If nothing else, Ford’s 460 cubic inch (7.5 liter metric equivalent) V8 has some tenacious staying power. Derived from the brand’s 429 cubic inch muscle car V8, the 460 was more focused on torque for motivating heavy luxury cars like those from Lincoln, which was the exclusive recipient of the 460 for its first several years.
Later, the motor would power more commonplace Fords such as the Thunderbird, and several generations of F-series pickup trucks. In its early guise, the 460 was rated for 365 horsepower and a stump-pulling 485 pound-feet of torque — though those “gross” measurements of the time would be lower in real world “net” terms that are used today.
Like other domestic big block V8s, the 460 was eventually choked by primitive emissions equipment and low octane fuel during the 1970s “malaise era,” and leisurely produced only about 200 horsepower for all its largess. Over the following two decades, modern technology like fuel injection would redeem the biggest Ford V8, with net horsepower reaching 245 ponies and 485 pound-feet of torque by its final production year of 1998.
Due to its long production run and ready availability, the 460 remains a popular and budget friendly choice for modern drag racers and hot rodders. With a few performance parts like freer-flowing intake and exhaust manifolds, these former truck engines can make over 500 horsepower without even breaking a sweat.
[Featured image by sfoskett via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY-SA 3.0]
