Swapping engines
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 1
From: Indiana
Originally Posted by Redone
Can someone direct this newbie to information on swapping out a '79 351M to a 460?
Thanks.
Thanks.
What are you wanting to know exactly?
There is a lot of info to had right here in this section.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis, MO
I guess I'm just looking for information on this type of engine swap. I'm considering the swap but I'm not sure if it would be worth the trouble or expense.
I have a '79 F150 Supercab with 86,000 original miles. It runs great but it just seems a little weary, it may have something to due with the age and the vehicles weight - not sure. So, I thought maybe a fresh rebuild or an engine swap what be the answer. I would like to keep the mileage up but gain power if possible. And alot of the posts I've seen state that I might even gain some mileage with the swap. So...I was just pondering my options.
I have a '79 F150 Supercab with 86,000 original miles. It runs great but it just seems a little weary, it may have something to due with the age and the vehicles weight - not sure. So, I thought maybe a fresh rebuild or an engine swap what be the answer. I would like to keep the mileage up but gain power if possible. And alot of the posts I've seen state that I might even gain some mileage with the swap. So...I was just pondering my options.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 1
From: Indiana
Originally Posted by Redone
Thanks, that's what I am starting to think.
I swapped a 460 into my 82 3/4 ton 4x4 that had a 400 in it. I used everthing factory except an oil filter relocation kit.
My donor engine was from a 79 E-250 van. I used everything from it, including the exhaust manifolds which fit perfect between the frame rails.
The 79 will not be much worse.
I was able to use the radiator from the 400, it handles the cooling fine even on the hottest days. But it was almost a new radiator too.
In my case the 460 gets about 1-2 miles to the gallon better than the 400. But its hard to stay off the gas pedal though. The power improvement was tremendous. But I rebulit the 460 completely before installing it.
You can get the L&L motor mounts for the swap. Pretty much a bolt on from there. I used the C-6 and torque convertor from behind the 400. I have not had any problems with them. And its not babied.
Last edited by Superdave; Apr 29, 2004 at 02:17 AM.
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 908
Likes: 4
A decent cam will wake that sleepy 351M up. You already have excellent heads.
A cam, a 4V manifold and carb, and some headers will nearly double the power that thing puts out. Build it as a 400 and you can get 400 HP real easy.
It all depends on what you are looking for. You could swap in a stock 460 and still have to do major mods to get the power you want, unless you have one of the early high compression jobs.
A cam, a 4V manifold and carb, and some headers will nearly double the power that thing puts out. Build it as a 400 and you can get 400 HP real easy.
It all depends on what you are looking for. You could swap in a stock 460 and still have to do major mods to get the power you want, unless you have one of the early high compression jobs.
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