Engines

Like 1tireman says, as long as we are just cruising around town and taking in local car events who cares what the MPG is? Some people and some engines do much better than others. But most of us won't trade our toys if we don't get great fuel mileage.
Wife told me when her and our son took my wagon to town today he burned rubber and the rear end got a little squirrely. Damned kids!
His excuse, when pulling out of the gas station onto the four lane it was busy and he had to go or wait a long time.

 

QUOTE=CatModelT;232229]
His excuse, when pulling out of the gas station onto the four lane it was busy and he had to go or wait a long time.[/QUOTE]

The truck of my dad's I cruised in as a teen was a 3 on the tree, 6cyl. chevy pick-up, I used the "Foot slipped off the clutch because my shoes had water/oil on them" excuse more than once back then...don't think he he ever bought it!

 

1970 460 lincoln head w/ rocker studs. I get the beefy bb chevy studs and nylocks as the stock ford taper shafts sucks.

 

.......I didn't know Ford made such a thing !! , but seriuosly when I worked in the machine shop and doing heads was my job, Ford was the worst for wear, made from butter I used to say. But what I seen and remember in the day, a 289 or 302 was a not bad little powerhouse. If you wanted more then go with a 390. 351's, ford made 3 different ones couldn't make up their mind and swaping parts between them was a headache if came to searching. But whatever you buy make sure you get everything for it like brackets etc cause ford is not one for good interchangability.

 

OK, Johnny..what would you recommend?

 

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....................I never drove a ford motor in my life. I don't recall seeing what wagon you are building but since it is probably a heavier car, I would choose a later 60's 390. Stock is probably all you need and not waste money building it up. Maybe just headers, intake and a carb , simple bolt on items would be my pick. I do remember 302's in 68 in cougars and even the full size galaxy's that actually ran pretty good , but it's tonque might hang out abit moving the wagon. The worst ford motor I ever seen was the 352 pig. My uncle had one in a 63 ford wagon. Nothing but grief, and when it blew cruising down the highway all that was left was the crankshaft. There were a few around here and my 58 chevy 283 beat them all. Good luck.

 

The 69 70 71 lincoln 460 in my f250 pulled everyone on the grade and cooled off as it went up. Valves as big as texas. Ran on Super only. The BB chevy is crack prone but a cheap build for the hp you get. The BB buick is lightest. pontiac 400 probably best mpg, olds are stout on the bottom end and an early 400 will scream. The small block buick is a fave of mine and torque can be compensated with gears
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_V8_engine.

 

are 460's cheap?

 

maybe, .... ya just need to know what you are really getting and unless you are a buyer who wins the lottery re-cheap and drop in, you have to expect to have too put some $ into it before you can just drop it in and drive..... Ford, GM, MOPAR all the same when it comes to "cheap", 460 gona be a gas pig no matter what anyone tells ya, so expect that at the gas pump.... Your going to have a bullet proof engine if you do it rite but it's gona.....

 

Had a 460 in a Ford supercab. Right after waurantee ran out so did the engine. Like 10,002 miles. Ford rebuilt and shortly the second 460 started making weird sounds and it had valve float like the first one at low RPM and low speed. . Got rid of that sucker and now the only Ford I look at have flat heads or 4-cylinder engines.
Gotta admit that 460 ran good when it ran.
Did have a 302 IN A 49 Ford that I liked.

 

I still think I would be better off, overall, with the 351.

 

The 69 - 71 Lincoln is a easy find at junkyards here. Pop the valve covers and look for sludge, mushroomed valve stem. In a f250 I got 12 mpg towing with a packed bed or empty. My BB 72 c10 got 15 mpg but seemed to put out a lot of heat.

 

w c or m. Imma gonna thrash my 351m so I'll update. 351c just a great engine. 351w long production run with lotsa parts.

 

351W...This engine should live a long time as it will be built for torque and not see more than 5-6k rpms, improved oiling systems. Heavy duty ( not race) bearings and valve train, shorty headers, that sort of thing.

 

Come on guys! What the H E double toothpicks is up with all the bologna about gas mileage? What are we all driving, Subaru's?!! I know it is an important subject matter but we're talking about engines here. Stong running and reliable engines. There is a forum somewhere if you want to talk about MPG. I doubt any of the cars people here are talking about are going to be driving the kids to school every day. Sure there are some that are destined to do that exact thing, but must we do it here?

Sorry about that, but I just thought that the MPG stuff needed to have the KYBASH put on it before it got out of hand. I pay $3.69 for a gallon of gas down here in Oregon and I am sure there are other places where it is much more, but why did we decide to save these beasts of burden in the first place? It sure wasn't because they got better gas mileage that the neighbors VW!
Again. I am sorry but I think it needed to be said.
Dave