460 rebuild-rust in all the wrong places - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

younggun460 · 02-23-2008, 18:40

i am a beginner to the rebuild game and i ran into a bit or a problem when i got the heads and oil pan off my 460 that had been sitting outside for a few years. one of the cylinders has began to rust above the piston. once i tured the block over the fun continued. a few of the cylinders have rust under the pistons also. i had planned on purchasing a ridge reamer to clean up the ones witout rust on top. is it possible to pull the piston out of the bottom of the cylinder to avoid the rust? is a ridge reamer worth it to save the other pistons/rings? with the rust in the cylinders is it likely a bore will be needed and the pistons need replaced anyway?

rodbender · 02-25-2008, 06:00

Not possible to pull the piston out the bottom. I had one with the same and beat them out from the bottom. Pistons were cashed but saved the truck rods. This particular motor was bored .040 over. so it was done. If your is a standard bore and the rust is light you may be able to save it. Try to get the crank out so you don't hit it.

younggun460 · 02-25-2008, 20:05

thank you very much. im going to be honest my knowlege is limited to magazines and a few books and i am probably in over my head but im going to try and get it done anyway. it still has the standard bore tho. what kind of pistons will be the best on a budget?

rodbender · 02-25-2008, 23:18

If you're going to run it hard, you can't beat forged.

younggun460 · 02-26-2008, 18:37

good to know. the cam is toast also. any suggestions?

rodbender · 02-26-2008, 18:48

Depends on what its going in and what style of driving

rodbender · 02-27-2008, 06:06

I bought Ford's A443 cam for my 32. But I'm thinking I might go a little more. The 460 I'm building has the Aluminum CJ heads with tunnel ram and a couple of 600 holleys. I'm hoping to get 500-550 horse out of it.

younggun460 · 02-27-2008, 17:08

its going to get dropped into a 63 f250 just for a beefy sunday driver with some occasional agressive driving.

rodbender · 02-27-2008, 17:24

My brother had a 429 in a 55 shortbed. The motor was stock from a 69 'bird. At 55 mi/hr you could floor it and break the tires loose. Put a decent cam in it to make it efficient. The cubes will take care of the rest. That ol' truck 'll fly. Just watch that slow-assed steering!lol

Paul Kane · 02-28-2008, 11:57

The corrosion on the engine block and heads is no problem. Get the parts thermocleaned and they will look brand new. I've seen some horribly rusted parts (looked like they were dumped in an ocean and completely rust orange) but once cleaned they were fine. Worst case scenario would be pitted cylinders that may dictate some overboring.

Paul