I have a 1979 F250 4x4 with a 460 and C6. I want to convert it to manual. I have a 4 speed toploader transmission with an FE bellhousing and pedals. Other than a bell housing from a 400/351m/460, what do I need to make this conversion? Will a flex plate and clutch from a 400 or 351m work for this application? Thanks in advance. I expect to be hearing from the 460 expert (75F350) very soon..

 

Really? No one has done this???

 

I tried to post a reply earlier but my computer took a dump...

Anyway, yes a 351m/400 bellhousing will work. Also, the clutch will work, but you probably will want at least the 11" 400 clutch. The flywheel, (flexplates are for autos) will have to be 460 specific, furthermore you will have to know what year 460 you have to know if its internally or externally balance to get the right flywheel. Lastly, you may need the clutch pivot point that bolts to the bellhousing, this is where the "z-bar" mounts on the engine side.

If you are interested I have all parts that you would need except the flywheel.....PM me if you are interested....

 

I've converted a 76 2wd from manual to C6 and back to manual. I would point out that the pedal hanger assembly on my 76 is significantly different than the pedal hanger assembly on the 79 2wd I used to have. I'll need to look on my current 79 4x4 (manual) but I think it is like the other 2wd 79 I used to have in being a different design than my 76. On my 76 clutch to no clutch and back was simple. The point I'm trying to make, is to not be surprised if your pedals aren't compatible without swapping out the entire pedal hanger assembly. I'd be careful choosing a flywheel, I've heard of thickness issues and possible pilot bearing issues putting 351M/400 flywheel onto a 460. I'd be considering a modern heavy duty ZF 5 speed tranny from a 90s 460. Is your top loader up to the 460 strength wise?

 

When you say top loader I think of a transmission from a car or 2wd? Like a 4 speed in a Mustang or Fairlane. Maybe I'm mistaken but I have a 1977 F-150 4x4, 4speed and I did not think was a top loader? But in my option that 4 speed they put in the 4x4s is TOUGH, I would say tougher than the 5 speeds that came after it.
Do you know what year 460 you have? Since its in a 4x4 I know its not stock. If its a 1978 or older I think thats prefered. Then it will be internally balanced. The 460 I built was a 1972. I used a flywheel from a 390 on it, also internally balanced. That basically means that no flyhwheel weight is added to it to balance the engine, hope that make sense. The flywheel is zero balance. I did this when swapping my 351m to a 460, obviously I kept the stock truck bell housing.

 

If you have a 4spd from a truck it is most likely a NP435 or T18. Either one is very strong and will hold up to a very healthy 460. I have seen some NP435's hold 450+HP in stock form.

I also have pedals by the way..lol

 

The top loader 4 speed I have is a NP435 out of a 76 F150 as well as the clutch pedal assembly. This is a very durable transmission. The 460 is a '71 model (externally balanced) I will need a fly wheel that is weighted from what I understand. Please revise my parts list if it is incomplete.

Parts needed
+NP435
+Bellhousing for NP435 from 351m/400/460
+Flywheel for internally balanced 460
+Throwout bearing from 351m/400//460
+Clutch for 351m/400/460
+Clutch pedal assembly (preferably from 78/9)

I also remember reading something about buying the correct throw out bearing. Some people said to buy a 302 throw out bearing. This didn't really make sense to me.. but wanted to bring it to the discussion. Thanks for ya'll's advice!

 

If your transmission is from a 1976 how is your transfercase from the 79 going to bolt to it? Honest question, I don't know the answer, maybe there an adapter tail housing that does it? Yes NP435 is a very good transmission, I just was not familiar with calling it a top loader, but I gotchya now. And the 460's from 79 and up are externally balanced. If you have a stock 1971 460 it should be internally balanced. You should be able to figure it out by looking at the balancer and flex plate. I used my stock throw out bearing from my 351m on my 460.

 

Ah, I misread your earlier post about the ext/int balanced 460. Thank you for correcting me! The '76 truck had a NP205 in it. I edited my parts list. I'm am not aware of any difference of a '79 NP205 and a '76 NP205.

 

So the transmission and transfer case you have from the 1976 bolt directly together? Huh, I thought they had a driveshaft between them. Well if thats the case it sound like that part is a non-issue.

 

Yes, they do bolt directly together. I have seen many non 78/79 dentsides with the less desirable divorced Dana 20 (in the F150s) and divorced NP205 (in the hi-boys) but strangely, this one was not this way. Thanks for bringing that to my attention though, I actually had think about this because I couldn't remember right off.

 

I'm glad I've found people that have actually done this! Was there a difference in the transmission mounts between the C6 and NP435? Is there a place in the floor for the shifter or will I need to cut one? What other special information can you provide regarding this swap? Thanks all!

 

The floor has a cover that bolts down there are a couple different styles for auto, manual and 4wd combinations. You could find one that was for a manual originAlly (I may have one), or u could just cut the floor out and get the appropriate shifter boot

 

Thanks Screamin, you must have a yard-fulla-Fords like me. I will definitely keep you in mind when I get around to doing this swap. (Short on Ford funds right now)

 

Sorry about the "top loader" confusion. I have a T18 in my 2wd and a NP435 in my 4x4. I prefer my T18 because I think it's in a bit better condition, and it's an older model where Reverse is up toward the dash rather than adjacent to 4th. I think of "top loaders" as the 3speed and 4 speed car transmissions found in Mustangs, Fairlanes ect. They have a panel on top and the gears drop into the case from the top. Both the T18 and NP435 are built like tanks. Also heavier than sin. I had a tranny shop install mine as it was way too heavy to do in the yard.

I thought of transmission panels. I found several variations in the wrecking yards. Many were removable. I've seen removable panels with no shifter hole (automatic,no transfer case. I've seen removable with hole for transfer case shifter/automatic, transfer case shifter+4speed shifter, 4speed T18/NP435-no transfer case shifter, 3sp+OD RUG floor shifter that uses the same opening for shifter as a transfer case shifter, and finally what my 76 had: No panel. My 76 originally was column shift 3sp. The floor board was embossed where a removable panel would go, but wasn't cut out. My donor T18 came out of a 69 F100, and the shifter panel in that 69 lined up exactly with the embosed creases in my floorboard. I used a cutting wheel to cut out inside the embossed area, and bolted the 69 panel in for an exact fit. So.... if you need a panel, you can use 67-72 as well as 73-79 as a donor, and if yours isn't cut out and removable, you can cut inside the embossing and fit the donor panel on.
Search in the archives about 460 flywheels. Several years ago, (here on this forum) I remember people that had clutch thickness issues inside the bellhousing when converting to 460.