Hi guys. I saw Horse Power television last Sunday morning on the SPEED channel and they were doing a 460 build up. There 460 was said to be externally balanced therefore they had a large counterweight that slid on the crank snout behind the timing cover. I put together a 1972 460 that did not have this counter weight. I was wondering if this is a concern. Has anyone ran in to this or know the answer. Thanks

 

460 weighted spacer introduced midyear 1979 on F100/350's and Econolines. No 460 passenger cars after 1978.

There is no before/after production date or serial number break, as this was a running change.

The only way to know is by the block casting number: D9TE-6015-AB.

In addition to the weighted spacer, the harmonic balancer, crankshaft and flywheel are also different.

 

Later model 460's had counter balancers. If your's had it, it needs to be on there as well as the flywheel/flex plate.

 

460 block casting numbers of D1VE-6015-AB, AB1, AB2 / C9VE, C8VE do not use a weighted spacer.

As stated above, the weighted spacer began midyear 1979, the block casting number is D9TE-6015-AB

 

My casting number is D1VE-6015-AA. Not sure what the AA means. Thanks

 

No weighted spacer used on D1VE blocks, regardless of what the suffix is.

 

Thanks guys!

 

Is one more desireable over the other or not really?

 

yes and no.

if you are going to build a stroker motor, most people prefer the D9TE block as it had longer cylinder walls. the stroker kit can be either internally or externally balanced depending on what kit you order and who is doing your balancing.

other than that either the internal or external balanced engines are good engines and offer about the same performance potential to start with. just remember the externally balanced rotating assembly will fit the internally balanced blocks but not the other way around. just make sure to use the correct flywheel and spacer for your application (in other words keep the rotating assembly togather as one)

rgds
Mike

 

is it better to have the internally or externally balanced, or is that based on what your block is? Maybe a silly question, but just curious. Thanks.

 

Lot of builders like the internal balanced, because the crank is balanced more instead of adding something to it on the outside to balance it.
Neil

 

If your not going to be spinning the motor hard, then external is fine. However if your going to really turn the motor ie north of 7000 than I'd go internal.

Alan
Horsin' Around Pulling team

 

I am awaking this old post. I have been reading up on this. I have a couple questions,
Wouldn't the engine builder need the counter weight and the fly wheel when building the engine?
Can someone incorrectly install the flywheel so it is out of balance?

I ask because I have Ford replace the engine in my 92 F-350. It has a manual trans. It has a new vibration. It has the counter weight on the crank. But the counter weight is from the old engine not the new long block.

As I recall a externally balance 428 you could put the flywheel on incorrectly.

 

You're making me wonder if I reinstalled mine correctly... I know there are small weights welded on the outer ring of the flex plate and are not uniform. Because of this, I assume there is a specific clocked position. I could be wrong, and I want to say I marked mine with a file

 

On a 460 the bolt location will only fit one way, the only way they can be assembled. Impossible to incorrectly install a properly manufactured component. Same on front hatchet weight, key way.