Low Budget/Experience Build?

I picked up a running 79 460 (70,000 miles) to put in my 79 Bronco.
I'm on a tight budget, and this is my first build.

Looking to go through the motor a little to make sure everything is ok and upgrade a few things as I go.

I wanted some advice and/or recommendations.

I'm only trying to get into the low 300 HP range so I was going to get a FRPP gasket set, I have a good holley 650 (a little small, but it's what I've got), I was thinking of just a Edlebrock Performer intake (unless something like a stealth would be better), a mild RV cam(was thinking of summits K3500 cam), a straight up timing chain set(Cloyes?), and maybe headers.

I want to mildly port my D3 heads and try to keep the stock valve springs with the mild cam if everything looks ok.

Anything I should try to do?

79's didn't come with a 460 so you are going to have to buy or make motor mounts, headers, ect.... Cheapest set of headers I could find for that combo was around $500.00

I know, it came out of a 2wd and I already bought a rear sump oil pan, got some motor mounts, and looking at buying a used L&L set of headers for this set up.

I'm just unsure of what cam shaft to run since I don't want to buy new valvesprings (but I will if I have to) and can't afford to increase the C/R....???? Any suggestions?

Thanks,
-Matt

Valve springs would be a really good investment, the factory ones are pretty weak.
The summit cam should do ok I have ran the same one before. Again if you are going to spin the engine more then 4000 rpm get new springs, they wont be expensive for a small cam.

A straight up timing chain and a decent intake and headers and you will get close to your 300hp goal. Nothing exotic or spendy there. If you have some grinding skills, you could go to reincarnation.com and subscribe for a small fee and learn how to port the heads. Takes some time, but it's well worth it, and only costs you your time and little bit for the tools.

schmitty wrote:A straight up timing chain and a decent intake and headers and you will get close to your 300hp goal. Nothing exotic or spendy there. If you have some grinding skills, you could go to reincarnation.com and subscribe for a small fee and learn how to port the heads. Takes some time, but it's well worth it, and only costs you your time and little bit for the tools.

The Performer is a good intake, check into a cam kit, that way you get the recommended springs with it.

My low buck build..
Holley 3310 750 cfm carb
Motorcraft spreadbore to Holley square bore adapter.
Summit K3500 cam and lifter kit
Headers.
New bearings and rings.
Early timing chain.

OldRedFord wrote:My low buck build..
Holley 3310 750 cfm carb
Motorcraft spreadbore to Holley square bore adapter.
Summit K3500 cam and lifter kit
Headers.
New bearings and rings.
Early timing chain.

How do you like the summit K3500 cam? It only shows a power band from idle to 4000, ever gone past 4k with it.
Did you do anything to your stock heads, valve springs?

I know it's not hard to do what I'm doing, but just looking for any specific adviice.
I've been told to recurve the distributor, and for how mild it'll be, not to worry about it.
Any helpful tips for cam install/break in. degreeing the cam?

Thanks for the help,
-Matt

MBBFord wrote:

OldRedFord wrote:My low buck build..
Holley 3310 750 cfm carb
Motorcraft spreadbore to Holley square bore adapter.
Summit K3500 cam and lifter kit
Headers.
New bearings and rings.
Early timing chain.

How do you like the summit K3500 cam? It only shows a power band from idle to 4000, ever gone past 4k with it.
Did you do anything to your stock heads, valve springs?

I know it's not hard to do what I'm doing, but just looking for any specific adviice.
I've been told to recurve the distributor, and for how mild it'll be, not to worry about it.
Any helpful tips for cam install/break in. degreeing the cam?

Thanks for the help,
-Matt

Im not to the point where I am going to run it yet.
I do plan to rub on the exhaust side a bit, and just replace the springs.
Running a points dizzy I had laying around. Will upgrade to a recurved duraspark soon tho.

Im no expert. Im a noob when it comes to engine building.

I'd stick with the stock cam and install it straight up with an early style timing chain. It will surprise you how much of a difference that makes. If you are going to rub on the heads, do both sides, as the intake side is where the power is at. The more flow the better efficiency.

"I'm only trying to get into the low 300 HP range so I was going to get a FRPP gasket set,"
......................................................................................................................................................
The FRPP A429 gasket set has the M-6051-A441 head gaskets [same as felpro 1028] and both the CJ and small port intake/exh. gaskets . 300 or 800 HP they'll do a fine job .

That was my originaly plan (just put a stright up timing chain set), then I wanted to port the heads (maybe replace springs), and put a mild cam.

Now I'm getting talked back down to my original plan. Guess that'll be the quickest/cheapest thing.



Ok, now what about the intake?
Say I keep the stock intake, anything I should do to mount the Holley? Spacer, spread bore to square bore, or just put a aluminum intake? How about a Weiand Stealth?



Thanks Lem, that's one reason why I wanted that gasket set (head gaskets alone are half the cost of the whole set). For what I'm doing, especially since I might not be pulling the heads now a cheapo Mr. Gasket set would probably work, but that's one area I don't want to skimp on.


-Matt

Matt,

I might have some part you might want for that 460! Pulling my stealth off and have my Comp XM270h cam and lifters sitting on the shelf. It's a little bigger than the stock springs can handle, but it gives great off the line torque in a mud truck.

I just ordered a few parts. I will be swaping the oil pan and pump soon.
Followed by the timing chain.

I'm still unsure on what to do with the intake. Could really use some advise hear.

Would a Weiand Stealth intake on such a mild engine hurt more than it did good?

Most likely, but do you have any future plans that will up the power ante where the Stealth could be beneficial?

I plan on building the motor in the future, but that could be in 2 years + if this motor stays running good. The mild motor is going in my mud/play truck that doesn't see 1,000 miles a year.

I just don't want to risk the motor running like cr*p by putting the wrong intake now (even though it's what I want latter).


I don't have any experience with the intake to decide for myself...

I can tell you that my stealth CJ intake feels like I lost 40 bls on the bottom with a close to stock cam. I would use something closer to stock. The iron CJ before that ran much better. This was in a heavy car with 3.70 gears ('72 Torino).

Ok, thanks. I was affraid of that.

Looks like either a Edlebrock Performer or stock intake is my best bet for now.

u can get mad dog headers at bronco graveyard for 380.00

^^^ uncoated. You'll be in the $700 range once you have them coated.

reversion is a MFer

Have headers on my 400 that I thought about doing a flang swap too, but I doubt I'll go that route, would just like some used L&L chassis exit headers.