Hi everybody,

I have a 1996 E-350 7.5L 460/E4OD it's a Quigley 4x4. The motor is stong but as we all know is a super gas hog. I'm wondering from anyone who might have done something similar that worked(or didn't) or from any ford technicians out there who might know...Is it possible to swap the motor for a smaller V8? And if possible, how difficult are we talking and what motors can be used? I guess the easiest way to lay this out is by problem and solution. For example...

1. If swapping for different engine, you would need proper sub-harness for ignition/fuel and different ecu?

2. Engine fitment...what engines would work/fit? Requires diff motor mounts or relocation of mounts, mating to trans, etc.?

Anyone ever attempt anything like this? Thanks for any input - Nick

 

The only engine that will work is a 351M .... major downgrade and equally a gas sucker ....otherwise you will need to change the transmission too.... You are pretty much SOL....

 

If you fully tune up your 460, you might get close to double digit fuel economy. Other than that, there isn't really much you can do. Your transmission bell housing wont allow you to fit any other modern engine, and the 351m mentioned earlier would be carb'ed and get worse fuel economy if not carefully tuned.

I found a quigley with a shot 460 a while back, and contemplated a diesel swap. The only really suitable engine is a 4bta or 6bta, and they would leave the van a bit low on horsepower (but with acceptable torque.) It would also be a HELL of a job, and require adapters, custom mounts, reworked electrical, etc.

 

Why would you say "the 351m mentioned earlier would be carb'ed"? At least as early as '90 the 351 motor (that got fit to E4OD like 460) was EFI.

Why would you argue the 351m "would...get worse fuel economy" than 460 instead of being "equally a gas sucker"? Know something FORD & EPA doesn't know?

Suggest phillynick01 follow his own "lay this out is by problem and solution". If the "problem...is a super gas hog" the "solution" doesn't appear to be swapping 460 for 351. Considering how many still lust for 460 & V10 motors swapping out for smaller motor sounds like a mixed blessing at best. IMO it's not a "solution" to the high gas prices.

IF the 460 wasn't "strong" & it was suffering a chronic, or terminal, mechanical "problem" it could make economical sense to entertain this "Engine swap question?" BUT attempting more difficult swaps, that don't mate to E4OD, aren't likely to ever become economically feasible.

Instead of being a potential "solution" to the "problem" of being "a super gas hog" the idea sounds like what boats are often ridiculed as: A hole in the water that you throw money into!

 

I got better economy on my 77 460 when I switched over to MSD ignition....Do you have a distribiutor ? Then again, I went a little nuts on the carb ( 850 Holley) so I lost everything I gained as soon as I stood on the gas...

 

The 351M is not the motor used in the 90s. That was the 351W. The 351M was built from the 400M back in the 70s.

However, now that i think about it, i dont think the 351M used the right pattern to match a 460. I think the 370/429 from the medium truck family would have the right pattern.

 

351M/400 is the same as the 429/460 in the bell housing ...I had 4 of them....now only one ....

 

Starting in 1973 Ford retarded the cam in the 460 to meet emissions. That killed fuel economy and power.

A friend had an '86 E350 with a 460/C6 that was getting 5 MPG towing his race car. The van also had a large rack on the roof.

We changed the crank sprocket to a 1972 part. That increased fuel economy 20%. The van also had quite a bit more power. There is some labor to change it, but the part is not expensive at all. It would be MUCH less than an engine change.

 

Thanks guys guess im living with what I got. It is a nice engine, though power unlimitied just stomp the gas and it will light the wheels no problem, except you watch the gas needle fall to the left just as fast!

 

I had a 92 wifi 460 that got about 11-12, upgraded to an 02 with a 5.4 and maybe get 2 mpg better on average. In other words, there's no way to win! Big vans eat gas!

There is a thread around someplace on a guy who put a Cummins from an older Dodge truckhis class C after his 460 died, but lots of work.