How do I tell what engine it is?
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 136
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From: Berlin USA
How do I tell what engine it is?
MY boss bought a 1988 F250HD its a pretty nice truck but he was not told what engine was in the truck bought it for 1k with a plow and it has no dents so he did not really care. Anyways He would like to know what engine he has the 351 or 460 I can't tell its sad i know but my 302 said 5.0 on the intake man so i knew what it was. IT has Speed Density i can tell you that it has two hose's no ribs going to the air box and on the cross member all i could find was belt setups for the 302/351 so i am thinking it is a 351 anyway to test for sure.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Dededo, Guam
How do I tell what engine it is?
I think there should be a noticeable difference. 302/351 are small blocks and 460 is a big block if i am not mistaken. The 460 should be a lot bigger in size. Hope this helps ya.
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Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Copley, OH
How do I tell what engine it is?
look at the eighth character in the VIN number H = 351, G = 460
The 351 is 27.5" long from bellhousing to water pump snout, the 460 is 32" long. The 351W is 23.75" bottom of sump to top of valve covers, the 460 is 26" tall.
The most obvious physical difference: the tops of the head bolts are below the exhaust ports on a 351, they are above the exhaust ports on a 460.
The 351 is 27.5" long from bellhousing to water pump snout, the 460 is 32" long. The 351W is 23.75" bottom of sump to top of valve covers, the 460 is 26" tall.
The most obvious physical difference: the tops of the head bolts are below the exhaust ports on a 351, they are above the exhaust ports on a 460.
Senior User
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 475
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From: Southern IL
How do I tell what engine it is?
The easiest way to tell the difference between an EFI 351 and an EFI 460 is the intake. The 351 will look exactly like a 302. Instead of saying 5.0, the 351 intake will say 5.8 I have seen a few 302/351EFI intakes just say EFI on them. Anyway on to the 460 intake. It looks totally different from a 351. The 460 will have a throttle body mounted vertically with the two hoses from the airbox going into the top of the intake. I hope this helps you determine which engine the truck has in it.
'90 F-150 351 AOD "The General"
'78 F-250 460 C-6 "Old Green"
'93 Mustang 5.0 AOD
'88 Jeep Cherokee 4.0
'90 F-150 351 AOD "The General"
'78 F-250 460 C-6 "Old Green"
'93 Mustang 5.0 AOD
'88 Jeep Cherokee 4.0
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Raleigh, NC
How do I tell what engine it is?
There are no covers on a 460. If you look at the base (on the 460) of the throttle body on the left side (you facing the truck), it should say 7.5 (very small, too). And like deere81 said, if it is a 302, it will say Ford 5.0L EFI, if it is a 351, it will say Ford 5.8L EFI. If it happens to be a 300 (I seriously doubt it, seeing what you said), there will be a long cover that says Ford Electronic Fuel Injection on it. Hope I covered 'em all for you.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 116
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From: Baldwin, ND
How do I tell what engine it is?
When Ford first started putting fuel injection in, they didn't stamp anything for engine sizes on the upper intakes for the first few years, they just said "electronic fuel injection" So the best way to tell (if it's the original motor) is to look at 8th character of the vin. Y=300 N=302 H=351 G=460. There were f250's that did come factory with 302's. My buddy used to have and 89 f250 with it til it went off the deep end. We put a whole new motor in it, but every time we'd fix one thing, another went so he finally just sold it and ended the horror. Heard that the kid that bought it blew out the intake seals on it a couple of weeks later.
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From: Berlin USA
How do I tell what engine it is?
thanks for all the info guys will check it when i get to work tommarow. 
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i have a 87 ford bronco inline six fuel injected i have a problem with the truck when it is heated up the temp and oil gauge runs higher than normal and the truck runs rich feels like it is missing going down the road it starts to buck and jerk on you at low speeds the truck spits and pops runs very rough at low speeds motor runs fine as long as your on the throttle did full tune up and replaced coil still runs like crap please help
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From: Des Plaines, Illinois
Originally Posted by hogwildherb
i have a 87 ford bronco inline six fuel injected i have a problem with the truck when it is heated up the temp and oil gauge runs higher than normal and the truck runs rich feels like it is missing going down the road it starts to buck and jerk on you at low speeds the truck spits and pops runs very rough at low speeds motor runs fine as long as your on the throttle did full tune up and replaced coil still runs like crap please help
Have you checked the amount of coolant you have? Oil level? Leaking anything? Fan clutch in good shape?
Sounds rich, have you checked timing?
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Bonita Springs FL
Originally Posted by hogwildherb
i have a 87 ford bronco inline six fuel injected i have a problem with the truck when it is heated up the temp and oil gauge runs higher than normal and the truck runs rich feels like it is missing going down the road it starts to buck and jerk on you at low speeds the truck spits and pops runs very rough at low speeds motor runs fine as long as your on the throttle did full tune up and replaced coil still runs like crap please help
Second thing is to pull the codes. The computer might tell you exactly what the problem is. See http://broncodata.com/tech/codes.htm