I'm new to site and found it informative. What I'm looking for is how can I imprve gas mileage on my 78 460 motor. I've been told to put in timimg chain and gears for a 429 engine will help. I want to know if I should change intakes and carburators and which have worked the best for others out there?

 

Glen, Welcome to FTE, AND welcome to the world of feeding BIG horses. Have you ever looked at the size of those horses in the Budwiser wagon hitch. Them boys are huge, now raise the hood on your 78, that aint no shetland pony in there. You are the proud owner of the largest Ford production pickup engine and it takes a lot of gas to keep that big ol boy happy. It must have been talking one of those brain dead chebby owners that suggested the timing chain deal.

The least expensive thing that you might look at is the rearend gear. You didn't say wheather you have a 1/2 ton or a 3/4, but most of those setups were on towing packages, and will have a higher rear gear than is necessery for a daily driver. Look for a tag on the gear and post the numbers back here. If it is up near the 4.00 range, you can get it towards the 3.00 range. You can change carbs, and add a lot of other items but you will never makeup for the money that you lay out. There are a lot of our guys here that just luv all of that horse power of the 460, but if mpg is what you are after a 302 with AOD, or an I-6 is the way to go.
http://www.clubfte.com/users/jowilker/USFlag.gif
John

jowilker email me
[link:www.ford-trucks.com/users/jowilker|My Club FTE Page] Member since 01 01

[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker/NCFTE.html|NCFTO] North Carolina Ford Truck Owners Group

In the cool still quiet of night, you can hear chevies rusting away.

 

It is a 3/4 ton 2 wheel drive camper special. I bought it for helping to tow my bobcat and trailer around and as a driver. The rear end looks like a Dana rearend, but I have not got underneath yet to check it out. We got snow on the ground here at this time and I'm at this time being a little chicken to lie on the ground. I only had the truck for a month. I will check the rearend out this weekend.
I want to keep this truck for a long time for it is from the original owner and he only used it for camping. It is in great shape and needs only minor TLC. Thanks for info and I will look at the backend.

 

Welcome to the site! You're right, the cam timing is retarded (literally) in these late model 460's. I put a "straight up" timing gear set in my Dad's '78 Club Wagon a while back, not a fun job in a fully optioned van. Mileage went up a little (1 - 2 mpg) but the big improvement was in the bottom-end torque. This will help your towing situation and probably make the swap worthwhile. Have read of others here doing the same swap with no discernible change, can't explain that.

Barry

 

I've been told by 2 fellas up here that they did the timing chain and gear change and it uped their mileage. Now the rear end of my truck is unknown to me. I got under it today and a jacket full of snow to boot. There was no tag on the housing. The housing looks bigger than a 9" I think it looks like a 12". The truck has those 16.5 tires on it.
I really do not want to do any rear work, but I'am considering the timing chain. I was just looking for other inexpensive ideas to also help improve. I'm looking forward to using this as a work truck that recieves TLC along the way.
I been told the carburators tend to have accelerator vavles stick open causing them to burn more fuel, unless you are doing more than 80 MPH. Is this so if anyone knows.

 

Glen, with the 3/4 ton, you have the big Dana rear, not the 9" so I think you are correct ot leave it alone. Changing the timing chain can help, but not grabbing a 429. Having someone build your carb that knows what he is doing can be a big help too.
http://www.clubfte.com/users/jowilker/USFlag.gif
John

jowilker email me
[link:www.ford-trucks.com/users/jowilker|My Club FTE Page] Member since 01 01

[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker/NCFTE.html|NCFTO] North Carolina Ford Truck Owners Group

In the cool still quiet of night, you can hear chevies rusting away.

 

I'll tell you what, you send it over here, i'll turn it into a 351M and send it back ;-)

 

Cowboy, sounds like you got a big ol hay barn
http://www.clubfte.com/users/jowilker/USFlag.gif
John

jowilker email me
[link:www.ford-trucks.com/users/jowilker|My Club FTE Page] Member since 01 01

[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker/NCFTE.html|NCFTO] North Carolina Ford Truck Owners Group

In the cool still quiet of night, you can hear chevies rusting away.

 

Hey Thanks guys. Probally this spring I will change the timing chains and gears. Also the carb. Carbs are not a thing I like to work on, but I do know someone who does.
Yes I thought the back end was a dana and do not want to touch it. It has no slop in it and works fine. So I rather leave it alone. I like to keep the truck as original as possible and use for many years to come.
But if you guys still come up or know of any other things that can be done to improve the mileage of these Clydsedales let me know at a minimal costs. Thanks guy. Enjoying this site alot with the help and information. Have to get some pictures put on for you all to look at.