485 HP 460 Vs 535 HP 460

[rsimoes]

I'm trying to decide between Ford Crate 460 with 485 HP vs. the 535 HP one.

They are the same price.

The 535 HP 460's powerband is from 2500 to 6500.

The 485 HP 460's powerband is from 1500 to 6500.

It seems the 485 is better for the street, where I'll have the car most of the time.

Am I wrong? Any suggestions? Comments? Anyone have these engines?
Thanks!

[RallySnake]

When I built my smallblock in 1983, I used the most radical drag racing parts available to get maximum horsepower. I had a solid lifter cam that was asleep until 4000 rpm. When you got to 5500, oh boy! But, the car was just terrible to drive on the street.

After 20 years of "de-tuning" the engine, I now have a happy car that pulls in fifth gear from 1500 rpm. Maybe it makes a maximum of 400 HP instead of the 485 that would guarantee wheelspin, but it is so much more fun and easier to drive. It will actually idle, too!

Paul

[Bannon]

When I ordered my SPF, the Olthoffs told me that the 485 hp version is the only one that they put in the cars due to it's more favorable street manners. (Dual plane manifold and milder cam) From what I understand the 535 hp version does not like to run as smoothly or pull as hard under 2000 rpm. With the Tremec TKO, 60 MPH is right at 2000 rpm with 3.73 gears so you may find yourself tending to shift from 4th to 5th and back around this cruising speed.

I had to ask myself would I really miss 50 HP at this level of performance. Nah...

I do have to qualify my statements by saying I have never driven a 535 powered car, but the 485 version had fantastic power but was also very mild mannered if you kept your foot out of it. You could drive around at 45 mph in 5th gear pulling 1700 rpm and accelerate right on out with no balking.


Hope this helps...

JB

[TheSaint71]

Rallysnake,

Why was it so terrible to drive on the street? with 485 ponnies?


Jamin

[Hal Copple]

I think "streetability" is very important to one's enjoyment of a Replica. I have a custom built stroked Olthoff Windsor, not a 460 engine, with a dual plane, Pro Holley HP, a hot Motorsports cam, etc.

But i can trundle around in my .68 fifth gear at 1000 rpm, without protest or stumble, and accelerate from this speed, about 35 mph, very smoothly. I was showing this to a prospective purchaser recently, i had him slow to an even 1000 rpm, then accelerate. He was impressed.

Yet my engine's dyno curve shows the power curve still going up until right at 6000 rpm, too. I have somewhere between 460 and 480 hp, depending on the ambiant temps and such.

But one does have to accept some compromises Vs. all-out high RPM power. I know some guys with similar engines with single plane manifolds, and their engines are not nearly so happy at the low rpm my engine loafs along at. What it means is the difference in rolling along in traffic at 1000-15000 rpm, restful and peaceful-like, or running in a lower gear with all that noise and wear, which of course i chose to do sometimes for fun.

It also means i can cruise the back roads in fifth at any speed, without having to constantly shift to keep my engine in some narrower powerband. Remember, it is torque that accelerates the car.

Besides, i have heard that the valvespring pressure on the higher horsepower big blocks are not meant for any reasonable street durability. It is a drag race motor, not really meant for street use.

At now over 50K miles, my motor is strong, leak-free, and runs with the same power it always had. All I have done is change my oil and filter appropriately.

I think there is a realistic limit of how much power a driver can (safely) use in one of these cars out on the street. I drove up and back to Charlotte lalst night, just to get out under the stars. About 50 miles. I did not have any opportunity to fully thottle my engine, even when leaving several interstate rest-stops. I have many hundreds of miles on road race courses, and over 60 quarter mile runs. These are pretty much the only time's i actually use all my engine's power, as i am ever vigilant of the unforgiving nature of my car, if i am ever even momentarily careless.

I thing one better be a pro-ability driver if he plans to actually frequently use 500+ hp in one of these cars. I am not.

[Tony Aprile]

I also purchased mine from the Olthoff's, and as Bannon said they only install the 485 hp. The dyno numbers were a little off from the advertised spec's where my hp was 471 @ 5300 but the torque was 508 @ 4400. Im happy with driveability of this 460 as it does use pump gas....I will be installing dual quads soon.....

Tony

[Doug Axelrod]

Only experience will teach you what the differences are and what they mean to you. I've found SPF dealers and owners very generous in affording a little seat time to earnest and careful petitioners. Then, you can look at dyno curves and get some sense of how they relate to your own experience, the only one that matters.