What year did the 460 get fuel injection?
The Ford 460 V8 first received electronic fuel injection in the late 1980s, with the initial EFI appearing in the 1987 model year and becoming widespread by the early 1990s.
What is the 460 and why did EFI matter?
The 460, part of Ford's 385-series big-block family, powered a wide range of trucks, vans, and large cars from the late 1960s through the 1990s. Replacing carburetors with electronic fuel injection helped meet tightening emissions standards and improve driveability and fuel economy.
Timeline of EFI adoption on the 460
The following timeline highlights when EFI appeared on the 460 engines and how the adoption expanded across Ford's lineup.
- 1987 model year: First 460 engines equipped with electronic fuel injection on select heavy-duty applications, marking the transition from carburetion to EFI for some customers.
- 1988–1989: EFI adoption broadened, with more 460-powered trucks and vans receiving multi-port EFI systems.
- Early 1990s: EFI becomes standard across the majority of 460-powered vehicles in Ford's lineup, replacing carburetors in most applications.
Note that some niche or regional applications could have continued using carburetors for a time, but EFI became the norm for the 460 during this period.
Representative models and years
Below are typical examples of 460 EFI adoption by model year range. Local variations can occur depending on market and production run.
- 1987–1991: 460 V8 EFI in many Ford F-Series trucks and E-Series vans
- 1992–1997: EFI widely used across remaining 460-powered passenger cars and larger trucks
The shift to EFI generally resulted in better throttle response, smoother idle, lower emissions, and simpler maintenance compared with carbureted setups on the same engine family.
Summary
The 460 V8's move to electronic fuel injection began in 1987, with broader and eventual standardization through the early 1990s. This change reflected broader industry trends toward EFI in response to emissions controls and evolving vehicle performance expectations.
