What sort of performance gains will a jet chips performance module give my 89 460? Will it lower the engines lifespan or increase it? Is it even worth the money?

 

i don't beleive it is even worth the money, try advancing the timing to around 10* put a good k&N filter in it pull out the restriction peice in your intake tube (if you have one) headers and 2.5in or 3in exhaust any you will be happy and if not toss on some kasse p51 heads with small chambers victor manifold and 1050 dominator carb THEN you will be REALLY happy

 

Complete waste of money, advance your timing for free by twisting the distributor.. base is factory set at 10 deg so try 12 and then 14deg if you don't get any audible pinging under load. Then anything you can do to let that beast motor breath a little better will deliver more power to the ground.

 

Please elaborate on this: "restriction peice in your intake tube". What is it? Where is it?

I have a 89 with a 460 too.

 

He's talking about the stock venturi tubes between the intake filter and the throttle body. You know the plastic thing that connects all four tubes together? Well anyways mine does not have anything inside them they are hollow.

 

I know it increases horsepower, but are there any side effects to increasing the timing?

 

The only negative of increasing timing is that it can make the engine more detonation prone if you try to go too far, and if you then drive it while it's pinging away you could easily blow a hole in a piston before too long. All modern EFI systems.. meaning those newer than what comes in our trucks, apply as much timing as the motor will tolerate at all times using a knock sensor to determine the onset of detonation. So the bottom line is more timig is better, it'll deliver more TQ and HP and better milage, the trick is to find the setting that delivers maximum gains without impacting engine life. For most engines of this vintage that typically falls somewhere between 10-14 deg, though there are exceptions on both sides of that range.

 

So if i go from 10 to 11 it's not going to hurt anything then? i'm safe?

 

You're safe as long as you don't let it "ping." Can't play the stereo loud, unless you're sure, from experience, you're not over-loading it for the timing you've selected. One extra degree isn't much but still-you should listen, as was suggested, and see how it does.

Going to premium gas will allow more timing, too.

Towing/big, long hills should not be run with timing advanced past stock, IMO, unless you're sure you can detect detonation.

 

OK.. so maybe I made it sound too risky, it's not really. It's safe to experiment with some setting, 1 degree won't make much difference that's why I suggested 2 deg increments. Try setting it at 12 and drive around for a few days, take it on the highway, put a load on it, and keep an ear out for any unusual noises from the engine. If everything is good try a couple more degrees, if you then hear some pinging simply drop it back a degree and try again, you won't kill your motor in 5 minutes, some engines last years with heavy detonation problems.

 

You can use a MSD timing control box , then you can change your timing with a dash mounted **** , but you need the ignition box as well . Lew