Thread: 460 vs 454

Tweet

hey im just wondering if someone wanted to do a build on their first big block which would be the best choice for a all around fun engine. 454 bbd vs 460bbf

If you have a choice----


I put a 460 in my 1970 F250 , a 1974 F350 with 460, a 1980 Ford with 400 and later had a 1984 Chev crew cab with 454-----------Ford with 460 was much better than chev 454, ford 400 dud---1970 460 had higher compression than later ones and the cam was timed earlier ( Smogela days, lower compression, retard cams, sniff exhaust pipe)


I would put alum heads on what ever you choose as the iron ones are heavy-----------

A "fun" engine??? What do you plan to do with this engine? Building it for racing? Or maybe stock? If I didn't have a preference I guess I'd go with something close by and easy to get. Perhaps start watching C-list or the local paper...

Originally Posted by 34_40

A "fun" engine??? What do you plan to do with this engine? Building it for racing? Or maybe stock? If I didn't have a preference I guess I'd go with something close by and easy to get. Perhaps start watching C-list or the local paper...

just want to give it some snap like 500-550, put it in a street rod. somthing with good low to mid response but i can gain that with gearing i have always liked the big blocks for their torque

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

If you have a choice----


I put a 460 in my 1970 F250 , a 1974 F350 with 460, a 1980 Ford with 400 and later had a 1984 Chev crew cab with 454-----------Ford with 460 was much better than chev 454, ford 400 dud---1970 460 had higher compression than later ones and the cam was timed earlier ( Smogela days, lower compression, retard cams, sniff exhaust pipe)


I would put alum heads on what ever you choose as the iron ones are heavy-----------

yes im told heads and cam are the most important part of any motor i plan on rebuilding whatever i get but i wonder since aluminum expands at a differnet rate than steel or iron what affect does this have on a motor, and can you boost iron heads more with nitrous or is it about the same strength?

Originally Posted by joede870

just want to give it some snap like 500-550, put it in a street rod. somthing with good low to mid response but i can gain that with gearing i have always liked the big blocks for their torque

There's a thread or two with guys building big blocks right now.. I'd say start by reading what they are doing (or need to do) and learn from their experience(s). 500 HP isn't real hard to do with the right parts and machining.. and aluminum heads will allow you to raise your compression a point or two. And they can handle a good bit of NOS.... what's the car it'll go in?


check out this thread.. should have some good info that you're going to need to at least consider! And check out our Engine Forum..

Originally Posted by 34_40

There's a thread or two with guys building big blocks right now.. I'd say start by reading what they are doing (or need to do) and learn from their experience(s). 500 HP isn't real hard to do with the right parts and machining.. and aluminum heads will allow you to raise your compression a point or two. And they can handle a good bit of NOS.... what's the car it'll go in?

honestly im not shure what it is going to go in yet im going to try and build the motor this summer then i will look for a vehicle that catches my eye probably just a unpainted rolling chassi il drop it in and then paint it flat black lol i just want to build a budget motor and hot rod to have some fun with if possible and i love turning a wrench so its a fun exuse to learn how to build a motor. whatever i do i definatly want nitrous, just for when you need it haha
do you think this goal can be achived if i could get the motor for 300 or less with a budget of 2400 or less

i built many bbc and stroked the bbc 454 deck 9.800 stock block to about max 512CID and in the 10.200 tall deck 427 beer truck stock Gm block to 540CID .ford 429/460 10.320 deck is only one deck and is a tall wide engine so may want to check fitment of what body your putting it in .it is not hard to build a 429/460 to 572 is max with a short fill of block rock. building with a stock block and a 4.500bore and 4.500 stroke any one of these engine with only 2400 budget will be very hard .you will have to fined some very good deals some used parts and good deals may not be so great after you get the bill from the machine shop

What no fighting over which is better? Detante at last! FWIW both are nice engines, Pat and Jerry and a few others here can offer help in whatever decission you make, I/m happy with my 460.

I can offer this.. building a 500 hp motor is achievable but then you need to consider a chassis that can survive and use that horsepower! And more important stop that horsepower!!

The more performance you want to achieve, the more it'll cost. Since you have no clear set goals yet. I'd suggest doing a "more vanilla" overhaul so you can still have your fun and since you're set on a big block you can still make lots of torque/hp to get your blood flowing.

It is that old saying, Speed costs money, how fast can you afford to go???

To get into the power levels you're wanting, and especially running nitrous you're going to need the services of a good machine shop for the block and bottom end. And like Mike says, dropping a built big block into a frame that's not built for the power is a death wish. If you go into the process without a plan you're going to spend twice as much chasing rabbit trails and rework, IMO.

We bracket raced and street "played" bbf's for a lot of years. A good 460 block (it it's and older DOVE block, it's good). Used stock cast cranks in some, only went forged on the strokers. Get the compression right at 10.5 to 1 for the street, 13:1 if you want to run E-85, quality pistons and rods (not Chinese crap), balance the snot out of everything. My last street engine was a 501", .030" overbore, Crower crank, Manley rods, Wiseco pistons, Comp solid roller cam, roller rockers and box stock Edelbrock RPM heads, single plane intake, 1050 Dominanator carb on E-85. MSD ignition. Did 500 torque and horse on the chassis dyno. Been freshened a couple times, and ready for it's 5th summer on the streets. Can't do that particular engine for $2400 (about double that if you shop good). A stock crank 460 works fine, keep the revs out of it, spend your money on heads and valvetrain!!!!!

Originally Posted by stovens

What no fighting over which is better? Detante at last! FWIW both are nice engines, Pat and Jerry and a few others here can offer help in whatever decission you make, I/m happy with my 460.

what engine is better ....ford is more money on cost of parts still need as many parts as a chevy bbc . but rods ,rod bearings.rocker arms . are big block chevy on Ford strokers . after market ford heads use bbc port lay out for headers. the ford as some things i do not like that can not be fixed easly .the bbc not so much but the chevy other then it has smaller bore centers . and smaller oil pan rails were you will be working on the chevy block to get a big crank in one. bore limit on stock block chevy bore limit is 4.350to4.375 .on some stock blocks. there is many things the ford guys will jump all over the chevy and the same with the chevy guys .i as a engine builder i just need to know the weak parts of both engines and not much of the brand loyalty B.S

Which is better??? Neither. They're both outdated designs. Save up your bucks and get a 5.0 Coyote, then study hard on electronic controls and data acquisition!!!! Go fast on the street with affordable mpg and reliability!

Originally Posted by pat mccarthy

what engine is better ....ford is more money on cost of parts still need as many parts as a chevy bbc . but rods ,rod bearings.rocker arms . are big block chevy on Ford strokers . after market ford heads use bbc port lay out for headers. the ford as some things i do not like that can not be fixed easly .the bbc not so much but the chevy other then it has smaller bore centers . and smaller oil pan rails were you will be working on the chevy block to get a big crank in one. bore limit on stock block chevy bore limit is 4.350to4.375 .on some stock blocks. there is many things the ford guys will jump all over the chevy and the same with the chevy guys .i as a engine builder i just need to know the weak parts of both engines and not much of the brand loyalty B.S

Well since I don't have a chasi should I just rebuild whatever I get and put just forged internals aluminum heads and a good street cam, that way I can learn joe to do it and when it goes il bore it out I 500+ cubes and then go for performance, I mean no matter what I do with it it will still be faster than my tacoma ahahahha