Notices
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

Engine Install

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 25, 2023 | 02:11 PM
  #1  
MontyHowie's Avatar
MontyHowie
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Engine Install

We’re trying to reinstall a 460 that we pulled to rebuild. We left the E4od in the truck and are having trouble getting everything lined up. Would it be better to pull the motor and trans, bolt them together and install everything together? Or can we actually do it the way we are trying? Thanks
 
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2023 | 02:17 PM
  #2  
FuzzFace2's Avatar
FuzzFace2
FTE Legend
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Liked
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,935
Likes: 4,123
From: Angier, NC
Club FTE Gold Member
I have done it both ways but most were done the way you are doing it.
You need a floor jack under the transmission to raise & lower as needed to line up.
Also having a tilter on the motor helps too.
Raise the trans up and tilt the rear of the motor down should drop right in.
Dave ----
 
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2023 | 02:21 PM
  #3  
MontyHowie's Avatar
MontyHowie
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
So what is the easiest way to line up the torque converter studs? We had the motor and transmission lines up at one point, but the convert bolts were binding on the flex plate.
 
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2023 | 02:33 PM
  #4  
FuzzFace2's Avatar
FuzzFace2
FTE Legend
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Liked
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,935
Likes: 4,123
From: Angier, NC
Club FTE Gold Member
Did you pull the converter out of the trans?
I thought if the converter was in all the way the motor could be bolted up and then turn the converter to line up the studs to the holes and pull it forward.
Other wise ....
Is there a drain plug on the converter? If so you need to get that close to the hole in the flex plate.
If not line up the studs as close as you can to the holes before dropping it in.
Then when motor & trans are close recheck and adjust before joining the 2.

The is how I do it.
Good luck
Dave ----
 
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2023 | 02:55 PM
  #5  
MontyHowie's Avatar
MontyHowie
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
I didn’t actually pull the converter out, but maybe it came out a little when we pulled the motor. I was under the assumption that you could spin the converter as well, but I thought I read somewhere that on a big block Ford the studs had to be lined up first. I will see if the converter is seated all the way and go from there.
 
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2023 | 06:00 PM
  #6  
FuzzFace2's Avatar
FuzzFace2
FTE Legend
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Liked
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,935
Likes: 4,123
From: Angier, NC
Club FTE Gold Member
The only time I know the converter studs only fit the flex plate one way is if the converter is balance and not the flex plate.
I dont think Ford did this on any of their motors but not 100% sure on that.
I am pretty sure MOPAR older motors had the converters balance not the flex plates.

I guess you could measure between all the studs and all the holes in the flex plate to see if they are even between them all?
Last motor / auto I did was my drag car over 15 years now.
Dave ----
 
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2023 | 08:25 PM
  #7  
Scndsin's Avatar
Scndsin
FTE Chapter Leader
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 12,341
Likes: 1,314
From: Central Mississippi
Club FTE Silver Member

Take a bell housing bolt (7/16 ?) and get a pair slightly longer, chop the heads & slot the ends.

Use them to line up the bell housing dowels & makes it easier to line up the converter studs if it is seated right.
 
Reply
Old Mar 26, 2023 | 09:12 AM
  #8  
kenny nunez's Avatar
kenny nunez
Cargo Master
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,251
Likes: 304
From: Kenner,La.
Club FTE Gold Member
Converter

When the converter is all the way in there it is so close to the inside of the housing you cannot get your fingers around the back side of the converter. Also, are you using the original crankshaft? After the engine and transmission are bolted together there is usually 1/8” clearance between the flywheel and the converter before pulling them together with the nuts.
As said, using guide pins is also a good idea.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-4

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-9

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
Old Mar 26, 2023 | 10:45 AM
  #9  
manicmechanic007's Avatar
manicmechanic007
Hotshot
5 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 10,529
Likes: 2,657
From: Near Salt Lake City
Club FTE Silver Member

I sometimes use (2 or more) bolts that have been cut off and a screwdriver slot cut in them
They act as lineup studs, and can be removed later
Get a few longer bellhousing bolts to help you
 
Reply
Old Mar 26, 2023 | 10:46 AM
  #10  
manicmechanic007's Avatar
manicmechanic007
Hotshot
5 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 10,529
Likes: 2,657
From: Near Salt Lake City
Club FTE Silver Member


 
Reply
Old Mar 26, 2023 | 10:46 AM
  #11  
manicmechanic007's Avatar
manicmechanic007
Hotshot
5 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 10,529
Likes: 2,657
From: Near Salt Lake City
Club FTE Silver Member


 
Reply
Old Mar 26, 2023 | 05:36 PM
  #12  
packagerjr's Avatar
packagerjr
Laughing Gas
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 817
Likes: 27
I mated a 460 to my C6 (460 came from an E4OD) truck. The dowels landed before the converter studs did. I have a tilter and also had to make a spreader bar to give the rigging enough axial clearance between it and the firewall to get the engine and trans at the same angles and elevations. Not sure of any secret sauce besides persistence. I did use two bellhousing bolts to help pull them together after the dowels were started and studs lined up.

Good luck!
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
dragford1
Escape & Escape Hybrid
2
Jun 10, 2019 08:48 AM
Preuett
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
21
Jan 15, 2016 09:40 PM
Doc Hinkel
1978 - 1996 Big Bronco
3
Nov 23, 2015 10:01 PM
memphis_made
1997 - 2003 F150
8
Feb 2, 2015 10:08 AM
tom1979
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
4
Nov 6, 2006 01:44 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:09 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-1
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE