460 Ford vs V 10

I would recommend holding holding out for the 2000+ chassis year. Not necessarily because of the spark plugs (if done properly, shouldn't be a problem even on the early V10s), but because you get an extra 40 horsepower and no decrease in fuel economy.

I wouldn't eliminate the early V10 based upon the fear of popping a spark plug. I had a '99 V10 upon which I put 110K miles and never spit a plug. In talking with other early V10 owners the problem is created when the plug is not torqued properly or an incorrect plug is used. If you do buy an early V10, just retorque the plugs properly and you'll be good to go. This is not meant to disparage later V10s as there are lots of good reasons why they are better. My point is that the early ones are not a bad engine or particularly problematic. Yes they had fewer plug threads which was fixed in the later years but if torqued properly you should be fine.

So it looks like I should be looking for 2000 or newer V10 coach. Anyone had the spark plug problem in a 2000 or newer V10?

I'm in the V10 camp. I've owned both a '98 V10 and a '94 460. Although I owned the V10 for many more years I put the about the same number of miles on each. The 460 was a great engine but was not as reliable. I had the MAF go out just after warranty was up as well as a cracked manifold bolt. The V10 was quieter, more powerful and completely trouble free. The spark plug issue is there, but not common and usually doesn't occur until after a spark plug replacement.

I have owned two 460's and one V10. Loved all of them. I think the V10 wound up higher but could have been perception. Mileage was about the same. They all pulled well.

The last 460 had about the same power as the 1st gen V10, however the Triton motors are quite a bit more reliable. While the 460 itself wasn't problematic, all the accessory stuff (fuel pump, cooling system, a/c etc) did not last near as long. The V10 as a total package will go much longer without any headaches to deal with. And the cooling system is more robust. I can haul 22,000 pounds up 10 mile long 12-15% grades in 100F heat, and not have to even turn down the dual A/Cs in my V10. The 460 will overheat pulling a 7% grade in 90F weather if you try to keep the A/C blasting.

Both respond well to breathing improvements, but only the V10 really gains power with new programming. Also, the V10 can easily go 500,000 miles even under severe commercial duty, while the 460 was pretty worn out by 200k under the same conditions. I'm at 386,000 with my V10.

BTW -I've had both. I picked up a 460-powered van for a while as a spare, and its still in the family.

C'mon now JD and Tyrone, lighten up on us 1997-1999 owners.We can't help it if that is what we have, or at least I can't.So far no troubles for me .

j-d IMHO you could not have stated it better. Even though I have an older 460 I would rather have that than a 1997-99 V10.

If your 460-powered Class C was 1980's then it had the three-speed automatic transmission called C6 which had no overdrive. The "last" of the 460's was the 1996 model year and by then they had the E4OD, OD meaning Overdrive. The early E4OD had some problems but they were worked out toward the end of the 460's run. When the V10 came out in 1997 (Chassis Year!) Ford applied electronic control to the E4OD and it became known as 4R100, again an overdrive transmission. The 1997-99 V10 had 275HP and a number of them had problems with sparkplugs blowing out since they had only a few threads. Ford addressed this with PI (performance improved) heads and 305HP. Unfortunately some of those heads still spit the plugs out because the holes (with a proper number of threads) weren't properly machined into line with the plugs' seating surfaces. This affected only some of the heads, according to the plant that supplied them. The machinery does all plug holes at once, the same error would apply to all as to one hole. All three on a V6 head, all four on a V8, five on a V10.
I tried to research if our 2002 V10 was OK and a professional checked with a rebuilder. Came back saying OK. In 40,000 miles we have not had an issue. Not with engine, transmission, really ANY Ford-provided part of the coach.
Like you, we had a 1980's 460 in a Class C. I liked its brute off-the-line torque. The V10 has to wind up a little, but the power is there, and probably more. I'm a fan of V8's. Would like to see what a 460, tricked out like V10 is, would do in our 31-ft Class C. I have to remember it weighs easily a ton more then the old one did.
I'd rather have a 1994-96 460 than a 1997-99 V10. But we really don't get a choice. The Year is going to determine the Engine.

If you can afford it, I'd go with the V-10, just because a 460 is going to be pretty old. The V-10s have had virtually all the kinks worked out, the transmission is decently reliable, can tow/haul without issue, and isn't great MPG-wise, but not horrific.