I recently bought a 74 f250 with no engine and am thinking about one of these kits. The truck previously had a 390 in it, according to the previous owner. I have a 429 in the garage that I am wanting to drop in (after a rebuild). Are these kits worth the cost ($1800+)? For that amount of money I could easily rebuild a 390 and not have to worry about the added cost of converting it, but a 429 would be a lot more fun than a 390, IMO. So what do you guys think? Go with the kit and 429, or make it simple and go with a 390?

 

If my memory is right the 351-400M 460 frame mounts are the same alls you need are the engine mounts from a 78-79 but the headers are flippin nice heavy gauge nickle coated (or were when I did mine 12 years ago) still look like the day I bought them with 55000 miles on them, The pullies are nice pieces but its all bling just stick with factory stuff same for the bracketry it only works with LL stuff but if you dont have any your stuck...

 

I have a complete 429, minus the carburetor. This includes all the bolt-on's. The brackets would be unnecessary, correct? I can't track down all the pieces to convert it to a 429/460, and have made at least a dozen calls today alone. I have a hard time justifying spending $2k, just to get the engine in the truck. AND I would still have to track down a 351/400m bell housing for a 4-speed!

 

What pieces are you looking for? Alls you need is frame, engine mounts,Bellhousing,Headers and a truck..LoL.

 

Headers are awesome! I went with Autofab motor mounts, much beefier. As for the oil pan, just go to Ford and get a truck pan for a 460.

 

What about pedestals? I read that the pedestals for the 360/390 would leave the 429/460 sitting too high in the engine bay. I also need the correct flywheel and clutch components. How about the oil pickup tube inside the oil pan? That would be different than the front-sump one I have on my 429. Engine plate? I'm sure there are plenty of other items I am missing..
I have a list of items that I "need" according to a write-up I found, but I left it at the shop today after work

Edit:
MOTOR MOUNTS:

There are few possibilities here also. First if you have a 2wd truck you can buy the correct mounts and frame brackets to bolt it right in. For a 4wd it gets tougher. There are a few companies that offer “swap” mounts once again expensive. I have seen people bolt the 351M mounts to a plate of steel then bolt that to the 460 but this makes the motor sit too high. I have seen various other mounts had had hole slotted and used. But so far the best homemade are mounts from a mid 70s Ford Full-size car. The ears where the through bolt should go were cut off. Then the rivet that went through the middle was drilled out and replaced with a grade 8 ½ bolt that was welded to the steel back of the motor mount creating a stud. These mounts look very similar to factory mounts that would be on a 351M or 400 but they fit the 460 and set right down into the stock motor mount frame pedestals.

 

You are correct about the perches off the frame. Your engine sitting that high will also bring exhaust problems. The L&L's drop it down and back an inch or so.

I tried to go the cheap way and eventually ended up with the entire kit, purchased seperately and more expensive.

JBG has better prices on the L&L stuff. Oh, and when you think the pulleys don't line up, put a tape on it cause it is an optical illusion. Freaky.

 

I'm sorry, I don't know what JBG stands for. I am really hoping to avoid buying the kit. I don't have an extra $2k laying around. I have enough to rebuild the engine, but not both.

 

JBG stands for Jeff's Bronco Graveyard,,,,,they carry alot of stuff for our trucks ck them out. Im right there where you are at ,I picked up a 460 that had alot done to it already,still droped it off at my local engine builder,,,it will probably be awhile,,,,JBG allows you to purchase stands,perches....separately as well as other components as you can afford

 

Ah ok, I am familiar with the Bronco Graveyard, but haven't heard it called JBG yet. I'll check it out, thanks!

 

I would order the towers and mounts from JBG. Then find a 351m/400 bellhousing. Use a 390 flywheel and diaphragm clutch. And a 429 pilot bearing and you should be good to go.

 

Do these come with the towers? For this price, I'm thinking they do..
429,460 Conversion Motor Mounts 360,390 1967-76 4wd

What tooth count on the 390 flywheel?

Thoughts on this clutch/flywheel kit?
http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-...-assembly.html

 

OK I just looked at mine which is a 4X4 but.....

The frame perches are 351-400m 2 wheel or 4 wheel doesnt matter just bolt in different...Get ones to match 2 or 4 wheel drive but 4 wont work in two and vise versa.

My engine mounts are LL...

And the headers are LL and made to work with the LL engine mounts...

As far as I know a 390 is balanced different the a 429 so you cant use a 390 flywheel, match part numbers to confirm interchange.

351-400m and 429-460 use the same bellhousing

Oil pan you need a front sump....

Hope this helps

 

390 and 429 are both internally balanced (pre 1980ish), and I need a rear sump oil pan for my 4x4. For a 2 wheel drive a front sump is fine.

 

Do you have a 2wd or 4wd?