performance boost
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2009
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performance boost
I got a 85 F-250 4X4 460 I want to beef up a little without tearing the engine down.So far the engin has a K&N airfilter,all the emmission devices are no longer there,it has a aftermarket holley 4brl not sure about the cfm,and stock exuast.I want to upgrade the exaust and go true dual since I don't to do emmissions.Would it be best to buy headers or can the factory manifolds work.I'm looking to go 3'' on the exaust.I would like to get a underpulley system for the engin,but unable to find one.I'm looking for simple upgrades for this engine.Any suggestions?
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Tennessee
headers are by far one of the best and often cheapest ways to improve HP period. Plus mating them to 3 inch exhaust will increase air flow out therefore more air coming in. you can do factory manifolds but its well worth it to buy a set of headers from Summit. As far as underdrive pulleys its a little harder to find. I've been looking for a set for my truck, but all I ever seem to find is a serpentine conversion and its hella expensive. the 460 alone is a ballsy motor and there are plenty of fairly inexpensive aftermarket upgrades available
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Tennessee
well, going aftermarket on your intake can make a huge diffrence too. you can port and polish your stock intake and heads or you can buy a high induction manifold I believe it was called. I was lookin on summits site the other day and it kinda had mini runners like the tuned port injection SBC's have. Supposed to mix the air fuel ratio better and burn better. Its all up to you and the condition of your stock mnaifold on whether you want to replace it with something shiny or what not, but there definetely are perks to a new manifold
pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,576
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From: EXTREME southwest CT
IMO,
Unless you get into the heads to bump compression and do the exhaust ports there's not much to be gained with an intake manifold.
The greatest restriction in these engines is on the exit side.......
Unless you get into the heads to bump compression and do the exhaust ports there's not much to be gained with an intake manifold.
The greatest restriction in these engines is on the exit side.......
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If I decide to do the heads,would it be easiest and cheapest to have them machined or buy heads for it.I also heard the 460 had a problem with detonation and ford had to use different heads.I also got told I could use 429 cobrajet heads for added power.429 heads look like they would turn my motor into a drag motor.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Tennessee
hell you can port the heads yourself with a dremol and a shopvac. just make sure you leave enough tolerance between the holes. As for the detonation issue, my 460 I had never detonated on me and I ran it for 200K miles, mighta had a little spark knock now and then from running crappy gas but it was great. Cobrajet heads if im not mistaken are already a form of port n polished when you throw em on a 460, but changes your head size? ( if im not wrong and prolly am ) but if it boils down to machining heads or buying new once again its the condition of the heads, but machining is by far cheaper than buying new heads.
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pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,576
Likes: 40
From: EXTREME southwest CT
The problem is a lack of quench, or squish...
Regular 429 heads will raise compression but gas isn't what it was in 1970.
CJ heads will mean you HAVE to use a different intake and headers, because the ports are radically different.
The stock 460 is a strong and reliable motor.
You can make it fast
You can make it "cheap"
You can make it last
Choose two..................
Regular 429 heads will raise compression but gas isn't what it was in 1970.
CJ heads will mean you HAVE to use a different intake and headers, because the ports are radically different.
The stock 460 is a strong and reliable motor.
You can make it fast
You can make it "cheap"
You can make it last
Choose two..................
pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,576
Likes: 40
From: EXTREME southwest CT
If you consider porting your own cast iron heads I'll tell you two things
1) Forget about using a dremel. A heavy duty Foredom at the least and a die grinder would be a big help in roughing them out.
2) Scotty the "Mad Porter" @ Re-In-"Car"-nation High Performance and Automotive Repair/index has done more sets of these heads than you will ever see. He has templates available through his website. Go over there and look around.
But IMO Camming, Decking and Porting a motor involves "Tearing it down"
and so is beyond the scope of your OP.
1) Forget about using a dremel. A heavy duty Foredom at the least and a die grinder would be a big help in roughing them out.
2) Scotty the "Mad Porter" @ Re-In-"Car"-nation High Performance and Automotive Repair/index has done more sets of these heads than you will ever see. He has templates available through his website. Go over there and look around.
But IMO Camming, Decking and Porting a motor involves "Tearing it down"
and so is beyond the scope of your OP.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 188
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From: Tennessee
yeah the machining is alot of teardown on a strong platform as is but to each is own, the scale on that one goes back n forth whether its worth it or not. to me unless its a 460 drag motor I wouldnt waste the time effort and money for a "simple" upgrade
