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1979 f250 custom, 460 engine. Everything is stock. I'm pretty new to this stuff. I'm just wondering what I can do, first, to make it run and sound nice. Then, how to make it a monster at a red light. Appreciate the help it advance, thanks guys. 🙏
More cubic inches always helps. But the stock 460 engine has a tremendous amount of untapped potential with upgrades to valvetrain, breathing, compression ratio etc. The stock engine is so detuned for emissions reasons that you probably can about double the horsepower without actually rebuilding the engine if it is still in good shape overall.
X2^^^ The few 460's I've helped friends with, just needed cam, intake and headers for a quick bump, very noticeable bump, and one, he went with new heads and the rest, they earned a reputation for a reason. Be ready to throw some $$ at it to get it's potential out of it.
X2^^^ The few 460's I've helped friends with, just needed cam, intake and headers for a quick bump, very noticeable bump, and one, he went with new heads and the rest, they earned a reputation for a reason. Be ready to throw some $$ at it to get it's potential out of it.
Don’t take this the wrong way, but your question is very typical of someone who is “new to this stuff”.
The first thing you need to do is learn about your truck. Jumping into mods when you even need to ask the question regarding what mods you should do is a recipe for disaster. Read through every thread here, even if you think it doesn’t pertain to you. Learn how the ignition system works, learn what kind of suspension you have, learn the electrical system. Stuff like that. Based on that knowledge, make sure everything is in good working order and build on that experience. Become an “Army of One” for your truck. Then, and only then, should you start thinking about modifying it.
Unless you are independently wealthy and can afford to pay someone to baby that truck for you, no one is going to be as good of an advocate for it as you can be.
It is easy and very tempting to start swinging for the fences from the jump, but that is truly a fool’s errand that will leave you dejected and broke. Remember, most of the time singles win ball games. Build your house on rock and not on sand.
As Miyagi say, learn the fundamentals then “Come back tomorrow, 6 o’clock”.
Yes, establish a baseline by going over all major systems to assure yourself that you have a safe and workable starting point. Then you can school yourself on enhancing your truck's performance using this and other online forums. Be sure to sign up for your state FTE group as those folks may be able to help you even more directly.
I built one 460 that was a beast that I put in my 1981 F250. Mine had a built C6 transmission and 4.10 gears and all the running gear was rebuilt. I used it to pull a 5th wheel so I built the motor with that in mind. The motor was bored 30 over and the block and the heads were both milled to verify they were flat and true. The crank was turned 10-10 and polished and I used a Crane cam with a RV grind for low end torque. It also had a Melling high output oil pump. I used a Ford cast iron 4V manifold and a Edelbrock 650 cfm carb with dual exhaust it also had a Mallory ignition that I could vary the timing in the cab by turning a ****.It was animal off the line if you could keep the tires from burning off but that's not what I built it for. If I was building it today I would use a EFI instead of a carb. But so you know it would pass anything if it wasn't going to fast (because of the low gears) but a gas station.
X2 get to know the trucks in and outs. Lean all you can about just what you have. Yes 2wd is lighter than a 4wd, but it is still a F250 so it is heavy and not a race truck by no means, at least in it pure stock set up. Has plenty of free body roll and probably set up for a one wheel peel.
Like how is the steering, do you need to upgrade is with a Redhead or Blue Top steering box? How are the brakes, alot of folks think the brakes on these ol trucks are not the best. So maybe a hydra boost upgrade is in order.
F250 ='s Dana 60 rear axle, so what ratio does it have? Do you know where the tag is to find the current ratio? See how it is inportant to learn your truck? 460 with a C-6...there are some easy done mods like intake, carb, headers, and then high dollar and more technical mods like a new cam, aluminium heads, EFI...
Thanks, and BTW, Welcome to FTE lots and lots of knowledge here, and some d-bags that just like to argue so ignore them, mainly they're in the newer trucks forums, but nonetheless, ignore them.
As stated, get to know your truck, tune it up, get a tach, know your gear ratio/tire size, redo your WHOLE braking system (if yer gonna go fast, gotta make it stop too) get your steering components in tip-top shape, tie-rods, kingpins, wheel bearings, steering gearbox, rag joint, make sure ALL your turn-signals, brake lights and running lights work, get it reliable first. THEN start making a plan, research, axe questions, visit the engine forums https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum53/
AND figure out your budget! Go-Fast chinga's n parts get spensive and add up really quickly.
And one of my pet peeves, make sure your seat and interior aren't ratted out, nothing worse than hearing and seeing a nicely built engine with a Sh***y interior, takes away from it, and IMHO, I hate torn up seats, one of the first things I do when I get a new "to me" truck, is do a huge deep super clean, if the seat is torn, get a seat cover or have it reupholstered.
Focus first on getting it clean, reliable, safe and enjoyable to drive, then start the Go-Fast stuff, have a plan, work the plan.
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lots and lots of knowledge here, and some d-bags that just like to argue so ignore them, mainly they're in the newer trucks forums, but nonetheless, ignore them.
