rev limitations

what is the limiting factor on a stock 460 motor for higher revs? Is the valve springs the problem or rods????????? how fast can i turn it with out tearing up to much? i have heard 4500 but no more.

Every one has opinions about this, So I will give you mine since it seems no one wants to answer you.

A 9.5:1 460 With a good hydraulic cam and matching springs, will go to 6000 rpm with stock rods, and make 500 + hp and the same torque. If the stock rods are prepped with good bolts and the engine they came out of didn't have 300,000 miles of abuse on them, it should live. I have done it numerous times. But remember these are stock parts, that are at a minimum 20 years old.

I would feel comfortable doing this and have. But as a side note , you can pick up a set of new I beams for a fairly cheap insurance policy.

This is just an opinion................

STOCK 460 . no answer to a used , maybe worn out stock engine . when it stops rev'ing .. you found the limit

so if i change the valve springs and cam it will come up in rpm range. i was thinking that the valve train was going to be the limiting factor on it, because of floating the valves. I plan to re ring the motor, new cam, lifters and some porting and polishing on the heads. the old motor has a good crank and the cylinder wall have not ring in the top. the machine shop said it was in real good shape for its age. I'm hoping to make 300hp or so for now in the old truck. Thanks for the help.

The early 460 engines with the c8,c9,dove heads were rated at 365 hp. Even if you have the lower compression heads, with the proper cam and springs 300hp should be fairly easy to reach. If the engine core you have is a truck motor than you have the better factory "football" rods. With good bolts like arp those can rev 6000 . If you have the passenger car broached rods you can replace the bolts too, but the truck rods can be bought fairly cheap and would be worth it. Check with Paul Kane on the forum I think he has a few sets of the truck rods for sale if you don't already have them. If your long term plans are to run it hard than I would upgrade to an aftermarket I-beam or H-beam rod, and eliminate a bunch of worries.

One of my 460's was on a dyno years ago. Did it cause it didn't cost me anything. That '69 460 put out 325 stock with a 750 Holley and headers. A friend did the same (on a different dyno at a different time) with a '74 and it made around 275. Don't know of the correction factors or any other details, so for what ever it's worth. Pretty easy to get 350-375 out of one.

all in all im getting tired of the wife taunting me about out running me and my super duty diesel. so if i can burn her in her 07 mustang i will be happy with what ever the power is for now.

Too bad you don't live out here. I'd let you borrow my truck and you could show her theres no substitute for cubic inches; especially when the big motor is blown!

i have some pics of the current install of the independent front suspension but i have not got the posted yet. I think that the old truck will be lighter than her car and with more power.lol

I posted some pics of the swap in chassis tech.

John, I looked at a complete engine last winter a few miles from me. It had Dove-c heads and D1ve block.$275 complete,maybe cheaper now.It was a Thunder Jet that was rated at 365 from the factory. I have a set of D3 heads on a engine that I won't be using also. Give me a call.

bbf-falcon wrote:John, I looked at a complete engine last winter a few miles from me. It had Dove-c heads and D1ve block.$175 complete,maybe cheaper now.It was a Thunder Jet that was rated at 365 from the factory. I have a set of D3 heads on a engine that I won't be using also. Give me a call.

ok i will give you a call tomorrow after noon.