1989 460 modification questions
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Posting Guru
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From: Malvern, Ohio
1989 460 modification questions
Is there anything I should worry about with the computer when choosing mods for this year of the 460? Will this computer system limit me to just exhuast system/porting of heads or will I be able to put a camshaft &/or intake manifold on it also if I choose?
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Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Virginia
Unless your truck is equiped with mass air you will need to stick to a very small cam. An rv style with around .500-.510 lift. Lobe seperation of at least 114 degrees or more. The batch fire injection is not very friendly to cam changes or overly ported heads. Without mass air you will not get to much of an advantage with the added airflow. I have a 88 FI 460 with factory electronics my cam is a 282/292 506/506 with a 116 lobe seperation. It is a factory Cobra Jet cam from a 70 CJ motor. It works very well. I would not want any more cam in it than this. Idle problems would probably be an issue.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Malvern, Ohio
Ok, well I wouldnt be porting this thing extremely. I would just be smoothing everything out on the exhaust side. Thanks for the cam info. I am just checkin out possiblities with an early fuel injection system since I have read other posts the computer systems of early days don't like drastic mods so I wanted to make sure before spending moolah.
Thanks Hotrod, have a good one.
Thanks Hotrod, have a good one.
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From: Virginia
Like I said in my earlier post. I have a very small cam the truck runs great with lots of power. If it wasn't for the price of fuel I would drive it daily. Any bigger cam and I think it would be considered a weekend ride. The factory FI on these models just isn't a happy camper with any modifications. You can only get away with small changes. Post how your project ends up. 
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Posting Guru
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From: Malvern, Ohio
Another question...... would putting aftermarket parts in a 90s 460 be just as cumbersome because of the computer or would the computer be more forgiving? again I assume it depends on the induction system but did they go to MAF system for all or not?
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From: Virginia
I have heard that some California models were Mass Air equiped, I have never seen a factory one. The short blocks are just about identical from the early to late models. The FI heads and intakes are completely different from the carb. ones. All FI computers that are speed density are about the same. There may be some slight programming changes from factory, they all run about the same.
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