Topic: Ford Engines

[bill440cars]

    Hey Terry, the "Lead Sled" was an old Mercury (commonly called a MERC) and I think it was either a 49' or 50" model. Largely used in Hot Rodding.

                                                       Later on, Bill

[ofreen]

I love those old side-bangers offy, I painted an old 1950's Dodge for a guy who liked the car that Sly Stallone drove in that movie, dunno what it was called, but the car was a "lead sled", anyway, he was selling the old flathead six and replacing it with a 383, what a shame, that old 6 had tons of torque, and was the nicest sounding 6 I ever heard! Cheers, Terry.

The flathead V8s have a sound all their own, especially when breathed on a little.  Pure mechanical music.  I will stick with the flathead if the block is good.  If not, I have considered a healthy 460 I have here that I may be able to get to fit.  As you saw from the picture, I have a ways to go before I have to make the decision which way to go.  One thing I've already decided, the car will not be chopped.

[Pinhead]

I love those old side-bangers offy, I painted an old 1950's Dodge for a guy who liked the car that Sly Stallone drove in that movie, dunno what it was called, but the car was a "lead sled", anyway, he was selling the old flathead six and replacing it with a 383, what a shame, that old 6 had tons of torque, and was the nicest sounding 6 I ever heard! Cheers, Terry.

The flathead V8s have a sound all their own, especially when breathed on a little.  Pure mechanical music.  I will stick with the flathead if the block is good.  If not, I have considered a healthy 460 I have here that I may be able to get to fit.  As you saw from the picture, I have a ways to go before I have to make the decision which way to go.  One thing I've already decided, the car will not be chopped.

Is there such thing as a healthy 460? IMHO the 460 was Ford's worst engine they produced... You'll have to do a lot of work to any 460 I've seen to make it a good runner, while getting ANY kind of mileage. All of the 460s I've worked with were 8.5:1 compression, cammed down, and would get out-run by decent built 302's... I know the 460 has potential since it has a decent chamber and a lot of cubes, but it'll take a lot of work.

[dusterdude]

I love those old side-bangers offy, I painted an old 1950's Dodge for a guy who liked the car that Sly Stallone drove in that movie, dunno what it was called, but the car was a "lead sled", anyway, he was selling the old flathead six and replacing it with a 383, what a shame, that old 6 had tons of torque, and was the nicest sounding 6 I ever heard! Cheers, Terry.

The flathead V8s have a sound all their own, especially when breathed on a little.  Pure mechanical music.  I will stick with the flathead if the block is good.  If not, I have considered a healthy 460 I have here that I may be able to get to fit.  As you saw from the picture, I have a ways to go before I have to make the decision which way to go.  One thing I've already decided, the car will not be chopped.

Is there such thing as a healthy 460? IMHO the 460 was Ford's worst engine they produced... You'll have to do a lot of work to any 460 I've seen to make it a good runner, while getting ANY kind of mileage. All of the 460s I've worked with were 8.5:1 compression, cammed down, and would get out-run by decent built 302's... I know the 460 has potential since it has a decent chamber and a lot of cubes, but it'll take a lot of work.

shoot,its a ford,its goin to take a lot of work anyway.

[ofreen]

Is there such thing as a healthy 460? IMHO the 460 was Ford's worst engine they produced... You'll have to do a lot of work to any 460 I've seen to make it a good runner, while getting ANY kind of mileage. All of the 460s I've worked with were 8.5:1 compression, cammed down, and would get out-run by decent built 302's... I know the 460 has potential since it has a decent chamber and a lot of cubes, but it'll take a lot of work.

There is such a thing.  I know a lot of people don't like the 460, (but plenty do) and they do suck gas, but I've seen many go the distance in truck use.  On the other hand, I've heard of others needing a rebuild in 40,000 miles.  I don't know how they were maintained.  

What they do have is torque.  The '51 Mercury is a heavy car.  Plus, I have the engine on hand and I know it is sound.  If it doesn't work out, I'll do something different.  My preference will be to keep the flathead.  However it goes, there will be major bucks and time in this car before I'm done, and even then the average 4-door sedan from Japan, Inc will be able to outrun it.

If you look around, it seems like most of these cars are chopped with Corvette engines in them.  Seems like a travesty to me.  

[Pinhead]

If you do use the 460, the mod I mentioned in my PM will work on it, too. It'll let you run higher compression.

My dad put a timing chain from a '69 427 on his 460 and that alone gained 15ft-lbs of torque and 30 horsepower (advanced cam timing by 6°). Give it higher compression and it'll run decent.

[dusterdude]

If you look around, it seems like most of these cars are chopped with Corvette engines in them.  Seems like a travesty to me.    damn sure is.

[mrbreeze]

Distributor on back of engine = stupid!
'nuff said

Yeah.....I had to go and read this last night.It was a bad omen.Now don't get me wrong....I love Chevys and have always been a bit put off by having to deal with the distributor being in the rear but today really chapped my ass!!! I was assigned to do a complete tune up on a 99' 3/4 ton Suburban 454 motor today at work. No biggy I thought....until I went to find the distributor.I've done a bunch of the early to mid 90's models but this is the newer Vortec with the big ole plentum blocking everything back there.After screwing around trying to sneak in for 1/2 hour or so,I finally decided the best thing to do is remove the plentum. It took awhile but I got er done and sure don't look forward to the next one!!!!