Afternoon,
I've done some searching and by the time I get ready to learn it all, the 5 links that are open, are somehow back on work related pages.
My situation is:
I have a 1978 F250 4x4 with a 351M leak-monster. Runs great, just leaks a lot. The truck is a NP 4-speed which is really a 3 speed. Not too long ago I found a ZF-5 and jumped on that craigslist ad. I talked to the guy who was selling it, and he said he could sell me a running 460 out of a EFI truck that the transmission was attached to.
Its great I thought, went and picked the whole kit up. I got to work the next day and started researching on FTE and 460ford and theres a lot more to the swap than I thought.


Common questions:
What is timed straight up?


Heads, find some D0VE or go after market? Truck will be used as a truck, not going to the strip with this one. But where I live there are big hills and I tow as much hay as I can fit in a trailer I'm guessing at highway speed 65-75 I will be at 2200-2500 rpm with 4.10 gearing and 34" tires


Common things to look into? I will pull the oil pan and main caps, inspect bearings, PO said engine has 102K out of a F350 dually w/ plow, it ran great

I like the 460 Horsepower Chart (revised 1/24/09) - 460 Ford Forum
Link, and wouldn't mind having 400 horses on tap. Before getting the 78 back on the road, I parted ways with a slightly modded 6.0 and loved the torque that engine had.


Most forms on FTE have stickies, granted you can go on 460ford and find out a lot of information. But having FTE with all the info you need will be like a Walmart internet page.


Back to the engine. I don't plan on putting the engine in the truck for a few months. I need to save up and get carb heads for it, probably re-ring it, hone it and new main and rod bearings. Check the oil pump and upgrade the cam. If I set a 5k budget for this engine, assuming the block bore is good what heads would you recommend? Edelbrock Power Package Top-End Kits 2045 - Free Shipping on Orders Over $99 at Summit Racing I was thinking something along these (summit link) lines because the trick flow heads all require CJ (cobra jet) exhaust pattern and finding a 4x4 fender well header is difficult. That kit looks nice, just get some roller rockers, valve covers and go after breaking the cam and heads in. That engine should be good for at least 300hp if the timing and carb tuning are correct.
Then there are the small bits that may pose interruptions when the engine is in the truck if I don't address them now. Its a complete long block, alt P/S water pump air pump all those goodies on a serpentine belt!!! 1990s power steering pump in a 1978 truck, how to do the swap? Should I just get new 1990 lines and 1978 lines and splice them together? Is that alternator a 1-wire internally regulated? Can I just hook it up to the 78 harness?
I really don't want the headache of converting it to EFI, getting a few harnesses from JY and some work, this relay doesn't, that fuel pump is no good, retrofitting a EFI into a 78truck.


On the list of things I have purchased are:


ZF5 and OBD1 460 engine (heads casting code are 1988 heads)
bronco grave yard heavy duty 460 conversion engine mounts


that's all for right now

 

The problem is I can't find an after market manifold that will fit the EFI heads. If a manifold for EFI heads can be sourced then a carb and manifold is all you really need. These 460's make a lot of power in stock form. D0VE heads are very good and an Eldebrock intake and carb, a mild cam and you would be good to go. Not hard to make the alternator work but I would go with a 3G upgrade. Power steering hose on the 460 might work as the steering gears are of the same design and may use the same size fittings on gear. Ditch the air pump and associated crap not required on the 1978. Just source a shorter belt. You will have to source some frame mounts for a 385 series engine in your 1978

 

There's an adapter for such purpose I'll post a link tomorrow unless someone beats me to it

 

Price Motorsport sells the CS-460EFI adapter plate that allows you to bolt a Holley square bore to an efi lower plenum.
The kit comes with plugs for the injector holes.
http://www.pricemotorsport.com/html/body_cs-460efi.html

RHP sells a plate too.
This one seems to be specific to different size carbs.
http://www.reincarnation-automotive.com/efi_460

 

That's cool you will have to change distributors to a vacuum advanced one. An aftermarket or a duraspark can be sourced.

 

Block is at the machine shop. It was recently rebuilt, .030pistons are in it, rods are.010 undersized. I have a set of trickflows for the heads, still picking out the cam. Looking at just under 10.30:1 CR. Roller rockers, cometic head gaskets, long tube fenderwell headers, either weiland stealth or edelbrock RPM Airgap with an Edelbrock 800cfm on the top.


https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...wap-build.html


theres the thread