Replace a 460 with ??? help!
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Elder User
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 610
Likes: 3
From: Willamette Valley
Update #2 Found a bolt in core support for the 300 from a local seller for $50, is that the part I will need? is that a rare part? good price? should I get it now even if I never do the swap?
since the work is done removing it I can't see it going for much less...
since the work is done removing it I can't see it going for much less...
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,855
Likes: 4,105
From: Angier, NC
I do know there is a difference between if the truck has AC or no AC.
The AC support has a bigger opening to run a bigger radiator.
I would think the 460 has the big opening and I know the 300 six AC trucks have the big opening but are they the same?
Maybe check thru LMC to see if they are the same supports? I would say as long as the smaller 300 radiator will bolt up to the 460 support just use it.
Then again $50 is not a bad price as long as the mounting bolt area is not rusted out. Even ig you don't use it could always sell it for $50 and not lose anything.
Dave ----
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,855
Likes: 4,105
From: Angier, NC
The other posters have good points. Sticking with your original question in this thread, the 300 six will go in, no fabrication necessary since it was originally offered in a f250 and f350 of this year. You just have to find the right parts.
The brackets you need are attached to the frame. I have never personally taken them off a junkyard truck, but have heard some are bolted, some are riveted, and some might even have a combination of rivets and bolts. If you take a battery drill with a couple of batteries, a good sharp 3/8 drill bit, a good size chisel, center punch and hammer, you should be able to quickly deal with any rivets. You just center punch the head of the rivet, take the drill and drill the center of the head down till the bit is even with the frame, and then take the chisel and a couple of wacks and the head will come right off. Then punch the remaining shank of the rivet out of the frame and the bracket.
I looked up your truck on Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market and with the 460, your transmission is most certainly a c6. A little bit of a gas hog but almost indestructible trans. You should be able to find one these trans rebuilt fairly cheap, should be less than $1000. You will need to get one that has the small ford pattern that is common with the 302, 351w, and the 300 six. They are all the same bell pattern.
The brackets you need are attached to the frame. I have never personally taken them off a junkyard truck, but have heard some are bolted, some are riveted, and some might even have a combination of rivets and bolts. If you take a battery drill with a couple of batteries, a good sharp 3/8 drill bit, a good size chisel, center punch and hammer, you should be able to quickly deal with any rivets. You just center punch the head of the rivet, take the drill and drill the center of the head down till the bit is even with the frame, and then take the chisel and a couple of wacks and the head will come right off. Then punch the remaining shank of the rivet out of the frame and the bracket.
I looked up your truck on Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market and with the 460, your transmission is most certainly a c6. A little bit of a gas hog but almost indestructible trans. You should be able to find one these trans rebuilt fairly cheap, should be less than $1000. You will need to get one that has the small ford pattern that is common with the 302, 351w, and the 300 six. They are all the same bell pattern.
I usually never disagree with the advice given, but in this case, I gotta say that I am a great fan of the 300 six. I drove one from Alaska, and NEVER had a problem. At first, I thought, yeah...it might not work as well with a C6. Then I remembered seeing a six in a 3/4 ton flatbed with an automatic. Sure a 460 is stronger. But, yes the gas mileage sucks. At least my 400 did!
Now he has posted back he mainly want the six because of MPG. With the driving he would be doing and the work needed to convert over to the 300, motor & trany as the 460 C6 will not bolt up to the 300, he would be best to keep the 460 and do a little work and even less money than the swap to get the MPG up.
Also because he is not loading the truck up that 460 is not working hard and he is not pushing air with a "brick" down the high way so the MPG would not be that bad.
BTW I had a 1976 E350 with a 460 / C6 and pulled a 2 car trailer with it. The van with out trailer was not bad in the MPG dept. but with trailer lets say it was not great and yes it had duel tanks.
It made a trip to the west cost and back pulling a 1 car trailer when it was not pulling the 2 car in New England states.
Dave ----
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From: Virginia
Your radiator core support should work. I have never done this swap before. But the first thing I did was go to autozone and punched in a 1986 f250 2wd with a 300 six. They sell two radiators for this truck. I wrote both part numbers down and wrote down the dimensions, 27.5 inches wide, 18 inches tall. I then stayed on the same site, ,and punched in the truck you have, a 1986 f250 2wd with a 7.5 liter. I then looked for a radiator for that truck. Different part numbers, so the 460 radiator will probably not work. But the 460 radiator was 27.5 inches wide, 18 inches tall. So I am taking from that the six radiator will fit in the hole.
You can do this for any common parts the local stores sell to see if they are the same.
You can do this for any common parts the local stores sell to see if they are the same.
Tuned
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 396
Likes: 5
From: Ottawa, Canada
Kinda surprised at how many v8 zombies are here. I had a bone stock 85 with the 300. Had no problems towing an 84 f150 on a car hauler. Kept it at 70mph cause I couldn't keep it in my lane any faster while only burning 12mpg. Unless you are towing stupid heavy loads the 300 a great truck engine and was even used in f600s......
Ya the 300 is no HP mill, but it'll tow anything and keep a truck cruising at 90mph if its just tuned up properly.
To change the 460 to the 300 though you be looking at mounts, radiator, transmission to name a few. Probably not worth the swap unless you drive it a lot of miles.
Ya the 300 is no HP mill, but it'll tow anything and keep a truck cruising at 90mph if its just tuned up properly.
To change the 460 to the 300 though you be looking at mounts, radiator, transmission to name a few. Probably not worth the swap unless you drive it a lot of miles.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,855
Likes: 4,105
From: Angier, NC
Kinda surprised at how many v8 zombies are here. I had a bone stock 85 with the 300. Had no problems towing an 84 f150 on a car hauler. Kept it at 70mph cause I couldn't keep it in my lane any faster while only burning 12mpg. Unless you are towing stupid heavy loads the 300 a great truck engine and was even used in f600s......
Ya the 300 is no HP mill, but it'll tow anything and keep a truck cruising at 90mph if its just tuned up properly.
To change the 460 to the 300 though you be looking at mounts, radiator, transmission to name a few. Probably not worth the swap unless you drive it a lot of miles.
Ya the 300 is no HP mill, but it'll tow anything and keep a truck cruising at 90mph if its just tuned up properly.
To change the 460 to the 300 though you be looking at mounts, radiator, transmission to name a few. Probably not worth the swap unless you drive it a lot of miles.
It is all in the gearing, how fast you want to go and what you want to do with the truck.
Dave ----
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: St Albert, Alberta
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,964
Likes: 2,725
From: Virginia
Kinda surprised at how many v8 zombies are here. I had a bone stock 85 with the 300. Had no problems towing an 84 f150 on a car hauler. Kept it at 70mph cause I couldn't keep it in my lane any faster while only burning 12mpg. Unless you are towing stupid heavy loads the 300 a great truck engine and was even used in f600s......
Ya the 300 is no HP mill, but it'll tow anything and keep a truck cruising at 90mph if its just tuned up properly.
To change the 460 to the 300 though you be looking at mounts, radiator, transmission to name a few. Probably not worth the swap unless you drive it a lot of miles.
Ya the 300 is no HP mill, but it'll tow anything and keep a truck cruising at 90mph if its just tuned up properly.
To change the 460 to the 300 though you be looking at mounts, radiator, transmission to name a few. Probably not worth the swap unless you drive it a lot of miles.
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Elder User
Joined: Jun 2017
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From: Willamette Valley
thanks for all the ideas, appreciated!
this rig has SPECIAL EDITION in weird font (looks like vinyl lettering) just past the second fuel door on the bed, also has a heavy duty eyelet plate riveted to the bed between bed and cab just across from the key face plate on the door (high up) with another mounted on the corner of the rear bumper these eyelets are on both sides.
does this special edition have any other features that aren't so obvious?
the web didn't have much on this so maybe it was a local offering at the dealer?
this rig has SPECIAL EDITION in weird font (looks like vinyl lettering) just past the second fuel door on the bed, also has a heavy duty eyelet plate riveted to the bed between bed and cab just across from the key face plate on the door (high up) with another mounted on the corner of the rear bumper these eyelets are on both sides.
does this special edition have any other features that aren't so obvious?
the web didn't have much on this so maybe it was a local offering at the dealer?
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
A 572 !!! Above 7,000 ft. elevation at my house we need all the power you can get... I have a 460 in a1983 F-250 4X4 Manual, and still wish for more power (torque) at times... A 300 won't cut it around here... In fact I am selling my 5.8 Liter because it is a WIMP !!! Your last post sounds like some camper tie down spots...
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,964
Likes: 2,725
From: Virginia
thanks for all the ideas, appreciated!
this rig has SPECIAL EDITION in weird font (looks like vinyl lettering) just past the second fuel door on the bed, also has a heavy duty eyelet plate riveted to the bed between bed and cab just across from the key face plate on the door (high up) with another mounted on the corner of the rear bumper these eyelets are on both sides.
does this special edition have any other features that aren't so obvious?
the web didn't have much on this so maybe it was a local offering at the dealer?
this rig has SPECIAL EDITION in weird font (looks like vinyl lettering) just past the second fuel door on the bed, also has a heavy duty eyelet plate riveted to the bed between bed and cab just across from the key face plate on the door (high up) with another mounted on the corner of the rear bumper these eyelets are on both sides.
does this special edition have any other features that aren't so obvious?
the web didn't have much on this so maybe it was a local offering at the dealer?
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
I have a 460 in mine, and with a new cam, the heads redone, edelbrock 750 carb and intake with a c6 I can normally push around 12mpg out of it with a 4.88 rear end. That is providing I keep my foot out of it. I will be swapping in different gears to get better mileage and driveability out of the truck, that just happens to be the way it came.
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Elder User
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 610
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From: Willamette Valley
thanks again and again. I used to pedal a bike to do most of my errands so a 460 just seems like putting in thumbtacks with a palm nailer! but I totally get the 'a good running truck with a healthy engine should continue to be that and can be left alone'. I just need to adjust my thinking, I will be driving more (up from 1-2 times a week to 3-4) but still not doing any significant miles. this truck is a $1000 gamble and it could still be sold for parts & scrap to the tune of several hundreds, with a bunch of cleaning, testing, tinkering, which I enjoy, probably cheaper than a class up at the community college!