Maximising a 460

[Tonkin NZ]

Into SPF2828 I put a 460 crate engine from Ford Racing with 550hp. I would welcome your insight into what improvements I could make to build HP or torque.

I have a
Victor’ Jnr single plane intake manifold,
Holley 4150 Street/Strip 850cfm carb w. mechanical secondaries
K&N Filter
MSD 6AL Ignition, Blaster HVC II Coil, Black Super Conductor Leads

Just looking at ways to optimise the engine and would especially like to hear from any one running Webers on a 460.

Thanks for your input....

[blykins]

You'll have to make a decision on which way you want to go. If you want to maximize torque, then you usually go the opposite direction that you'd go to maximize horsepower (unless you stroke it, then you get both).

If you want to bump up the horsepower, then there are several ways to do it, depending on how far you want to go.

Here are some things to do in order of horsepower:

1. Camshaft - Depending on what cam that they stuck in there (I think it's a hydraulic roller on that engine), a little power can be had there.

2. Heads - Either have your heads ported and your intake matched to it, or spring for a new set of heads, like the TFS Street heads.

3. Stroke it - You can get more torque and horsepower both with a stroker setup. Swap the pistons, rods, and crank and gain big horsepower and torque both.

If you're just wanting more torque and don't care about horsepower, then you need to go to a smaller cam and a dual plane intake.

[vector1]

headers might be the limiting factor, what are the size? plus you probably have a cat food sized aircleaner on top.

easy power would be a lightweight clutch/flywheel assembly, something less then #20's if you can find it.

[Tom Wells]

x2 on the undersized air cleaner. I'd guess you could add a jet size or two if you got a properly sized air cleaner on top of that thing.

Try here: http://www.knfilters.com/filter_facts.htm#DEAL

About 2/3 of the way down there's a set of formulas they use to size an air filter. Try'em and see if the one you have is anywhere near.

Tom

[NHVANA]

Rowan,

The factory Superformance headers are restrictive (even the new sets) they have a real tight turn at the rear that will not allow the BB to breath at full noise. Because the 385 is so large it will be real tight to modify these without attacking the heat sheilds. Rework your headers and it will be a whole new engine.
Check your port matching on those Kaase heads I'm picking that will be out also.
After that, start with your internals.

My previous engine set up had roller lifters and a wilder cam profile, that engine would ring like a bell and frighten my wife and any other willing victim. However, with that came unreliability (firstly a broken rocker post and then a collapsed HIPO lifter after 1500miles) money was burned.
Finally, I'm suggesting that you get the huff and puff right you may find that will satisfy you for a while, then move on from there.

Give me a call some time, lets catch up for a beer at Puhoi on the next fine weekend.

[Tonkin NZ]

Thanks for the tips Bruce. Still waiting for parts from CTC post Pukekohe but hope to be roadside in 2-3wks. First beer is on me.

[cdog]

As far as bolt-ons, you can go to an Edelbrock Torker II manifold, giving you more torque and allowing you to run a drop-base 14" filter, for more breathing.

Also, you could switch to 1.8 ratio rockers (assuming you have 1.73's) and that will give you more HP as well.

If you take it apart, a cam, head porting etc. will help - endless possibilities there...

[DocDirk]

X3 on the air cleaner. Using 900 CFM vs 500 CFM showed significantly increased top end HP in my 533 BB. By far the biggest improvement so far has been 50 RWHP by increasing exhaust baffle ID. The engine is an air pump and to do anything else really well it's got to breathe. Good luck in your search!