454 vs 460 - Page 2

ipso_facto · 07-06-2005, 05:11 PM

The only thing about 7.5L I can say is that it tends to drink oil, about 1qt/1000 miles. This is normal for it. Maybe it depends on RPMs. I have no overdrive and usually drive at 3,000 rpms.

Other than that, no complaints. Usual electrical problems due to age (fuel pump, power windows) but the engine runs nicely with a fresh tune-up.

Same abysmally low mileage as a 7.4L but you already knew that.

Silvertwinkie · 07-06-2005, 05:17 PM

Well, this kind of opens up the Ford vs. Chevy thing, but to me, having driven, towed and had fun with a 454 Suburban....it really is a great engine. Kicked around a 460. Nice, but I liked the 454. Smooth, powerful, well built and easy to work on.

No Greenpeace membership card for either...but you do get an honorary membership to OPEC with either and a free credit card credit limit for those frequent gas station visits!

**wahoonc** · 07-06-2005, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silvertwinkie

...but you do get an honorary membership to OPEC with either and a free credit card credit limit for those frequent gas station visits!

The gas station I use must not have gotten the word...those clowns cut the pump off at $50 if you use the credit card outside...it seems that is what the computer system "prequalifies" the credit cards at...that is fine...if you have a freakin' Honda or something. But my FORD

has a 34 gallon tank and I usually put 30+ gallons in it. And at the current exchange rate of $2.1699 that works out to more than the limit

BTW I am not going to enter the Ford/Chevy debate...they have BOTH irritated me beyond belief at one point or another...

Aaron

ALANSD · 07-07-2005, 07:25 AM

Airstream offered the Gillig Chassis model for only one model yr, it did not sell very well, and was discontinued. It was known to have poor mileage ratings. The Chevrolet motor has been offered in various forms since the start and is still offered in the Land Yacht models. Not to say that the big Chev gets great mileage either, just somewhat better.

You will find that many, many Motorhomes of different brands used the P30 or similiar set up. Though there are a lot of Ford powered SOB rigs out there, it seems the Chevy is more sought after.

62 Overlander · 07-07-2005, 01:40 PM

As has been said above, it depended on the chassis used by Airstream. I had a 1996 Airstream Cutter with a 460 and sold it in 2003 with 118,000 miles and no problems. There were/are a bunch of chassis available on different coaches. Some brands even offered a choice of Ford or GM. I don't know about now, but the majority of chassis manufacturers like John Deere or Gillig used the 460. I had two GM pickups in the 80's with 454s and both were a disappointment. They used oil like there was no tomorrow, a reason I am told they came out with the Mark V version. They ran hot frying starters and exhaust manifolds. One dropped a valve at 29,000 miles with catastrophic consequences both to my wallet and the motor. One thing I liked about my '96 Airstream was that it used Ford's industrial version of the 460 with no catalytic converter and it had a 275 hp rating as opposed to the 245 hp rating in the light truck line.

Silvertwinkie · 07-07-2005, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 62 Overlander

I had two GM pickups in the 80's with 454s and both were a disappointment. They used oil like there was no tomorrow

That's shocking to me....we had an '85 454 that had 165k on it...never burned a drop.

62 Overlander · 07-07-2005, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silvertwinkie

That's shocking to me....we had an '85 454 that had 165k on it...never burned a drop.

The local dealer, Vandergriff Chevrolet in Arlington, TX swore that 500 miles to the quart was normal for a big block engine. The 82 model used it at that rate, but the odd thing was it never showed a fouled plug or any smoke out of the exhaust. I never could figure out where it was going. I sold it in '84 with 90,000 miles and it was still using the same amount. I bought a Ford F350 with a 460 which ran great - until the sorry Holly carb. being prone as they are to fuel bowl leaks, caught fire and finished off the truck. So back to GM this time a GMC I went, and everything was fine, it's oil usage was about 1,200 miles/qt. Actually, even though it had the same gear ratio, it would outpull the '82 model. Then I dropped a valve while pulling Raton Pass crossing from Colorado into New Mexico with a Coachmen 5th wheel. So - the eighties weren't the best trucks I ever owned, not like the '90s. I've still got a '95 F350 with a 460 and it is pushing 300k on the original engine with only one tranny replacement - it's by far the longest lived of any vehicle I've owned, I'm hanging onto it to see just how far it will go. Lately it's been back to work pulling a 5th wheel full of cabinets from Dallas to Houston.

swebster · 07-07-2005, 05:58 PM

Quote:

it seems that is what the computer system "prequalifies" the credit cards at...that is fine...if you have a freakin' Honda or something

Aaron,
Try filling up an 80 gallon motorhome tank on a $50 cutoff pump. It's bad enough that you're pouring close to 2 bills into the tank but to make me re-authorize three to four times is just plain mean.

alfalsetto · 07-07-2005, 10:58 PM

Diesel!!!!!

REDNAX · 04-21-2008, 08:32 PM

The 460 is the better design of the two. GM, as always, had more money to keep their engine competitive but of these two the Ford was the best. Unfortunately, Ford never really gave it a great ignition or fuel delivery (until near the end). GM hobbled their motor with a poor camshaft . . . .

Etcetera, etcetera. It's a tossup, as, in truth, both engines were given just enough money to keep them going until a new generation of engines were developed.

Both are easily re-manufactured to a higher standard, with better flowing heads.