Awhile ago I had a 460 built for my '82 Ford F-350 which came out with a 400 originally. I finally found some time to drop the 460 in my '82 F-350 yesterday. Everythng went as planned until I tried to hook up the clutch fork. I am using the factory 400 bellhousing that came with the truck for my 460 swap but, the factory 12" clutch hits the inside of the 400 bellhousing. My 460 is a '85, so the 360/390 flywheel stuff won't work here. Is there a clutch other than L&L's $700 fancy pants clutch, that I can use on a 460 flywheel and will fit inside my 400 bellhousing? I do have an aluminum 460 bellhousing but, it's for hydraulic clutch. I'd like to retain my mechanical clutch set up for ease and expense. If anyone knows a quick and easy fix, let me know.

 

Is the 460 bell housing similar to the bell housing on a 460 ZF-5speed were the clutch slave cylinder bolts to the bell housing with a short rod to push the clutch fork. I have seen several ZF-5 Speed swaps on FTE that a stock type set-up used in the 4-speed was modified to work. You might get some ideas trying a search that way in the forums. I have had several 400 4-speed trucks over the years and have seen several with the 11" clutch setup not 12" clutch as some parts suppliers stat is correct for the 400 engine. I don't know if the 460 flywheel could be drilled for the 11" clutch pressure plate by a machine shop , may be worth checking. I assume the pressure plate is not a diaphragm style pressure plate which may clear. Just my thoughts as to maybe this would work for you. Maybe someone else will chime in with a better solution.Good luck and post how it works out when it's done.

 

I did a M50-D to ZF5 speed swap on a '89 F250 light duty years ago, and the ZF trans had the bellhousing cast into the transmission case itself. Which inturn means the ZF tran's bellhousing wasn't removable. I wonder if the reason my '82 is a F350, it had the 12" clutch? In '83 Ford started using hydraulic clutches. The best fix for me is to find a pre-'83 460 steal bellhousing with a mechanical clutch setup, I haven't found one yet. I could do some cutting and grinding on my aluminum bellhousing post '82 style but I'd rather find the right bellhousing. Aluminum is hard to work with without the right tools. If I can't find the right bellhousing I'll need to cut off the slave cylinder bracket the cut down the rest of the overburden untill I can fit my mechanical pushrod bracket onto it. Then more than likely I'll need to build my own pushrod for the fork. I've been busy at work so I haven't have time to work on my project for awhile. Plus my shop is tied up with other projects at the moment.

 

Do you still have the hydro bell housing??? I need one I have a extra mechanical linkage one 🤠

 

welcome to FTE .
sadly you responded to a post that is 12 years old, from a member who has not been seen since 2021, for that needed part i would personally start looking on e bay for it, wish you luck