This is my 1972 Ford Ltd Wagon. Currently is has a 400m that I will be replacing. With a mostly stock 460. I am wanting to use a single turbo with a blow thru carb. I am sure lots of questions will follow.

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I have found Captiangriffin's build very inspiring. Reading his build and watching his videos especially those of DW really got me excited to get this project rolling again.

I did have questions about timing control for my project. I am wanting to be able to retard the timing as the bost increases. I am wondering what folks are using to accomplish this. I will be using a blow through carb . Any suggestions would be appreciated

 

What is your power goal for the project? Street or race car?

MSD 6530 seems to be the way to go on timing control. Your project is similar to mine, except I started by boosting the 400m. Excited to see where it goes.

 

Read up. Learn to read compressor maps. Set clear goals.....this will lead to a target horsepower goal ....oversize your fuel system for future growth....you WILL turn up the boost, dont lie to yourself...lol

The MSD 6530 box is one of the easiest ways to get started and works well for a mild/first time build

Many (including myself) have had good luck with DIY blow through carbs....others struggle. If you are confident in your carb tuning ability....i suggest giving it a shot....if not....spend the $$ to have one build. At that point EFI becomes a cost effective solution (depending on a lot of things)

i have a twin turbo 460 jet boat build that may or may not help....search "nordic turbo" and it should come up.

tbird has a blowthrough remote mount S480 on a 460 in a 70's thunderbird that is definitely worth looking up and applies more towards your build

Good luck

 

Sorry I should have been clear about my goals. I was sending it from a tablet and typing on that thing is a pain.
I got the car 3 years ago. My plan was to have it ready to do Drag Week on my 50th birthday. Well life happened and I lost interest in the project. My daughter was in college at the time and I just felt a bit guilty spending money on myself while we were struggling to get her graduated. Flash forward..she graduated this past spring. Now mu budget isnt endless. I still have family responsibilities and only want to spend the money I make from overtime on this project... I may even name it Overtime.
I do have a local 1/8 track less than 15 miles away. So the ability to drive it there and back would be great.

My goals are

1) 7.80's 1/8 mile et
2) Build it so I can run a DW type of event on my 55th birthday.

So its going to have to be reliable.

I was a mechanic for 20 plus years and I also was a certified welder at one time. I have tig mig welders here and can weld aluminum and stainless steel. I feel this will be a big help when it comes to building the hot/cold side . I can do all the work on the drive train and electricals myslelf. Any engine machining I will have to have done. I want to use factory type heads...aluminum stuff is way out of my budget. I currently have 2 460s and a set of DOVE heads.

Hopefully this help you guys help me.

 

How does the 6530 control the timing? I mean how does it know the boost levels in order to retard the timing. I am guessing a map sensor of some kind? I just didnt see the provisions for it in the literature that I could find.

 

It uses a MAP sensor. The sensor selection is configurable in the software. For boost you will want a 2 or 3 bar sensor.

You can alter timing in 2 ways.....rpm and manifold pressure. Each is a separate curve. So you cant retard timing at a certain rpm AND boost. You also cant retard timing on the 2 step (helps build boost for launch). But you CAN retard timing off a launch and ramp it back in.

You set timing at the highest advance you would ever want. Then the box delays the spark based on the curves you specify. If you are comfortable with mechanical advance and vacuum (manifold pressure) advance tuning....it is just a different method of doing the same thing

 

Wallace calculator spit out 470 hp to run 7.80 at 4500 lbs. Not a big goal... Easy to do with stock parts. For your goal i would overshoot on power by a bit since the calculators are "perfect" world.....

Shoot for 550 hp....put a mild cam and springs in the 460.....~ 350 hp....grab an S475 and run 9 psi of boost.....should be easy non intercooled on pump gas. There are many ways to get to your goal.

You may find twins will be easier to package. If you get some cheap china turbos with integrated wastegates it would even be cheaper.

 

If E85 is an option, use it. Much more forgiving of tuning mistakes. Only a couple downfalls..... availability and need more fuel system. Some have issues with corrosion, i never have in a carb application. But, i do drain my carbs for winter.

 

About what I was thinking...I dont think it would be hard to do at all. I think its going to be a awesome sleeper for sure.

 

If you run E85 on a low compression 460 on low boost...i wouldnt even worry about retarding timing. Just run a little less total advance. Just set your total timing around 30* and you "should" be fine. Start low on timing and work your way up. Jmho on a budget build.

If going premium pump gas....i would consider boost retard capability almost mandatory.

If it is in the budget....a properly sized intercooler and boost retard is worth the $$ if you see you power goal increasing.

 

If you only need 470hp to hit your goals an NA 460 will be a much simpler, likely more cost effective solution. A descent set of heads and a cam will get you there on a very mild combo.

If you aren't looking to make big power a turbo 460 is an expensive pain in the tail, a turbo 351w will get you there cheaper, easier to build and maintain, stronger stock bottom end, lighter package and will use a lot less fuel for drag week.

If you already have the 460 laying around you will want to put a descent cam in it, most of the stock cams are done by around 4000rpm. The RHP DIY porting guide is well worth the $25 and $50 in burrs/abrasives. You can get close to 470hp on just DIY head porting and a little wilder cam, If you are going to rev past 6k you need to look at the bottom end.

550hp is achievable with a set of trick flow heads and a hydraulic flat tappet cam.

 

I can't help but think you would be way better to do a N/A 460 build to meet your stated goals. Now, if all you want is a turbo in your life, then by all means... But, if your goals are ET and reliability based, then a N/A 460 will absolutely get you there. For reference, my friend here has a N/A stock bore and stroke 460 in a 61 Starliner with a healthy cam and some old Alum. Super Cobra Jet heads. Runs 7.0's all day long and will drive to any track in the USA.

If that car was mine, and I wasn't married to the idea of a turbo......... I would do a NA 460 with some of the decent heads available now, a Roller cam, and a built AOD. Would run 6's if you put it on a tire, or 7's all day on a street radial and drive cross country with no worries except the next gas station. If you are cash strapped, then I know some of the ported stock stuff can make big power too, but might require a few weekends of sitting on a stool at the workbench making millions of tiny razor blades.

 

Just outside checking for some measurements..thought I would put some more pictures up.....I would stick around a chat more but just got called i

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I think a turbo 460 is still what I want. It might be faster than I had planned. I am going to be new to this drag racing thing. I figured 12's would be a safe place to start.

 

It will give you room to grow for sure.

 

^they are correct....100%>>>>> based on your stated goals.

However, its damn difficult to "turn up" an NA combo......depends on YOUR priorities.

 

Aint no shame in that game! Saves you from having to study the engine. A stock 460 with a valvespring and timing chain upgrade with a properly sized turbo should be good for what you want to do. Won't RPM. Won't get 20mpg. Won't make cool boogity boogity idle sounds. But, it will make you grim from ear to ear and your passengers shit solid gold bricks.

 

Going to be hitting the brakes a bit. After doing more research I dont think I can build exactly without spending more money. The kind of power we are talking about in such a heavy car is going to reek havoc on a transmission. I will probably need to spend good money on a convertor and transmission. The transmission I think I can do myself....the convertor no way. If this car was 1500 pounds lighter I would move ahead .
So here is where I am going...I am going to just over haul the 400 a bit.. put in forged flat top 351 cleveland pistons and a small cam. Port the heads mill em down to get around 9-1. I will then turbo it with a single turbo. I will build the system myself, including headers etc. I will use this as a test bed. I will get the chance to work on tuning etc without being to worried about blowing it up.

I will start working on the 2 460s I have ..I really want to build a 557 ...so I will have longer to build what I want.

What do you guys think?

 

Like mentioned above, if 7.80 in the 1/8 is your goal, a fairly stock 460 will do it. A stock-mild C6 will handle the power. A "decent" converter will set you back about $500 for it. So mild 460, 3000 stall, 3.7 gear, and some tires and you're probably at your ET goal. If not, a 100 shot will for sure do the trick. Budget 3-4 grand for the project.