My old 78 F250 Camper Special has 330,000 hard miles on it and it's time to rebuild the motor and tranny. This old truck has faithfully hauled our Lance 990, pulled our boat, various trailers and everything else we could throw at it for the past 15 years that we've owned it.

I'm looking for tips on parts sources and possible modifications/upgrades. It needs to be CA smog legal so mods will be limited. My main concern is the Motorola carb, I'd like to replace it if possible but can go with it if necessary. I'll also be looking for a new radiator, power steering unit and A/C and I'm interested in the possibility of an add-on overdrive but only if there is something out there that works and is as trouble free as the original equipment has been.

Thanks in advance for any advice and tips

Ford Trucks Rule!

 

I just did what your faced with now so this is just my own 2 cents. The 3 practical choices for overdrive for you are gear vendors, an E4OD, or a 5 speed manual. Listed in that order the gas mileage gets better with each choice but so does the amount of work to install and also the cost. An important point to remember with the gear vendors is although it is a great unit, it is still behind the C6 which is not a lockup converter so mileage will not be what you hope but will be better than the 1 to 1 final of the C6. An E4OD will be somewhat more expensive and you will need the electronic shift module/harness from Baumann engineering unless you score one from a used truck. Lastly, if you go with a 5 speed manual conversion like I did you will spend the most money but also get the best gas mileage. I put in a NV4500 and it was a whack of cash and alot of work but Im getting 18 mpg highway now with a new 460,edelbrock/ and 3.73 rear end. Overall the gear vendors is much simpler and easier to install and will give you 6 forward speeds. If you just want to get it done do the gear vendors, if you want a lockup automatic do the E4OD, if you have tons of time and money and can lay your truck up along time convert to manual. Good luck

 

skyguy

Thanks for the feedback. I had no idea that I had so many options available. I also never dreamed in my wildest fantasies that I'd ever be able to milk double digit mpg figures out of this setup with a gas 460. I'm very interested in this option.

My situation is this: I'm a serious gearhead, mostly airplanes and Italian sportscars but I have a deep respect for the American V8 and look forward to rebuilding my beloved F250 (I really like rebuilding motors) so I'm willing to have it down for some time and to put some money into it. I've already looked at the replacement options and to get a truck to haul that 3400 lb Lance well, it wouldn't be cheap.

So I'm gonna Google what you just gave me but reserve the right to pick your brain if I decide to go the 5 speed manual like you did. It sounds like it would be worth it since I want to take this rig up to Alaska next year and with oil headed to $70/bbl I could sure live with 18 mpg. That would be ****.

kcabpilot

 

Im an airplane guy too but dont get me started on that. Converting from automatic to manual was alot more work and money than I first thought. I didnt count on new carpeting and exhaust and the clutch linkage needed to be bought new cause the junkyard stuff is all worn out. Take a good look at your truck and make sure you are committed to it for the next decade or two if you sink that much money in it. In my own case even though I have new engine, tranny and such you still have problems pop up on a 30 year old truck, so plan on working on it the rest of your life. If I had to do it again I think I would do the E40D for it's lockup feature, but any E40D you get needs to be a 95 or later cause prior to that year they had alot of trouble with them-you need to have all the mods and upgrades. The other drawback to a manual is that if your a coffee addict like me you have to keep setting the cup down to shift.

 

i would sugest the us gear overdirve insted of the gear vendors. seems to be more stout and can shift under power but thats my $.02 and good luck with the build

 

Wow, a lot going on here. I take a couple of days off and my thread gets buried on page 4.


Anyway - I sobered up, did some research and thought about what I'm really gonna do with this truck and I've pretty much decided that I'm just going to rebuild the stock setup. I mean, it's worked fine for the past 15 years. I know the fuel mileage will suck but we'll only be using it for a few camping trips, the occasional jaunt to Home Depot or the dump and maybe haul a chord or two of firewood in the winter so it's not like we'll be constantly filling the tanks. The camper is pretty big and so I don't think that an overdrive would work out all that well anyway so I'll just save the money and time and go with what mother nature gave her to begin with.

I'd still like some tips on parts sources though - any preference for rings, bearings, gaskets and other such stuff?

 

Yeah, it's one of those things where you wish you had no budget, so you can do exactly what you want without holding back. I looked at the aftermarket AOD with a high stall converter, and adapter for the 460. Seems to be a fairly simple installation, with some work involved in the TV cable mdification, but no big deal, since the fit is almost identical to a C6 as far as crossmember and such... But, that's $2500 to do as well!
Wish we were all in the bucks...
Mark

 

kcab,
you can source those parts anywhere. local parts place, mail order, summit, jegs etcs.. I bought a couple of rebuild kits from PAW in the past, they are good prices and quality parts.

 

I have a suspicion my 460 has been rebuilt, but I can't confirm. I found a double roller chain set in there when I replaced it (I was doing a water pump gasket and oil pan gasket anyway, so thought I would plan for timing set... It was loose, so good measure!)
If I have stock pistons, I am guessing I will get 9.3:1 compression ratio with my D0VE C heads. No idea what that will do to power. When it comes time to rebuild the engine (no sign of wear anywhere), I may throw some flat tops in there so it is 1971 specs... Heck, I may replace them anyway, when it comes time to retire the body of the truck! (that day is coming soon, poor thing)
Mark

 

I'm planning to rebuild the 460 in my '78 F250 but it's got 380,000 miles on it so I'm sure there are going to be issues (new cam, pistons, lifters, valves, guides, springs... Maybe need to bore out the block and turn down the crank, I won't know for sure until I get it torn down.

My question(s) are about sources for good parts and what about the option of a crate motor? Are they available? I see some 460's but they are high buck performance engines. This is a Camper Special and it hauls a big honkin' Lance cabover. We go up to the mountains and such a few times a year and I haul the usual stuff to the dump once in awhile and hit the Home Depot but I don't want to spend eight grand on a motor for the lovely old beast. I'd like to get this done for around $2500 if possible counting new radiator and steering box.

All thoughts and feedback welcome. I'm going to start pulling it apart in about two weeks.

 

flat tops would not be stock in a 71 spec, typical flat tops in a .030 over 460 with DOVE heads will be slightly over 11:1 and not be very streetable, or at least not going to get away with pump gas, and thats leaving the pistons down in the bore .010.

 

kcab, 1st look at the parts sponsers here. They invest their resources here + we get to enjoy a free website in return.
Any size crate motor is a sizable chunk of cash. My .02 cents. You know motors. Tear yours down, check it all out. Updated cranks + cams are very affordable now. With your experience, you will know what will be reusable.
Check out Scotties website. He has some very affordable upgrades + suggestions. Also check out 460ford.com. Great group of fellas + they only talk 460's.
Your needs closely resemble mine. I'm upgrading the cam, carb, ignition system, pistons (because the cylinders had to be bored 30 over.), lots of porting on the heads. Scottie is a west coaster like you + understands smog stuff.
When I'm done, I hope to have a 450 hp / 460 that runs on pump gas. Hopefully, a refresher will fix you right up, leaving most of that $2500 available for all the head work, cam, carb. Shoot. I forgot to mention exhaust. Upgrade to L+L headers if you can. They are pricey, but well worth it. Also upgrade to a double roller timing set, set at 0 TDC. (If the smog rules will let ya.) BFEvans Ford has them ready to ship. Lem Evans is a great 460 ford guy.
With these mods, running factory gears + tires, 2wd, you should be able to get 12-16 mpg + pass some Chevy's up those "hills".
Again, buy from the listed vendors here. Do lots of research here + at 460ford. + happy motoring.
firewoodtruck