Whats the difference between a Lincoln and Ford 460? Why didn't Ford use the same motor in both brands?
-Aaron

 

The answer varies from year to year, based on what else was available. Back in 68 when the 460 was initially offered, Lincoln's could get a 460, and Fords could be had with a 429 and its many varieties (Cobra Jet, for example). At least more often than not - the occasional ford 460 slipped through, but in the late 60's and pre-gas-crunch early 70's, Ford pushed their 429 engines extremely hard.

The 429 died off in the 70's, but the 460 was made until the end of the 1996 model year (and some being installed in F250/350 in 1997). Trucks didn't get them until... shoot, I'm going to say 1982 or so. Before that, the 351C/400M were the bigger truck engines.

The differences between the lincoln 460 and ford 460 mostly is in the "dressing", valve covers, air cleaners, etc. On years where Lincoln and Ford offered a 460 for a passenger car, you'd find the insides of both 460's to be very much the same.

 

I had an 1976 F-150 that had an 460 from thew factory (checked the vin#'s)

 

77 was the first year i saw them.maybe you had a late model.

 

The service book I have indicated 82 for trucks, which is where I got that figure. Maybe it was a typo... cool info, thanks!

 

The 460 came back in 83, F-250' and F-350's. For the first time being a factory motor in a 4 wheel drive. I think they stayed in the vans while not in the trucks for 80, 81, 82.

And yes the 460's were in the F-150 and F-250, and E-250 & E-350 vans, 74-79, 2 wheel drive only. I used to farm for a guy ( my high school Ag teacher) that had a F-350 pickup with a 460 in it. It was a 74 model. He bought it new when I was senior in high school in 74.

I think this is right.

 

I think its right too, 460's are a dime a dozen (well not quite but you get my point) in 74+ 2wd trucks, its the 4x4's that didnt get 460's until the early 80's

 

f250rangerexplorer: But after all that, and to answer your question, the true difference is really none. The same engine was installed in Lincoln, Fords, and Mercs.

 

460 were available in trucks in 1972. The early 1960's Lincoln 460's were actually 462 cid engines of the "MEL" family of engines. They were totally different than the 460's of the 385 family. The 385 460 block weights about 55 lbs less than the Lincoln 462. As far as any spec.s I've ever seen the 460 was available in trucks from 1972 straight through until the production of the engine stopped in 1996. Then again the 460 was in cars as early as 1968, so why not in a truck unless the pre 1973's engine compartments wouldn't handle them, which I don't beleive as I've seen the factory installed engine in 1972 trucks.

 

ok now remember guys that the old lincloin 460's had the slated stlye bell housing bolts ever see one with extra bell mounts cast into the block some of the older 60's had a duele pattern block it would fit lincolin or ford then oh someware in the early 70's they just went to the bell stlye we all know now to be the same as a 400 so there was a difference. the 462 's were totaly different they had an airgap style intake and look nothin like a 60 the exust manifolds were different ect.

 

There was one or two years in the early eighties when they were N/A in the trucks. I purchased for a company that used them and during that period if we needed new/replacement trucks I ended up advertising for low mileage used ones and buying from private parties.

 

According to the manual there were no engine codes for a 460 in 81 or 82 but there are parts manuals that show the engine was in some trucks. So does the factory always tell the truth? I doubt it but then again?

 

The 460 may have been discontinued in vans and pick ups after 1996, but the production of 460s continued through 1998.

Richard

 

there was a slight difference between the 460s put in passenger cars and those in trucks. The rods were slightly different and there were different emissions configurations. The 460 was available in pickups starting in 1973 when the body style changed. When the body style changed again in 1980, it was dropped from the F series but continued in the E series vans. In 1983 it was again offered in the F series but restricted to the F250 over 8500 GVW and F350 line and for the first time offered in the 4x4 trucks and with standard transmissions. The last year for the 460 was the 1997 F250 HD and F350 and FSuperduty. The 1997s were sold into 1998 as there were no official 1998 F250 HDs or F350s. The 460 was offered alongside the new V10 in the 1998 motorhome chassis and by 1999 was no longer available.

 

the 460 was first available in the Lincoln Continental, as an option in 1968 along side the 462 which was a MEL engine. the Lincoln Mark III had the 460 only since it was introduced in 1968.

460s were available in trucks at least since 1973.

Lincoln 460s and T-bird/fleet/special 429s were balanced and blueprinted from the factory, the typical Ford 429 was not. there were "blue" series engines, and "red" series. regular production ford and Mercury's got one series, and Lincoln, T-bird, police-Taxi, special orders, military, fleet orders, and some MD/HD trucks got the other series.


I think the "red" series were the special ones, they were still painted blue, and looked like any other, but were called that to denote the different build quality.

also the 68-71 385 blocks had a higher nickel content, making them stronger, and better able to withstand wear. often a 150,000 mile block will have almost no ring ridge.
68-71 Lincoln and t-bird heads are different, but I dont remember why...