I finally found the problem with my 460!

[76 Sleekcraft]

If you have followed the post "Ford guys please help", you know that the 460 was blowing oil out of every orifice it had, mainly around the distributor.
I took the engine apart last night and was surprised to what I found!
On 4 of the 8 pistons, the ring gaps were perfectly lined up! No damn wonder it was pressurizing the crankcase.
Upon careful inspection, we discovered that the engine had never been apart. Talking with the orig. owner confirmed this. He did not remember it blowing oil, because it sat for several years before I got it. Likely story. The rings were not stuck. There were no holes in the pistons,
No broken skirts. Just 4 pistons with the rings in perfect alignment. Damn! you gotta hate it when that happens!
Now its a rebuild, and while I'm at it, do the pump too. Lets see, now all I need is money, guess the WaveVenture's got to go! Any takers? :D

[Blown 472]

I have had that happen to me, when you put new rings on space them using the (dare I say it) bbc ring spacing pattern, I have had better luck with that. Btw, your rings will walk around the piston and probably line up agian but with a rebuild and new tight rings should not make a diff with the correct ring end gap.

[058]

Since you are rebuilding the engine get the file-to-fit rings and set the end gaps yourself. I have found some "ready to install" rings with over .032" end gaps.

[SUI-CY-COLE]

do they still make the 460 wth the distributor in the wrong end of the block?hahahahaha,,i agree with 058, file fit them,,much better!!spend the whole extra 40 minutes doing them you'll be happy with it,,,daily driver or race,it dont matter.file fit it per the instructions the ring manu. gives you.

[76 Sleekcraft]

I plan to follow my GM rebuild procedure on the ford (ugh) Its the first 460 I've had. This is also the first engine I have ever had that the ring gaps were lined up. I figured that they were put in wrong from the factory.
Who knows ........
Gonna switch the timing, clean up the heads, and change the cam. \
Anyone use the jetboat cam from lunatti(sp)?

[SeaYaBye]

Use the Lunati or FoMoCo A-443 with a 429 timing gear set-up[advaces it about 8 degrees] Should work good! Glad you figured out the problem with your engine. Look at it this way...now you get to put it back together and know it's right! Good Luck T.R.C.

[hack job]

isky makes a pretty good cam for a ford i belive its a mega 278 its pretty good for a mild application! and stock valve train! as for the rign gap iam with 58 do the gap your self with a ring file and what not . its better. gald it was some thing that you could spot and you didnt have to put it back toghter again WONDERING! wink :D

[hack job]

oh and if you need that cam i happen to have one laying around iam pretty sure!

[Brendella]

i HAVE A CLAY SMITH CAM ,SPRINGS ECT. AND SOME TRW FORGE .40 OVER DISHED PISTONS
LET ME KNOW IF INTERRESTED

[Fiat48]

Rings rotate. Think about it. Do you really believe that the ring gaps lining up caused that muich crankcase pressure?

[76 Sleekcraft]

What else could it be?
:confused:

[MikeF]

What is the piston to wall clearance, or is the cylinder out of round? Two possibilities...

[HOSS]

I use the Lunati cam for jets(460). This bumpstick sounds awsome! You won`t be disappointed. Can`t find lunati catalog and price sheet. Wife could be up to no good. Will keep looking. Make sure you get the kit, this will contain correct springs for Thumper cam.

[Cantrip]

Fiat48:
Rings rotate. Think about it. Do you really believe that the ring gaps lining up caused that muich crankcase pressure?Hell yeah that could have caused it !!!!! If it only did it on one or two cylinders it would create a huge amount of crank case pressure. Combustion is a violent thing, better kept in the combustion chamber.... I guess the only other thing that could cause it is a cracked cylinder, hole in the piston, worn cylinder walls/rings, valve stem seals possibly, etc...
[ November 07, 2002, 10:41 AM: Message edited by: Cantrip ]

[Floored]

my 96 harley started using oil going to sturgis, when I got back it showed 20% leakdown. Pulled cylinders and all rings including the oil rails were lined up. Put in Total Seal rings and life was good again. Bike was only 1 1/2 yrs old at time. It can happen to anyone I guess.

[mister460]

Sorry guys. When an engine is running the ring gaps should be almost zero. The gaps lining up would not cause a noticeable increase in crankcase pressure. They could have been over heated sometime in their life and quit sealing well but the gaps just lining up would not do it. When it was sitting for so long the rings probably corroded slightly and when it was started they didn't seal correctly.

[Rexone]

mister460:
Sorry guys. When an engine is running the ring gaps should be almost zero. The gaps lining up would not cause a noticeable increase in crankcase pressure. They could have been over heated sometime in their life and quit sealing well but the gaps just lining up would not do it. When it was sitting for so long the rings probably corroded slightly and when it was started they didn't seal correctly.I agree, with "proper" ring gap at running temp the gap distance is minimal and not enough to significantly affect crankcase pressure. Now if the rings were really worn and the gaps were huge they would cause a problem (but not because the gaps were aligned)...there would be a problem regardless if worn that bad. Normally also if they're worn that much they're gonna leak right by the ring somewhat as well, not just through the gaps.

[malcolm]

Right on Fiat, 460, and Rex!

[LeE ss13]

You guys run rings with GAPS ??? Childs & Alberts ZGTF, the only way to go !!!

[HOSS]

I totally agree. There is no other way to go than total seal rings! Bang for buck and insurance.

[Fiat48]

Rebuilding a 460 Ford for a customer now that has been racing it the past 6 years. As I am a fan of C&A rings, I was surprised that is no listing for a 5/64 .030 over ring. So we will have no choice but to use the Speed Pro set. Just passing this info along.