000 i just sold the 351 w and c6 for $600 the truck is lifted big tires diamond plate front bumper massive wench 10 auxiliary lights all on aircraft rocker switches it has frame stiffners and skid plates not sure what it actually weighs but the 351 wasent smogable (im in ca) and the commercial duty 460 just fell into my lap

 

keep a small block man. faster revs, quicker, and a good workhorse. i dont know, im just not the big block guy. i would go for a built up 390 though. the 390 with a 4 speed behind it is a hell of a motor. some guy i met built up his 390 with a 428 crank in it and cam and yadayada and was pulling somewhere in the 425 horse range. posi front and rear and he can light all four up on the concrete.

 

Build the 460.

You are only young once, build the beast up as much as you can and enjoy it.

The 300 is nice, but not even close to the sound, look, and power of a 460. I know a lot of "old" people like the boring stuff, but bigger is better at 19 years old.

have fun and enjoy your truck whatever you decide. Just keep us posted and take a lot of pics for us.

 

I've never owned a veichle for more than 2 years, so if your like me then I would say build it the way you want and have fun doing it. I look back at some of the stuff I had and I kick my self in the *** because I got rid of it (67 Firebird). But I never look back at the boring cars that got good mileage. If the idea of droping a 460 in it sounds cool to you now, wait till you get that bad boy in there.