Hello, folks!

So I am right in the middle of gathering the swap list for this thing, and I keep hearing/reading about a mysterious "spacer plate" because I am pretty sure I have a 400 bellhousing. Numbers read: D9TA 7505 AB. Early 70's engine block.
Do I need to find someone that makes these? Is this different than the motor plate that Summit sells?:
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/q...view/make/ford

Here's one on ebay:
Block Spacer Plate 460 429 Ford Truck Torino Mustang Cyclone 70 71 72 73 74 75 | eBay

I'm having difficulty understanding if these are all different descriptions of the same part. Dust plate, motor plate, engine shield, spacer plate. Do I need one, or both?

If anyone could help me dial in what I need back there that would be nice, snow is flying up here and I'm trying to get this engine in my pickup so my family has two rigs again.

 

D9TA-7505-AB is the ID number for a 351M/400 M/T bell housing for 1979 F100/350 & Bronco 351M/400 from serial number DG0,001; 1980/82 F150/350 & Bronco 351M/400.

This ID number crossed to Ford part number D9TZ-7505-B that was replaced in 1981 with E1TZ-7505-A
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D7TZ-7007-A .. Engine Rear Plate-Use with M/T / Marked: D7TE-6A373-AA or AB / Obsolete

1977/79 F100/350 351M/400 / 1980/82 Bronco 351M/400 / 1980/82 F150/350 351M/400.

No 460's with a M/T or 4WD until 1983. 1968/82 460's only available with the C6.

 

"Engine rear plate", only need 1, and believe it has to be transmission specific, due to a difference in starter's?? I believe, means I think, so not I am 100%.OK?

You should get one for a 460. NOT a 400. That Ebay is a fair price as long as you need one for an auto trans.

 

Engine rear plate specific to A/T or M/T

There's no specific 460 M/T spacer plate until 1983.

The 351M/400 plate I listed in post 2 is for M/T

The A/T plate is the same: 351M/400/429/460.

 

Thank you guys. I guess I just do not understand yet. I have people telling me different things on this one. It's going to link up with the old NP435 transmission. This is a manual 4 speed setup.
NumberDummy is telling me that engine rear plate is obsolete, which I understand as that Ford does not make them anymore. But then I see that there's people all over the place cutting these out. They have them on BroncoGraveyard, Summit, and elsewhere but I don't know if that's what I need yet, or if I do what width I need.
And then I read this thread:
75 Highboy..changing FE to BBF...spacer for bellhousing? - 460 Ford Forum
And that is talking about input shaft lengths, so I wonder if then I am going to run into this problem as well. Not complaining, I like this stuff, just trying to figure it all out so I don't waste a bunch of time, we need my truck back asap. And I have already spent quite a bit in building this engine, so I can't back out.

 

Is my problem I cannot use this bellhousing for this application? No workaround?

Is this the bell I should be using here:
E4TA-7505 Ford 460 Aluminum Manual Bellhousing Bell Housing Hydraulic block **** | eBay

 

Here is a source for answers. I talked to him a while back with some 460 questions, real nice guy. Got all my questions answered over the phone.

Mclain's Automotive Machine Shop
1057 State Hwy DD, Cuba, MO 65453
Phone: (573) 885-3920
David McLain

You hear alot about bad guys, here's a good one, Dave McLain | The H.A.M.B.

 

Thank you. I just hate wasting peoples time. Which is how I feel coming on here sometimes, I wish I understood this stuff better.

 

Well unless you can totally understand and comprehend what you read and that information is 100% correct, then ask someone to help out with an explanation. No harm no foul IMO.

The 460.com guys seem like thay are alot more specifically experienced in that dept..I read that link you posted and now am more confused myself. lol

Have your specific questions for Dave and just call him, you never know it might make sense once you talk to him.

 

haha, yeah I was like, crap maybe this is going to be more difficult than I thought after reading their stuff.

I will, and thank you. What I am trying to do is anticipate what's going to happen here and be prepared for it. But it's impossible to predict the future and I just need to slow down and take these as they come. I just ordered a plate from bronco graveyard along with the power steering bracket(which is another anticipated problem), and will keep researching the plate issue. One thing I still can't figure out, is do I need a dust plate AND a spacer plate? hahaha. Who knows.

 

I swapped a 460 in a NP435 79 Bronco that had a 351M. I used the 351M/400 manual trans block plate. I had to enlarge the center hole to clear the 460 crank.

 

Reread your post. Regarding input shaft length, If the engine you are using has a second (deeper, smaller) step in the crank then you can use a 302 pilot bearing and have no issues. My 460 was a 90's era EFI that had both steps in crank. In doing reasearch prior to I remember there being an issue with some engines NOT having the smaller 302 sized second step. Seems like that was more a 429 thing but long enough ago I dont remember. Those had to have a 3/8" or so spacer plate I think.

 

Flywheel is going to be an issue. 460 flywheels won't fit in the 351M/400 bellhousing. I bought the flywheel and clutch kit from L&L which included pressure plate and 302 pilot bearing. Pricey, but works/fit flawless. Some had modified a 390 flywheel, mixed reviews on that for starter issues. Another option would be 80's era 460 flywheel and bellhousing. Those are hydraulic clutch tho so just another hurdle. L&L easiest for sure, but prob not cheapest.

 

i did this swap 20 something years ago, 351M/400 bell housing, 360/390 flywheel, clutch and pressure plate. had a brass/oil pilot bearing machined to fit deeper into the crank thus making it unnecessary for any type of spacer plate other than the one that cam with your transmission. never had an issue . also used the 460 starter.

 

Here is some more info for you. ProjectBronco.COM! A 78-79 Ford Bronco Resource Center