Hello all,

I'm getting ready to replace the 460 in my 79 f150 with a 460+trans from a lincoln, and have a few questions.

What would be the best way to start? will i need any special tools? and what issues are likely with a swap like this so i can be prepared to overcome them. also one more while i got you guys, is there a way to drop the new motor and trans in together? thanks alot guys, this is one area where i am clueless for the time being. also, if anyone is interested in the old one i'll let it go pretty cheap heh

 

You may want to check the tailshaft length of the Lincoln tranny before you do anything.

R & R'ing a Transmission is tough work & shouldn't be taken when having nver done it before (yes the is a first time for everything

If you have all the Time/Tools/Shop & Equipment it is better.

A better way to change trannies is with the truck on a hoist.
Saves a lot of back aches & skinned knuckles.

Maybe read some threads in our Engine swap forum or in the Transmission forum to gain some insight what you are taking on.

 

notyettoday, I have a 73 model F 100. I put a 460 and c6 in my truck. Your job will be much easier to put the motor and transmission in to your truck all at one time. That c6 is just too much transmission for the regular guy to put in by him self.
There is a bolt on each side of the cross member that holds up the tail of the transmission. Take the bolts out and slide that cross member straight back.
Pick up your motor and transmission with the transmission tail lower than the front of the engine....a lot lower.
When you start to sit them in the truck, your going to have to alternate between pushing them towards the cab and letting them down a little bit each time. When you get the tail of the transmission low enough to go under the hump in the floor board, you can go on back with them and sit them down on the engine stands.
Then crawl up under the truck, put a jack under the transmission oil pan and pick it up. once you get the transmission all the way up, slide the cross member back under it, and bolt it back down.
Shouldnt need any special tools except for an engine hoist.
I think I would do a lot of measuring on that lincoln engine. I think I saw somewhere that it is difficult to use them to swap in to our trucks.
Mike

 

Notyettoday, where are you from and how cheap are we talking? Future plans involve a built 460

 

thank you everyone for the replies, specially doc. thats what i wanted to hear. will i have to remove the radiator or anything or will it still be no problem?

i plan to do plenty of measuring on the lincoln motor, as well as move all of my accessories off my motor onto the new one. if need be i'll put my old tranny on the new 460, although i would prefer not to.

Rick, were talking very cheap. i'm located in michigan so if you interested pm me

 

Michigan is a little ways from VA. Perhaps if the shipping price was right, which I doubt it would be. Such a shame.

 

Radiator will need to come out for sure, the more clearance the better.

I would STRONGLY recommend getting a load leveler, about $40 at your local parts store. This will allow you to change the angle of the engine/tranny as you go into the engine bay. It will keep you from needing to jack up the rear of the tranny as you bring the engine in. You might even be able to rent one somewhere. I've installed engine/tranny combo's with and with-out the leveler and it's worth the money.

 

He hit the nail on the head......first off, ALWAYS remove the radiator, its a bad feeling when the motor jerks forward and the waterpump shaft jabs a hole through it, i did that on my first motor swap, ......next off, diconnect EVERYTHING, go over it a few times and make sure its all unhooked......unbolt the motor mounts BEFORE you disconnect the tranny mount, if you do the tranny first it will put weight on the motor mount bolts making it more difficult to get them out....other than that its all easy going, just make sure you have good lift chain and SECURE mounting points, ive seen many engines fall, its not a good thing!!! the load leveler is a must if your working alone, ive done too many alone without one, it gets tiresome going under the truck and up again over and over trying to get the tranny to line up right.......and when its in, go over everything 5 times so you dont miss anything......good luck on your project and keep us posted..........

 

if you don't have a load level

another good trick is to use a ratchet strap, and go from the back of the tranny to the Cherry picker, lift point then you can change the angle of the tranny going in to the truck and they are easy to hook/unhook tighten up and loosen, in a combo with a load level you can change the approach angle's real easy.


Just don't use a ratchet strap on the engine you want a chain there the strap are good for changing angle's but not for supporting the weight of everything.

just another option for you.

good luck.

 

Did the same thing in 77...not swapping the engine, removed it , rebuilt, and replaced. It is ALOT easier to remove the raditor support, hood, grill, and the front fenders. There's not a lot more work in doing this, and the extra time it takes to get it back together will be well worth it!

Mike

 

I agree AND disagree with that, it definitly does make engine removal easier, but i dont think its worth the extra time it takes to remove all those parts, i did that when i rebuilt the old 360 that used to be in my truck, it took me twice as long and then i had to re-align all the front end pieces when putting it back together, when i swapped the 360 for the 460 i left all that on and it went much faster, all i had to do was lift it higher.....so id say its something you can do, if you're up for the extra work....funny thing was, when i did all that, i found a rusty ignition key attached to a bolt holding the front clip to the fender, it was on the underside of it out of sight, i dont know if this was placed there by a PO or if it was a factory thing, it looked like it could have been there from the factory since it was so rusted.....i though it was kinda odd, and the key even fit the ignition and doors!!!

 

Weird...
I only did that because everything is going to paint. Also, It helped me find all the rust (which is very minimal). I also found out what a hack job the PO did putting the 460 in (camewith a 400). You are right though, it has it's advantages and it has it's drawbacks...

At a minimum, the radiator and hood has got to go...

 

Take everything on the front of the engine that will come off back to the water pump. You can take off the hood, or take off the front clip. I've done it both ways and can't see a lot of difference in time either way. Make sure to mark which ever part you take off to make reassembly a snap. For example: if you choose to remove the hood, draw a line around the hinge where it meets the hood so you will know exaclty where it goes.
Mike.