i am about to start on my winter project, a 460 ford. i would like to make about 400 horsepower with it. nothing too crazy, just a hot street motor. Here is what i had in mind, tel me what you think good or bad.

bored 30 over
weiand single plane intake
holley 750 double pumper
lunati cam with Duration 276/284, Lift .564/.582
l&l fenderwell headers (it's goin in a 79 f150 4x4)

the questions i have are...
will i have to go to adjustable valvetrain?
will i have to have a stall converter? ( runnin a built c6)
what are a good set of cast-iron heads to use?

When i built my 400 i had to go to adjustable valvetrain b/c of the cam i was running with it but i have never messed with a 460 all i've ever ran was 400s
any advise is greatly appreciated

skip the l&l's and go with maddogs (1 3/4 tubes is too small )if youre going fenderwell. just about any heads will give you 400 hp, some need a little more help than others. as far as adjustible valvetrain, not unless you are going solid or solid roller, and if you are, then go bigger. now the stall, i dont know. i have had a 4 spd, i would guess you would need a little one. i am sure pro will chime in and correct me and steer you better.

ditch the single plane, run a stealth

You could probably run without converting to adjustable, but I think it would be a good idea. Assuming you are using the common D3 heads, the sled fulcrum rockers generate a lot of friction, especially with a high lift cam, so roller rockers are a good idea on these engines.

That cam has a fair amount of duration and tight lobe centers, so I think a higher than stock stall speed would be a good idea.

My crappy desktop dyno shows it starts to wake up about 2500 rpm, 495 ftlb at 4000, 453 hp at 5500, using ported D3 heads and flat top pistons with 10:1 compression. Stock ports knock it down to 415 hp at 5000.

How hard is it to convert it to adjustable? i know they make a convertion kit for the 400's or is it better to have the machine shop do it? And were can i find these maddog headers?

The 460 takes the same bolt on kit as the 400/351M and 351C, same rocker arms as well. The bolt-on should be ok if you keep spring pressure and rpm reasonable. Not sure what the limits are.

dual plane intake will help with low rpm power and driveability will be better
I wouldnt go near the bolt on adjustable conversions for rockers
thats a pretty hefty cam so get the machine shop to do a 7/16 screw in studs setup

i am about to start on my winter project, a 460 ford.
bored 30 over
weiand single plane intake
holley 750 double pumper
lunati cam with Duration 276/284, Lift .564/.582
l&l fenderwell headers (it's goin in a 79 f150 4x4)
will i have to go to adjustable valvetrain?
will i have to have a stall converter? ( runnin a built c6)
what are a good set of cast-iron heads to use?


Why go overbore when ya' aint got to?? Dove-C heads ported. I can't keep a juice tranny alive...4 sp. for me, "What? you can't drive a truck?" That cam profile is almost exactly the same as E-brock bumpstick I'm a runnin'. Everybody's hatin' on the L&L's, not me!:flipoff2:
This here BBF is 429 @11.2 CR.....She's a MANGLER.:D

Why go overbore when ya' aint got to?? Dove-C heads ported. I can't keep a juice tranny alive...4 sp. for me, "What? you can't drive a truck?" That cam profile is almost exactly the same as E-brock bumpstick I'm a runnin'. Everybody's hatin' on the L&L's, not me!:flipoff2:
This here BBF is 429 @11.2 CR.....She's a MANGLER.:D

can't drive a truck??? lmao all my toys are stick shift, in fact the one i am putting the motor in was a 4speed, i just wanted to build somethin a little different lol :) btw nice motor, i can't believe the roller rocker clear under stock valve covers

The L&L's are great headers, and fine for your application, keep them. I really wish I could have kept mine instead of having to have gone Maddog.

Yes, a Weiand Stealh (dual plane) would be your best intake choice.

The best iron heads to use (that would also be the easiest and cheapest to find) are the Dove-C. Yes, you will need a converter, and yes it should be a bit warmer than stock.

can't drive a truck??? lmao all my toys are stick shift, in fact the one i am putting the motor in was a 4speed, i just wanted to build somethin a little different lol :) btw nice motor, i can't believe the roller rocker clear under stock valve covers
Thanks WFO......Generally if it don't add power or reliability I don't spend $$ for it (valve covers). I like the look of a RAT-ROD. Compression is yer' freind for performance. Like me....."Be careful what ya' wish for". Now I have to run 105 octane.
4 spd comment was for all the juicers', not necessarily you, who live by the torque converter:barf:.

PRO.....Headin' yer way after work:shaking:.

ok thanks for the info, you think it will be streetable?

ok thanks for the info, you think it will be streetable?

Uh, this question above all others makes me want to shake a baby.

But to make matters simple for you, yes.

Uh, this question above all others makes me want to shake a baby.

But to make matters simple for you, yes.

lmfao. the reason i asked is b/c to compete locally in the mud drag in the class i run in you got to have your truck licensed an all that. i run one class above stock.

i am not putting down l&l, i love mine. i bought mine 10 years ago for $380 wich was top $$$ then. i have just done some more research now and have found that there is alot out there for round the same $. and as far as youre steetable? i think mine will be ''streetable'' when its done. 52'' r1's 557 and 2.5 rocks.

any updates on your 460 build?

Not to hijack, but I'm in the process of building up my '78 460 right now. I got a new, still in the box comp cam from a friend for half the cost of a new one. After doing some research, I have found that its actually a pretty radical cam! Comp Cam PN 34-336-4 Dur 292/292, Lift .560/.560 I'm running an edlebrok torquer intake, edlebrok 750 cfm carb, and stock heads right now, bolted to a T18 4spd. Trying to decided if this is just too radical to run with stock heads. I eventually want to do a complete build up but dont have the cash right now. Will this cam even work with the stock heads etc I have right now? If not, I might sell it and get a different cam.

Thanks!

Id be a bit leary of 560 lift on stock valvetrain. You can use it if you cut down the valve guide to make sure they dont hit.

any other suggestions? Everyone I have talked to says it will run fine with it if I swap my heads with a set of ported ones I have on the garage.

Ditch the single plane... go with a stealth... and don't even bother with an edlebrock carb... what heads are the ported ones?

I will check the casting on the heads later tonight. I know the guy who I got them from just ported em and did a valve job. They are Ford heads but not sure what year / casting.

Thanks for the advice!