bench build / pipe dream F250

[Russell]

I have been looking at 1979 and older extened or crew cab trucks on craigslist. They are few and far between. Been thinking about getting a truck for my next project vehicle, b/c its nice to have a truck and maybe I can have one less vehicle. I am looking for cab+ because family and 1979 or older b/c NC is very inspection unfriendly on anything younger than 35 years old.

What would it take to get a 460 C6 F250 to run 12.50s? Could it be done cheaply? Any idea what the Cd and frontal area of a barn door... err F250 is

[Beagle]

estimate CD at .50 or worse, maybe .55 ... Frontal Area is gonna depend on how much lift it has I think. I'm guessing about 17 cda - I am sure it's really bad, but that almost seems high.

Turbo seems like a natural for your goals, the cast pistons are gonna be the weak point I think... but they're about right compression ratio wise for a turbo. I think my '77 460 measured up like 7.8:1 - abysmal for a N/A mill, but I think it would run on skunk pee. Look for a turbo off an N14 Cummins or something about that size, pretty big a/r. The one I got was for an 11 liter diesel, T6 sized exhaust. 500 hp with 14 pounds of boost should be pretty doable, and it would take all of that to the ground to get you into the mid 12's is my bet. Might be entertaining to see how long the cast slugs hold up.

One nice thing is a 9" is pretty straightforward to change pumpkins in so you could always bounce from 4.56's or 4.88's back to a 3.50 "highway friendlier / mpg" gear. The C6 is a beast, not hard to make live with mucho torque.... An AOD is gonna be bucks up, I'd think a Gear Vendors / C6 would be cost competitive to a built AOD. I wouldn't bother with the E4od / 4R100 although it could be made to live, not sure if I'd want to jack with the electronics.

The EFI 460's use different heads / intakes / exhaust so if you start thinking EFI, it's something to keep in mind. They make headers for both, but intakes are limited for the EFI heads.

[SuperBuickGuy]

why not put a diesel in it?

[BBR]

"MrScharfenberger" on 460Ford.com used to have a long bed 460 powered F100 that ran 7.0's in the 8th on motor.

[squirrel]

One nice thing is a 9" is pretty straightforward to change pumpkins

F250 used a Dana 60 rear end

I got my 59 chevy half ton long bed to run low 14s on the cheap.

My 80 Chevy C20 weighs 4500 lbs. with a small block.

Good luck, it's gonna be tough

[Russell]

Are the newer EFI short blocks the same at the late 70's?

I would love to do a turbo, that brings up the EFI conversion v/s blow through debate... 14 psi sounds like a lot to me on a stock 70's mill maybe on e85 race gas or with water meth injection it might live. Would really like somethink to run on pump gas, Water Meth might not be to bad.


Diesel, could be really cool, I know enough to be dangerous on a gas engine. Really the only think I know about diesel is where to put the fuel and the oil. With my limited time I dont know that I would ever finish the swap. If I desided to go diesel I might be able to get a newer truck, leave the stock emissions equipment (egr? cat?) and the gov't will not give me a hard time (I think). But that makes the buy in a lot higher. Don't forget there is nothing cheap about a diesel. I liked the Cummins I had but by the time they get my price range the dodge has issues.

http://eastnc.craigslist.org/pts/4526481922.html

[Beagle]

Thanks Squirrel - I went brain dead on the F250 having a bigger rear.. for some reason I was thinking about the 8.8 in my extended cab half ton v. 9" in an older half ton, and remembering that they put 460's in half ton dent sides.

Russell, the 460Ford.com board BBR mentions has "Horsepower Recipe" pages that will give you an idea of what you can expect from mods and what starts needing attention on NA mills. What looks like a big cam for a 302 will be a lot milder in a 460...

I like the meth injection / blow through idea, that was the way I'll do it if I ever get started, so much other stuff going on. You can stage a build up on a 460 already in a truck, which seems to me to be much easier than doing a diesel conversion.

[Aircooled]

Horsepower is not the primary obstacle to getting a 3/4 ton, big block truck into the 12's.

[Barry Donovan]

the f250 in 3/4 ton and beyond can hold up a 3208 cat.
Not sure why drag race times would be a target for the real steel trucks of old.
I owned a 1974 f100 with the older high compression 302. 3 on the floor.. greatest truck ever. squishy soft front suspension, still freight the back.
Chevy has always been funny with the small block, drag race them, but ford is the long stroker, real farmer.

to alter the pipe dream:
I just found a cummins diesel with 9500 miles on it at auction, (tow vehicle at an airport).
This is a chassis to drop that young stuff right into...computer and all.

[Russell]

Horsepower is not the primary obstacle to getting a 3/4 ton, big block truck into the 12's.

Traction?

[BBR]

Found his page. http://mrscharfenberger.com/F100/index.aspx

[Beagle]

Dentsides...



I found a couple of LB extra cab F150's, a shortbed extra cab F150 (Want!) , and a shortbed regular cab (WANT! ) with a 460 in my quick search today. Thanks Russell.. ya turd. lol. Are you stuck on the F250? If they ride like mine does, you need dental insurance for the fillings you'll drop!

[Russell]

Around here I don't see many super cab f150 most are 250 or 350. After having a LB I don't want to down size to a SB. I was less than impressed with the hauling towing capacity of my old 95 f150. It need way more spring. Oh beagle this is my pipe dream get back to work on the mustang!

[squirrel]

It's ok to have a "work truck" that is slow....just sayin'

[Russell]

If I get a truck to be my toy I would like to know if I could make it quick. I am thinking about selling my mustangs and ranger to free up some space and cash. I will never have the fastest vehicle there will always be someone faster. At first it would most likely just get a new intake and carb. Maybe a new camshaft. But if its not going to be fun I rather build a car.