Engine swap help.
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Engine swap help.
I have a 84 f-150 4wd with a 4.9 I6 and 4 speed trans. I have a fresh 460 that I am trying to line up to swap in. The 460 came out of a 78 2wd f-350 with a c6 attached. I need some insight about the clutch and bell housing bolt up capabilities. The research that I have done has turned up that I will obviously need an adapter kit for the bell housing, but what else would I need?
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Northeast, OK
If you have the NP435 tranny, which has a separate bell housing, then don't get an adaptor but just the right bell housing for a 460. And, you will need different perches. And a different radiator and hoses. And the flywheel, clutch, pressure plate, throwout bearing, and pilot bearing for a 460. And the starter for a 460, although I'm not sure if a 460 has a different starter for the manual tranny vs auto as the small blocks do.
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From: Virginia
Why spend money on a adapter kit? Ford made these trucks(f250 and 350) from the mid 80's up with 460's. If your 4 speed has a granny 1st gear, then it will hold up to the 460, and all you need is the appropriate bellhousing from a f250 or 350 that had a 4 speed and a 460.
They never put a 460 in a f150. This is where you may need a motor mount "kit" to adapt it to a f150. I am not sure if the motor mounts from a f250/350 will work in a f150 or not. The six had different mounts than some of the smaller v8's in the f150's, so if you buy a kit, you still need the brackets from a v8 truck. Check on this if you are looking at a kit.
You may need a remote oil filter kit. I know some of the 460 swaps into f250/350's that had smaller engines do not have the different crossmember that the 460 and the diesels had, which gave clearance for the oil filter. But most people just relocate the oil filter somewhere else.
They never put a 460 in a f150. This is where you may need a motor mount "kit" to adapt it to a f150. I am not sure if the motor mounts from a f250/350 will work in a f150 or not. The six had different mounts than some of the smaller v8's in the f150's, so if you buy a kit, you still need the brackets from a v8 truck. Check on this if you are looking at a kit.
You may need a remote oil filter kit. I know some of the 460 swaps into f250/350's that had smaller engines do not have the different crossmember that the 460 and the diesels had, which gave clearance for the oil filter. But most people just relocate the oil filter somewhere else.
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From: Norman, Ar
When you get a flywheel, make sure it is the right one for your year 460.
If I remember correctly, the 460 went from an internally balanced to externally balanced around 78 or 79...Check for sure..
If internally balanced, you will have to have your later model flywheel modified..
If not, anything from 77 down will work.
If I remember correctly, the 460 went from an internally balanced to externally balanced around 78 or 79...Check for sure..
If internally balanced, you will have to have your later model flywheel modified..
If not, anything from 77 down will work.
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Thanks for the quick reply.
I was wondering about the clutch issue. That clears it up. I do have the radiator and all the OE parts from the donor 78.
And thanks for the bell housing idea. That didn't cross my mind for some reason.
I'll do a bit more research and pricing and go to the drawing table with it.
Much appreciated.
I was wondering about the clutch issue. That clears it up. I do have the radiator and all the OE parts from the donor 78.
And thanks for the bell housing idea. That didn't cross my mind for some reason.
I'll do a bit more research and pricing and go to the drawing table with it.
Much appreciated.
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
I just thought of something; Double check and make sure a tranny for a 4.9 has the same diameter and spline count input shaft as a 460/diesel tranny. For some reason I am thinking the 460/diesel tranny had a larger input shaft or a different spline count or both. This should not be a problem if it's true, except if you get a clutch "kit" for a 460, the disc may not fit the tranny on your truck. You will have to get a disc from a truck with a smaller engine in it.
You can go to Autozone's site or some place like that, and look up a truck with a 460, and then look your truck up, and look for a clutch kit for both. They usually list the size and the spline counts of the shafts.
If you really want to make this a neat project, I would find a donor truck with a 460 and a zf 5 speed, and swap the whole thing in. The overdrive is a wonderful thing.
You can go to Autozone's site or some place like that, and look up a truck with a 460, and then look your truck up, and look for a clutch kit for both. They usually list the size and the spline counts of the shafts.
If you really want to make this a neat project, I would find a donor truck with a 460 and a zf 5 speed, and swap the whole thing in. The overdrive is a wonderful thing.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Northeast, OK
Dave - I think you are right about the input shaft difference. My ZF5 from a 460 certainly has a larger input shaft than the NP435 I took out from behind the 351M.
But, one other thing will have to be modified if a ZF is installed - the position of the rear crossmember. I has to go back about 3/4" IIRC, but I know I documented the distance and how I did it somewhere in Dad's ZF5 Swap.
But, one other thing will have to be modified if a ZF is installed - the position of the rear crossmember. I has to go back about 3/4" IIRC, but I know I documented the distance and how I did it somewhere in Dad's ZF5 Swap.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Uniontown PA USA
L and L
check out Ford Headers, Dodge Headers, Chevy Headers at L&L Products
they sell conversion mounts if you dont feel like chasing down ford mounts.
they also sell vaious bracket mounts for ps pumps/alts depending on what you want to use as well as really nice headers.
I have personally done this swap into a 1980 with a np435. (this was a manual linkage)
I replaced a 302/np435 and placed a 460 with that same np435.
I had the correct bellhousing that came with the motor, i had trouble finding the right clutch if i recall, i think it ended up being from a 360/390 to match up to my flywheel that came with my motor.
I used the same starter as my 302/np435.
YOu may want to look for past posts under my name probably around 2008-2009.
they sell conversion mounts if you dont feel like chasing down ford mounts.
they also sell vaious bracket mounts for ps pumps/alts depending on what you want to use as well as really nice headers.
I have personally done this swap into a 1980 with a np435. (this was a manual linkage)
I replaced a 302/np435 and placed a 460 with that same np435.
I had the correct bellhousing that came with the motor, i had trouble finding the right clutch if i recall, i think it ended up being from a 360/390 to match up to my flywheel that came with my motor.
I used the same starter as my 302/np435.
YOu may want to look for past posts under my name probably around 2008-2009.
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Senior User
Joined: May 2010
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From: BC Cana'duh
I used the L&L style swap mounts in a '88 F250 (302 EFI C6 to carb 460 C6) and I was able to reuse my drive shafts.The swap mounts put everything back to OEM location.I did have to use a oil filter relocation kit,but I already planned to use a dual kit anyway.And 460's use different starter motors for auto to standard trans just like SBF does.
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