EDIT! Found my problem. Throttle linkage wasn't let me get all of the throttle. Fixed that all seems ok now. Should I still pursue the preferred timing advance restrictors? It seems to run fine to me now. I haven't had a chance to check MPGs yet. That may change my opinion! I also think I will check my timing curve soon just to see that I get my power where I want it.
I have an 89 F250 4x4 with a 460. To me, it doesn't seem to have the acceleration or pep that it should have. Here is what I know about it so far... Holley Offroad Avenger 670, regular pump gas, D8VE heads, headers, and Performer intake. I have no reason to believe there is anything other than stock about the engine internals. When I bought the truck, I was told the engine had about 25k miles. If there is an aftermarket cam in it, I can't hear it. I'm not hearing any knocking or pinging... its not smoking or anything. The oil pressure is good. All indications are that it is just fine mechanically. So, I read up on timing figuring that might be the best place to look. I checked the timing to be 15*BTC. Then I realized I had left the vacuum hooked up (connected to spark advance port). I pulled it off and it dropped to 8*. I never could get the vacuum to stop at that port so I swapped the carb for a Street Avenger 670 that I had on shelf and knew to be good. I then set my timing to 10* and took it for a spin. Still gutless. I took my distributor apart to see what advance restrictors were in it. It had the 18L and 21L. Having read about the preferences on these engines of having 10L and 13L, I figured I was giving 36* mechanical plus the 10* initial and that would be too much. So, while I didn't have the preferred advance restrictors, I could steal a 10L and 15L from my Windsor distributor I had in garage. I used it on the 15L setting. My thought being that I wouldn't likely be perfect, but should see some improvement. Then I set my initial at 11 or 12*. Still gutless. The only improvement I have seen is that it starts up a lot better with the Street Avenger carb swap.
Am I looking in the wrong places for my issue? Did I do anything wrong? What else would you all try?
reckon my expectations for a stock 460 on a large truck are just too high?
Thanks for any advice!
I have an 89 F250 4x4 with a 460. To me, it doesn't seem to have the acceleration or pep that it should have. Here is what I know about it so far... Holley Offroad Avenger 670, regular pump gas, D8VE heads, headers, and Performer intake. I have no reason to believe there is anything other than stock about the engine internals. When I bought the truck, I was told the engine had about 25k miles. If there is an aftermarket cam in it, I can't hear it. I'm not hearing any knocking or pinging... its not smoking or anything. The oil pressure is good. All indications are that it is just fine mechanically. So, I read up on timing figuring that might be the best place to look. I checked the timing to be 15*BTC. Then I realized I had left the vacuum hooked up (connected to spark advance port). I pulled it off and it dropped to 8*. I never could get the vacuum to stop at that port so I swapped the carb for a Street Avenger 670 that I had on shelf and knew to be good. I then set my timing to 10* and took it for a spin. Still gutless. I took my distributor apart to see what advance restrictors were in it. It had the 18L and 21L. Having read about the preferences on these engines of having 10L and 13L, I figured I was giving 36* mechanical plus the 10* initial and that would be too much. So, while I didn't have the preferred advance restrictors, I could steal a 10L and 15L from my Windsor distributor I had in garage. I used it on the 15L setting. My thought being that I wouldn't likely be perfect, but should see some improvement. Then I set my initial at 11 or 12*. Still gutless. The only improvement I have seen is that it starts up a lot better with the Street Avenger carb swap.
Am I looking in the wrong places for my issue? Did I do anything wrong? What else would you all try?
reckon my expectations for a stock 460 on a large truck are just too high?
Thanks for any advice!