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ArdWrknTrk

460 mild performance build

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This post was updated on .

As promised I'm starting a thread as I put together a new engine for my F-250.

Some of you may remember my '460 repower' thread from March of '08 over on FTE when i spun a bearing on a cold February morning.

Following the lead of Scott Johnston (one of the best known porters of iron 385 series heads) and a damn good builder of big block Ford's.
He's placed right behind Jon Kaase in the Engine Masters showdown and is known on forums as 'The Mad Porter'.

Per his advice I'm going to be using a Holley 750 vacuum secondary carb atop an Edelbrock Performer intake with a recurved stock distributor and DuraSpark II ignition.
I will probably using a custom ground cam of his design and a valve train package of his or his advice.

I'm going to be porting the heads myself, while learning as much as I can from the various tutorials available to paid members on his site Parkland Performance Machine (formerly known as Reincarnation High Performance)

I snatched up a carb on Ebay a few weeks ago and bought some porting tools as well as a low temp thermostat.
Then, last week, a pair of D3VE A2A heads turned up on Ebay in Texas. They were about $145 each (delivered!) and described as old stock from a shuttered machine shop.

The price was great as shipping is $80-90 per head and these would not need any crack checking or machine work done.

I found them on my doorstep when i got home last night and took them over to my storage this morning.
Yep, whoever packed these didn't have a clue. (foam peanuts... really?!?!)

It literally took me over 40 minutes with long tweezers and alligator forceps to pick the foam out of all the water passages.

But then!!!! As the sun came up I noticed something odd.
There were no drilling for thermactor ports.
Not in the ends of the head, nor any holes into the exhaust ports.
Dumbfounded.

This must be for a stationary industrial engine.
There are plenty of pumps in Texas. For farms, ranches and oilfields.....

THIS IS THE HOLY GRAIL OF D3 460 HEADS!!!!
WOO HOO
I HAVE A UNICORN, or two
I REALLY SCORED THIS TIME

(for once)

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

Gary Lewis

Re: 460 mild performance build

Administrator

Wow! Pay dirt! I would think the porting job will be much easier without the bumps.

You’ll remember the D8 small-block heads I ported, and those bumps were a huge pain. HUGE. Lots and lots of grinding, and I never really got them out completely for fear of hitting water. And then there was the question of what to do with the cross-drilled passages. But you won’t have to deal with any of that. 👍

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

Ford F834

Re: 460 mild performance build

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In reply to this post by ArdWrknTrk

Wow! Great score! I'm glad you came out ahead on this one... even though you had your work cut out for you extracting packing popcorn the sellers ignorance worked in your favor 😁

SHORT BED 4-DOOR DIESEL: 1986 F350 4x4 under construction-- 7.3 IDIT ZF5+GVOD

STRAIGHT SIX 4X4: 1981 F150 2wd to 4x4-- 300 I6 close ratio diesel T19, hydroboost brakes, Saginaw steering

BIG F: 1995 F-Superduty under construction— converting to 6.9L IDI diesel ZF5+DNE2

ArdWrknTrk

Re: 460 mild performance build

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Some pics added to my first post.

Occasionally you find an item on eBay that's mislisted or the seller doesn't really know what they have.

Just getting a refurbished head for $145 is fantastic. I couldn't begin to get the work done for that.
Add in delivery and no core charge, well....

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

ArdWrknTrk

Re: 460 mild performance build

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In reply to this post by Gary Lewis

Gary, the bumps are there, just no holes to plug.

This works out, because Scott shows how to shape that hump into a vane directing the flow.
And shows numbers that it helps rather than hinders flow at the rpms and lifts I will be using.

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

Gary Lewis

Re: 460 mild performance build

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Cool! Even better. 😉

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

ArdWrknTrk

Re: 460 mild performance build

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Next up is the bottom end.
After my last disappointment I've found a 1995 F-450 utility body truck with no paper.
The engine runs like a top and it's amazingly clean (rust free) for a northeast truck.

But it's got to go to scrap.
So I'm going to pull the engine and the Zf-5 (with parking brake)

Anybody want any interior or other bits from a truck of this generation?

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

85lebaront2

Re: 460 mild performance build

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Jim, has it got full gauges? If so I can use the instrument cluster.

Bill AKA "LOBO" Profile

"Getting old is inevitable, growing up is optional" Darth Vader 1986 F350 460 converted to MAF/SEFI, E4OD 12X3 1/2 rear brakes, traction loc 3:55 gear, 160 amp 3G alternator Wife's 2011 Flex Limited Daily Driver 2009 Flex Limited with factory tow package Project car 1986 Chrysler LeBaron convertible 2.2L Turbo II, modified A413

ArdWrknTrk

Re: 460 mild performance build

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Bill, I'll try to get you a picture tomorrow.

You can have the whole dash if you like.

Hate to see a truck in good condition scrapped but the P. O. Is gone and there is no title or reg.

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

ArdWrknTrk

Re: 460 mild performance build

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In reply to this post by 85lebaront2

Do you need the plugs too?

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

ArdWrknTrk

Re: 460 mild performance build

Administrator

Ok, aside from the exhaust this engine is ready to come out.

I called my buddy with a wrecker to lift it out in the next couple of days.

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

ArdWrknTrk

Re: 460 mild performance build

Administrator

Here's the catch code on this brain.

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

Gary Lewis

Re: 460 mild performance build

Administrator

This post was updated on .

Bill says I need an ML1-441. And I think a V.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

ArdWrknTrk

Re: 460 mild performance build

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This post was updated on .

Well, wherever this intake and harness goes the brain goes with it.
It is a 1995 MY F-450.
I pulled the harness right back to the plugs on the firewall.
From the load center box to the engine is all there.
But I cut the chassis side of the box and unbolted the feed cable.

This truck has a really nice radiator and ac condenser
I will swipe them and the shroud before we cut this truck into little pieces to get rid of it.

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

Gary Lewis

Re: 460 mild performance build

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Good plan, Stan. 😉

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

85lebaront2

Re: 460 mild performance build

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In reply to this post by ArdWrknTrk

No, I have plenty of them, thanks anyway. Is the dash light blue or opal gray?

Bill AKA "LOBO" Profile

85lebaront2

Re: 460 mild performance build

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In reply to this post by Gary Lewis

Yes, that is a bank fired speed density system.

Bill AKA "LOBO" Profile

ArdWrknTrk

Re: 460 mild performance build

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It's a grey interior.

XLT

Do you need some interior trim?

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

85lebaront2

Re: 460 mild performance build

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In reply to this post by ArdWrknTrk

Jim, all the AC stuff is factory R134, condensor alone is very useful. If you aren't going to use it I would be interested in the A/C lines and compressor.

Bill AKA "LOBO" Profile

ArdWrknTrk

Re: 460 mild performance build

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If Gary doesn't speak for the compressor to go atop the serpentine PS bracket.

I cut the hose going to the radiator because I'm working in a construction lot and did not have my line wrenches (or any backup wrench and didn't want to twist the neck.)
But the compressor is yours if it's not spoken for. And any other bits of the AC you might want as long as I can get them out tomorrow.

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

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