Easy ways to improve 460 horsepower
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Manitoba, Canada
Easy ways to improve 460 horsepower
As of now i have a completely stock 460 engine from air filter to oil pan IN MY 76 f-250. I want to increase the power as much as possible on a slightly low budget. I was wondering what parts are the best to add to the engine to get more horsepower.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: West Virginia
headers, port the heads, change intake over to an edelbrock air gap or something similar, aftermarket 600-700 cfm carb, and add a more aggressive cam and you will have more power than you know what to do with.
I'd do a compression/leakdown test first to see if what you have is worth building anyway.
But you can do all that with the block still in the truck.
Not a bad idea to add a larger milodin or copy oil pan. More oil= cleaner, cooler oil.
And there are small but measurable gains to be had in upgrading your ignition, whether to a newer style integrated distributor or just with a new cap and upgraded coil and an MSD box.
I'd do a compression/leakdown test first to see if what you have is worth building anyway.
But you can do all that with the block still in the truck.
Not a bad idea to add a larger milodin or copy oil pan. More oil= cleaner, cooler oil.
And there are small but measurable gains to be had in upgrading your ignition, whether to a newer style integrated distributor or just with a new cap and upgraded coil and an MSD box.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2010
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How cheap is cheap? Because 514 strokers are relatively cheap...under $1500. Alright, now back to reality...a 4bbl setup with a carb in the 650-700 cfm range and I prefer weiand intakes on my 460's, that'll help it inhale and lose about 70#'s. Next I'd consider a cam kit. And finally a set of headers and exhaust. You'll definitely be able to tell a difference and can be done $1500 if you buy all new parts and you do all the work.
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Sulphur LA
My 78 460 has an MSD ignition, 750 Edelbrock carb, dual exhaust with straight through mufflers, straight up timing set and RV cam. I don't know the specs of the cam. This truck will absolutely melt the tires from a dead stop with an automatic and pulls great. It wraps the speedo around as well on the top end. Much faster than I think it needs to go. It still gets as good of mileage as my friends new quad cab half ton.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,250
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From: West Virginia
How cheap is cheap? Because 514 strokers are relatively cheap...under $1500. Alright, now back to reality...a 4bbl setup with a carb in the 650-700 cfm range and I prefer weiand intakes on my 460's, that'll help it inhale and lose about 70#'s. Next I'd consider a cam kit. And finally a set of headers and exhaust. You'll definitely be able to tell a difference and can be done $1500 if you buy all new parts and you do all the work.
The headers and exhaust will make more power on a factory cam, but aftermarket cams don't make peak power without headers... so I'd do headers before cam.
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Sulphur LA
I'm just curious, as far as torque, would a straight up 514 put out more than a modded 460? Wouldn't it be like a caddy 500 or would the heads limit it? I've always wondered why can't you just build a stroker without all the extras.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: West Virginia
i doubt anyone has ever done it, but the stock 460 is choked by the OEM manifolds, both intake and exhaust.....
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Moderator
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From: Waterloo IL
I'm my opinoin a 460 with heads, cam, intake and exhaust would runs circles around a 514 with stock cam, heads, intake and exhaust. And the 460 would cost less and be easier.
Posting Guru
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i run headman headers/2.5" duels edelbrock 600 carb/manifold crane 272 cam stock heads aftermarket hei dist on my sc all the power i need to pull a 10ft camper and 18ft boat on the highway in overdrive at 2000 rpm my reg cab with the 501 scat stroker kit is another story 750 edelbrock carb/airgap intake/heads 9.5 1 pistons,headers.2.5"duels roller rockers 272 cam hei dist 8qt marine oilpan w/ rear pickup all the power i could never use [500hp] it all boils down to how fast do you want to go and how much money do you have to spend
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what would be the point of putting a 514 kit in an engine with stock ignition, heads, manifolds, and carb, though? The displacement isn't the limiting factor at that point.
The headers and exhaust will make more power on a factory cam, but aftermarket cams don't make peak power without headers... so I'd do headers before cam.
The headers and exhaust will make more power on a factory cam, but aftermarket cams don't make peak power without headers... so I'd do headers before cam.
I didn't figure the guy needed a dissertation on a stroker kit. It was meant more tongue in cheek because I knew what else would entail. But knowing how cheap, cheap is would be helpful. If 5grand is the limit, he could throw together a 514 (but if he has that coin, why not just spend the extra couple hundred from machine work and go 521).
As for cam vs. headers...I agree, I was just throwing out the typically bolt in/ons, not necessarily in any particular order.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Eldorado Ca. USA
Why stop at 521? I have heard there are larger kits out there. 
Seriously tho I would look at just doing a double roller straight up timing set from a 92-97 or 68ish 460(non retarded), look for the writeup on how to re-curve your distributor, Weiand aluminum intake and a proper camshaft for how your truck is currently set up. There is stuff you can do to your carburetor to help with the power too. Hopefully you have a non autolite carburetor? Lots of options, do your homework and dont get carried away buying stuff that is shiney but wont really do anything for you. Be honest and realistic about what you expect the truck to do and how much you can afford. Other things to consider as well is axle gearing and tire size. If you are pushing 44's with 3.55 gearing, any motor is going to feel like a slug.
How much can you afford to put into this motor?
Seriously tho I would look at just doing a double roller straight up timing set from a 92-97 or 68ish 460(non retarded), look for the writeup on how to re-curve your distributor, Weiand aluminum intake and a proper camshaft for how your truck is currently set up. There is stuff you can do to your carburetor to help with the power too. Hopefully you have a non autolite carburetor? Lots of options, do your homework and dont get carried away buying stuff that is shiney but wont really do anything for you. Be honest and realistic about what you expect the truck to do and how much you can afford. Other things to consider as well is axle gearing and tire size. If you are pushing 44's with 3.55 gearing, any motor is going to feel like a slug.
How much can you afford to put into this motor?
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,779
Likes: 3
From: Waterloo IL
Why stop at 521? I have heard there are larger kits out there.
Seriously tho I would look at just doing a double roller straight up timing set from a 92-97 or 68ish 460(non retarded), look for the writeup on how to re-curve your distributor, Weiand aluminum intake and a proper camshaft for how your truck is currently set up. There is stuff you can do to your carburetor to help with the power too. Hopefully you have a non autolite carburetor? Lots of options, do your homework and dont get carried away buying stuff that is shiney but wont really do anything for you. Be honest and realistic about what you expect the truck to do and how much you can afford. Other things to consider as well is axle gearing and tire size. If you are pushing 44's with 3.55 gearing, any motor is going to feel like a slug.
How much can you afford to put into this motor?
Seriously tho I would look at just doing a double roller straight up timing set from a 92-97 or 68ish 460(non retarded), look for the writeup on how to re-curve your distributor, Weiand aluminum intake and a proper camshaft for how your truck is currently set up. There is stuff you can do to your carburetor to help with the power too. Hopefully you have a non autolite carburetor? Lots of options, do your homework and dont get carried away buying stuff that is shiney but wont really do anything for you. Be honest and realistic about what you expect the truck to do and how much you can afford. Other things to consider as well is axle gearing and tire size. If you are pushing 44's with 3.55 gearing, any motor is going to feel like a slug.
How much can you afford to put into this motor?
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,312
Likes: 1
From: Eldorado Ca. USA
I have only seen one 429/460 with a 2V carburetor, otherwise they all came with either a Quadrajet(rare), Holley 4180, or square/spread bore Autolite 4V carbs. The 2V autolites I will run in a heartbeat, just not the 4V ones. I suppose if you know what you are doing you can make a 4v autolite work, but I stick with what I know.