An older fellow near me has an 88 F250, atuo, 4x4 with a mounted western snowplow. The truck has 32k miles and it is in decent shape. He wants $1500,which I don't think is too bad. It has the 460 gasoline engine in it and I was wondering if any of you guys has experience with that Ford engine. MPG?
- Thread starter dej(Jed)
- Start date
might be lucky to get 8mpg with it, tons of power, but verrry poor on gas! Pretty bullet proof engine though, I had one in a 77 ford 3/4 ton, extended cab longbox, the thing was a tank! The only issue we had with the engine was that it sat for a long time and the rubber cup things by the valves dried up and we'd get about 30 miles out of it and have to change at least one plug, so much oil going in the one cylinder it would foul it out. Bob
Moline_guy
Well-known Member
Dad has a 89 250 with the 460 and we have not had any trouble with it other than putting in a new water pump. Chances are it has 130,000, they didnt have the extra number out front on those. Dads has around 160,000, and far as we know its never been out, uses a quart every 1000 miles. Lots of power, not sure what he gets for milage.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
460's do like their fuel don,t know mpg. BUT for $1500.00 you can't go wrong, plow and engine are worth that. F 250 should have the heavy dana 60 ft. driff. big bucks, and with only 32k miles on it the tr. it should last a long time, the money you spend on fuel will be save on the cheap price and cheap repairs.
I have a 2004 GMC 1500 with 150K on it. I am semi retired and I know my truck has about had it,so I am considering an inexpensive way to replace it. I pull an equipment trailer now and then, so I thought the F250 would handle that and other odd hauling jobs. The 32K mileage is true and the 88 Ford hasn't been beat. When the weather is good I ride the Goldwing, so that helps with the gasoline useage.
Harold Hubbard
Member
Make sure the exhaust manifolds aren't leaking.
The ports in the head stand out from the casting and can disintegrate over time, especially in the rust belt. The only permanent cure is a new head.
I delivered hay with mine, a hundred miles round trip, about half on the interstate, and got 10.7 MPG. On the other hand, snowplowing, it's about three.
The ports in the head stand out from the casting and can disintegrate over time, especially in the rust belt. The only permanent cure is a new head.
I delivered hay with mine, a hundred miles round trip, about half on the interstate, and got 10.7 MPG. On the other hand, snowplowing, it's about three.
glennster
Well-known Member
the 460 is a good motor, lots of low end torque, good longevity. has thick cylinder walls, and can be bored up to .160 over without fear of going thru the cylinder walls. like the other guys said, great price on the truck, fuel mileage will not be the greatest. a good aftermarket dual exhaust system and something like a k&n air cleaner will squeeze a few more mpg out of the truck. great towing vehicle too. for the money, i'd buy it in a heartbeat.
largeandincharge
Member
I had 75 model with 460 amd my mom had couple of mercurys with them. They were great motors. Derived from the old 429s. drank the gas though. No matter how big the load or trailer mine always had more power but loaded or empty, fast or slow...10mpg was what it got. no more no less. Was never in shop for 100k+ i had it. I wish I had it back. The 2011 F250 my wife bought me for my birthday last may has the 6.0 Hurricane motor. It might have more power than the old 460.
dej(jed), 460s are just about as bullet-proof as an older motor can get, like others have said loads of low end torque and power. Depending on waaay tooo many variables I will say the MPG will be some where between 5 and 12 MPG.
I had an old 74 F350 Super Camper Sprcial 460 with an huge 750 Holley Carb, Auto with 4:10 rears it got 6 MPG. Put it on LP Gas it still got 6 MPG. It was unstoppable with a loaded Gooseneck Trailer loaded with cattle. I too like some of the others Would Love to have that truck back in my personal fleet today!!!!
Don't let MPG be your only criteria for this purchase. The 4x4 system itself is just about pullet-proof also!
later,
John A.
I had an old 74 F350 Super Camper Sprcial 460 with an huge 750 Holley Carb, Auto with 4:10 rears it got 6 MPG. Put it on LP Gas it still got 6 MPG. It was unstoppable with a loaded Gooseneck Trailer loaded with cattle. I too like some of the others Would Love to have that truck back in my personal fleet today!!!!
Don't let MPG be your only criteria for this purchase. The 4x4 system itself is just about pullet-proof also!
later,
John A.
Good engine. Drive about 7 miles to feed everyday and checked my milage this winter and was getting around 4, but spend a lot of time in 4wd and low gear. The right manifold needs to be retighted once a year. Its a 89 and had very little trouble with it. ITs showing its age, but I am too.
IBorange in TX
Member
I would jump on that deal in a heartbeat. I have a 96 1Ton ford 460 4x4 shortbed welding truck. I love that truck, but the wife says that I can't bring it to bed with me. It will go anywhere I need to go,of course you have to keep your foot out of the carb. It has no problem pulling a 36'gooseneck trailer load of cattle, but again keep your foot out of the carb. On the road and at 50mph, it will get5-8mpg. If you get in a hurry,it will get 4mpg. Some one on here said the 460 was the best engine in the "400"series that Ford made. I agree. The Ford 390 was the best in the "300"series. From my point of view,the 460 has power that you would not dream of in an engine. I dont like rust, but at that price, I'd jump on the deal because of my experience with the Ford 460.
HTH
mb
HTH
mb
Have had an 89 F350 460FI for 16yrs.Only has 80,000 on it.The motor and drive train is a beast.Everything else is a rust bucket.Course I live in NY.Yes it will suck gas,actually I think mine is taking a little sip as we speak.If I had to warn you about one thing,it would be the spark plugs.If you dont break them free once a year,and no dont waste your time with anti-sieze.The threads will bust off in the head.Then its nightmare city.Remember loosen and tighten plugs once a year.
Good Luck
Stan
Good Luck
Stan
We used 1 for a service truck when we first opened the tire shop. Couldnt keep torque converters in it. The carb was a great big problem Finally had to replace it. Replaced many sets of plugs and plug wires. Finally parked it and bought a ford diesel, that was a whole new set of problems.
Had a 94 F250 with the 460 and a 5 speed. Averaged 10 to 12 mpg in daily use and when doing lighter towing. Heavier towing only dropped a couple mpg.
More than a little nose heavy in muddy conditions - unbeatable in the snow.
Really wished I hadn"t had to get rid of it a couple years ago. Great farm truck. Had well over 150k on her (that"s where the speedometer broke), and probably would"ve made 300k without an engine issue.
At $1500, if it was within 2 states of me and I knew where it was, you would be too late. Seriously though, sounds like a can"t lose type of deal.
Good luck.
Tony
More than a little nose heavy in muddy conditions - unbeatable in the snow.
Really wished I hadn"t had to get rid of it a couple years ago. Great farm truck. Had well over 150k on her (that"s where the speedometer broke), and probably would"ve made 300k without an engine issue.
At $1500, if it was within 2 states of me and I knew where it was, you would be too late. Seriously though, sounds like a can"t lose type of deal.
Good luck.
Tony
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
I would sure have any 460 block sonic tested before I had it bored out any more than about .040. Otherwise, I would be worried about having to start over with another block. I don't think much of anything made since the early 60's can be bored out more than .060 safely.
Back in the 60's, a friend of mine was trying to hotrod Chevy small blocks. He bought the kit to make a 283 into a 301, which involved boring out the block to 4.00". After the first two blocks fairly quickly lost compression in several cylinders, he finally found one that survived the big bore job and lasted a couple of years. What was supposed to be a cheap way to get a super performance engine similar to the Z-28 302 ended up being pretty costly, having to machine 3 blocks. Maybe he was just unlucky in the blocks he chose, but it sure made me cautious when thinking about trying to bore an engine out very far.
Or maybe .160 over was a typo. And it would be interesting to find out how much the custom pistons to fit those big holes would end up costing...I doubt there are any on the shelf. Good luck!
Back in the 60's, a friend of mine was trying to hotrod Chevy small blocks. He bought the kit to make a 283 into a 301, which involved boring out the block to 4.00". After the first two blocks fairly quickly lost compression in several cylinders, he finally found one that survived the big bore job and lasted a couple of years. What was supposed to be a cheap way to get a super performance engine similar to the Z-28 302 ended up being pretty costly, having to machine 3 blocks. Maybe he was just unlucky in the blocks he chose, but it sure made me cautious when thinking about trying to bore an engine out very far.
Or maybe .160 over was a typo. And it would be interesting to find out how much the custom pistons to fit those big holes would end up costing...I doubt there are any on the shelf. Good luck!
If you decide not to buy it, if it is anywhere near Illinois, let me know.
email [email protected]
Sounds like a good deal, if in good shape.
Thanks, Dan
email [email protected]
Sounds like a good deal, if in good shape.
Thanks, Dan
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Sounds like an ok deal. I have a 1978 4wd f150 that I pulled the 300 I6 out of and put in a pretty built and bored 460. A little under carbed with the holley 750 on it but I get 11 mpg on highway and 8 mpg in the city with the 4 speed non-overdrive stick shift. Makes for a pretty quick truck.
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