I might be buying my first old ford truck here in the next couple of weeks. I already have a 400 I built as a project in a high performance engine building class in college and a C6. I went to look at a 1979 f150 regular cab longbed explorer it currently has a 460 in it but the guy says he is going to take the 460 and the C6 out and then he was going to scrap the truck. I know going from a 460 to a 400 isn't ideal but it means i will be saving this one from the crusher so any help will be much appreciated.

 

Welcome to FTE Cwoody,,, Ummm I think,,, just going by what I remember reading,,, but I think if he leaves the mounts,, it will fit right in,,,,?? I am sure someone will come along and give you more and better info,, but Thanks for saving one from the crusher!

 

I have a set of FE - I6 frame perches and a set of Small block perches. Not sure which one the 400 would take, since you have a 335 series motor. But if you can find our for sure I will swap you either for the 460 perches. I really need the 460 perches!

 

Seems like an easy swap, a lot of people prefer 460's to 400's, but even with all the bad rap that 351M/400's get, they're good motors. They're not as high revving as a 460, but they have a lot of low-end grunt. They're rated at 300 ft-lbs of torque stock, but with a cam, intake, and a 4-bbl like my truck has, I'd imagine it would make 350 ft-lbs and maybe a little over 200 horse. The large main journals aren't the best design imo, but the bottom end of these motors really doesn't matter as long as you don't really rev over 5500rpm (which you wouldn't be making a lot of power by that rpm anyway) They're both great engines, but don't let people tell you 400's are boat anchors, cause they're not lol Glad you're saving a dent too! Good luck man!

 

The perches in the truck should be what you need. All you will need is the motor mounts which are pretty cheap. Should be an easy swap.

Good Luck,
Jon

 

It depends on what was in the truck originaly, and what was used to swap in the 460. If the truck had a 351m/400 and the P.O. used the L&L motor mounts your motor will drop right in. When I did the swap from 351m to 429 I used a Hooker swap kit with Ford van motor mounts. You should check the vin# to see what the truck came with from Ford, and ask the owner questions about what was in there and what was used for the swap.

Is the truck 4WD or 2WD? Mine was 4WD.

 

After a further search looks like the 400 and small block perches are one in the same, so if you want to swap the 460 for my small block 400m mounts I will be happy too.


D7TZ6028B (replaced DOTZ6028A) .. Right Engine Support / Obsolete

D7TZ6029B (replaced DOTZ6029A) .. Left Engine Support / Obsolete

Fits: 1969/79 F100 302 / 1975/79 F150 302 / 1977/79 F100/350 351M/400 2WD.

 

The truck is a 2wd and the guy bought it with the 460 in it and he bought it off the original owner.

 

Do not think they put a 460 in a 2wd F150, but you never know. If it is 2wd it will have a front sump pan and if you are putting it in a 4wd you really need to swap to a rear sump pan. Due to possible front axle pumpkin clearance issue, when 4wheeling it.

Also a new oil pick up tube and pan with a side dip stick, kits are available on line.
Tell the guy you want to get the eng towers or perches also, I think you will need them.

Also here is a great set of eng mounts.

West Coast Broncos: WCB Extreme Duty Motor Mounts 429-460

If the eng came out of a car originally it will have a r/h exhaust manifold that will be to short to use in a truck with out a top frame notch. Make sure the doner truck has not had this done. No worries is it has, you can get a correct truck exhaust manifold easy enough.

 

I just did a I-6 to a 400 swap and the perches were the same, but the motor sat a little high but its fine every thing fits fine.

And if you need the 400 manifolds from a truck (I thought they were the same but 77&79F-250 makes it sound like there different) i could get u some I just took some off.

 

No confusion meant, just wanted to point out that I know there is a difference in car versus truck 460 exhaust manifolds. Also will 400's exhaust manifold fit on a 460?

When you swap a car 460 into a truck it will have too short of a passenger side exhaust manifold causing you to not be able to connect the rest of the exhaust sys, so alot of people that do not know this notch the top part of the frame (yes bad idea).

The PO of my 78 F250 did it and left the front sump pan on and hit it with the front pumpkin on the pan off roading, then added 3" FRONT blocks (A REAL BAD IDEA) to solve that issue.

Getting a 2wd 460 truck exhaust manifold solves the issue, because it is longer and exits further back, I am going with L&L fenderwell exit headers.

 

The manifolds are altogether different.

 

Thought so, but so sure enough to say so, thanks for the answer...