hey guys, i have a 1990 f150 302 5spd, and i am (planning on it, unless i hear otherwise lol) to swap in a 460 from a 93 shuttle bus. will that 460 be any different than swapping in one from another truck or anything? just wondering if it is going to become a complete nightmare. i dont mind challenges, but impossibilities are annoying after you spend the money! lol.

this project also includes swapping 1 ton dana 60 axles out of a 96 f350 powerstroke, springs, steering box and linkage, and hopefully tires around 38". should be a fun one!

any tips or hints or ideas for any of it (for the motor swap especially) would be greatly appreciated!

thanks guys!
Andrew

p.s. lots of 90 f150 parts for sale soon if anybody needs any!!

 

This sounds a lot like what I did to my truck, only it already had a 460 in it, so the swap went pretty smoothly. I assume the big block is fuel injected. Do you plan on bringing in the new ECU, harness, and emissions equipment? Because that'll probably help a lot. I also assume you are putting in another 5 speed. And even if you're not, do it anyway. You'll same time, money, headache, and gas mileage.

And for the D60 swap, what are you doing for front springs? My 94 F250 was leafed all the way around, so it was a bolt in. It sounds like you're converting from coils to leaves. If that is the case, I'd research a shackle reverse kit for your mounts. It puts the swing in the rear instead of the front. That'll make you happier.

P.S. You still may, and probably will, need more lift for 38's. I have about 5" for 37's. Front lift springs are a worth-while investment, but a shackle flip in the rear will save a boat-load of money.

 

Do yourself a favor and just buy a F350 w a 460. It will be easier and cheaper in the long run. And you will have an F350, not a cobbled together F150

 

You'll need a new trans because your M5OD won't bolt up to, and probably won't live too long behind, your 460. T case will work but you might need different drive shafts.

With swapping out most of the drive train you'd probably be better off getting an F350.

 

You are gonna need a new trans, as stated, but the xfer case will work. You will also need the 460 motor mount perches from a truck as they are different than for your 302. If you must use the bus motor, find a donor truck 89-91 with a 460 for the wiring harness under the hood. The 460 has a remote mounted ignition module, so your harness won't work, and the 93 harness will not mate with your connector on the other side of the firewall.

 

yea yea yea i know, i know. just buy an f350. thats not as cool though in my opinion hahaha. and i dont think this will be cobbled together. i have a professional welder and metal fabricator helping me for anything i need, plus, i got the two dana 60's, the leaf springs, shackles, brakes, steering box and all linkage and arms, the motor, and 4 8 bolt 16" aluminum wheels for a price so cheap that im afraid to tell anybody hahahaha.

my plan i to convert to leaf's, yes. i have the leafs out of the same f350 the axles came out of (im getting them all still assembled). my plan is to use my stock 5spd, which i believe is a C6? i have been told that i will bolt up with a different bell housing.

im getting the whole harness with the motor, so i will probably need the ecu though. im not all too concerned bout emissions components. i live in the sticks in pa, and there is no emissions inspection anyway.

my questions are such as that - regarding computer components mostly. also flywheel and clutch set up and such.

 

A C6 is an automatic with 3 speeds. The 5 speed manual in your F150 is an M5OD. It was never offered behind the 460 so even if the bell-housing is removable you'd need a custom one. But it's not as stong as the ZF5 that WAS offered behind the 460 and probably won''t last long behind one in a truck with 38"s unless you only want a mall-crawler to show off and never actually get dirty, even then don't expect it to last a long time.

If you go through with it, cool but know that you won't have an F350 so don't try to haul the same loads an F350 can haul. The F150's frame is not as strong as an F350. It will flex more off road if that's what you're going for, but the F350 leaves will hinder your articulation. I would use 1/2 ton springs or fab up a 4-link suspension.

 

yes, i did consider 1/2 ton springs.

 

The only fabrication necessary would be to make front spring hangers. But you would still have the weak F150 frame.

And like stated above, you need a trans. The mazda 5 speed is JUNK behind a 302, it would never hold up behind a 460 even if you could make an adapter to fit it.

As for 2 dana 60s? You should only have one

 

yea thats my mistake. the rear is a 10 1/4, does that sound right?

so a ZF5 will bolt up to my stock transfer case? how much $ am i looking at for a cheap ZF5?

 

Not just any zf5. You need one from a 460. No other one will bolt on. Typically around here they are 200-500. And dont forget, you need one from a 4wd

 

Your best bet (besides buying a F350 with a 460) is to find a donor truck. F250 or F350 460/zf5 4x4. Then when you're done with your swap sell off the rest of the truck and make most of your money back.

 

I recently just did this exact swap! same year and everything.. With my experience, i at first used the cross member for the ZF, but it raised the back of the tranny up to far, so i had to modify the original Msod cross member(Simply making the holes stretch further across the cross member) and also, i had issues finding the right driveshaft