460 highboy conersion
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,738
Likes: 3,345
From: South Central Utah
410/428 crankshafts are hard to come by.
Rebuilders or parts companies that have them require a good core in exchange.
Rebuilders or parts companies that have them require a good core in exchange.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 7,840
Likes: 2,348
The FE is not a problem to rebuild, the heads can be a bit more expensive to work on but that's the main difference.
by the time you buy the conversion parts and morgify your exhaust for the 460 you won't save any money. and your pickup will retain more value with the Fe as well.
by the time you buy the conversion parts and morgify your exhaust for the 460 you won't save any money. and your pickup will retain more value with the Fe as well.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 1,151
Likes: 352
From: Anderson, California
Well, I was just perusing thru our local Pick-n-Pull yard website two days ago and they have a '72 Thunderbird with a factory 429.
That would be a nice choice for an F250.
The FE 390 block with a 428 Scat crank kit would be a nice power plant engine for all-round good times.
Some of the mid '80's Ford E-series Vans had nice 460's with Holley 4-bbl carbs or EFI for choices.
Below is a random engine rebuilder with what appears to be a reasonable Long-Block price at $2,600.
FOR-390LB-3
Now, I pulled the original 400M engine from my '77 F350, and installed a built-and-balanced inline 300-six Gasser. LoL
The reason for the inline 300 six with Clifford induction and exhaust, was for the Nostalgia. 300's are not Liip-Rippers.
That would be a nice choice for an F250.
The FE 390 block with a 428 Scat crank kit would be a nice power plant engine for all-round good times.
Some of the mid '80's Ford E-series Vans had nice 460's with Holley 4-bbl carbs or EFI for choices.
Below is a random engine rebuilder with what appears to be a reasonable Long-Block price at $2,600.
FOR-390LB-3
Now, I pulled the original 400M engine from my '77 F350, and installed a built-and-balanced inline 300-six Gasser. LoL
The reason for the inline 300 six with Clifford induction and exhaust, was for the Nostalgia. 300's are not Liip-Rippers.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,746
Likes: 2,587
From: The Shenandoah Valley
No question in my mind, if a 360 engine come out, it would be a 390 going back in. Maybe a 410 or 428, but yeah, a 390 will do very nicely.
I would not even consider swapping a 460 into mine in place of the 351M in it now, and there is less hassle involved there than is going from a FE to 385 series.
I would not even consider swapping a 460 into mine in place of the 351M in it now, and there is less hassle involved there than is going from a FE to 385 series.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,738
Likes: 3,345
From: South Central Utah
The 2V 429 produced something like 460 lb ft of torque at 2200 rpm. It pulled like a tractor.
The 4V didn't hit peak torque until something like 2800 rpm.
The 429 2V would be my choice.
Butt-Head
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 9,411
Likes: 2,899
From: Reed Point, MT
A 72 429 is a dog.
Garbage combustion chambers and low compression. My dad took a good running turd of a 400 out of his 79 Bronco and put a 429 out of a 72 T-Bird in it. He regretted it from the test drive.
Garbage combustion chambers and low compression. My dad took a good running turd of a 400 out of his 79 Bronco and put a 429 out of a 72 T-Bird in it. He regretted it from the test drive.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 7,840
Likes: 2,348
I put a 429 out of a '73 Mercury in place of the dead 55,000 mile 400 in my dad's '79 f250 4x4 in `1988. I just rebuilt it last year to stock specs and it runs better than it ever did.
Like the smogger 460's , the base429's were not that impressive. neither were the 454's or the pickup 440's at the time. but they would all smoke a 400..
Like the smogger 460's , the base429's were not that impressive. neither were the 454's or the pickup 440's at the time. but they would all smoke a 400..
Butt-Head
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 9,411
Likes: 2,899
From: Reed Point, MT
To be fair, the 400 in the Bronco (owned since new) was equipped with fenderwell exit headers and an Edelbrock intake/cam package. Unrelated to performance, it also got new rod and main bearings at 61K miles (big surprise). It ran really well being in a light Bronco.
Dad was like I am....can't leave good-enough alone (I know where I get that trait)......so he procured a wrecked 72 Thunderbird in the mid 2000s and bought all the same goodies (L&L fenderwell exit headers, Edelbrock intake/cam) and it NEVER ran as strong as that 400.
I **** talk the 335 series all the time for good reasons; they are trash. However, I'd shy away from a stock low compression 460/429 if one is expecting a real difference in power/economy. They also suck.....and as 440 sixpack stated, ALL early emissions and most truck-application engines suck.
Dad was like I am....can't leave good-enough alone (I know where I get that trait)......so he procured a wrecked 72 Thunderbird in the mid 2000s and bought all the same goodies (L&L fenderwell exit headers, Edelbrock intake/cam) and it NEVER ran as strong as that 400.
I **** talk the 335 series all the time for good reasons; they are trash. However, I'd shy away from a stock low compression 460/429 if one is expecting a real difference in power/economy. They also suck.....and as 440 sixpack stated, ALL early emissions and most truck-application engines suck.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 7,840
Likes: 2,348
It was a sad era for performance even in the sportier cars. but the 351-400 stood out as awful even among the pigs.
A stock smogger '72 429 produces only 212 hp and 327 lbs of torque, pretty sorry. until you look at a stock 79 400 that gave 158 hp and 276 lbs of torque. this was the peak of pathetic Ford engines.
A stock smogger '72 429 produces only 212 hp and 327 lbs of torque, pretty sorry. until you look at a stock 79 400 that gave 158 hp and 276 lbs of torque. this was the peak of pathetic Ford engines.