Odd engine swap
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Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Boring
Odd engine swap
I have a 78 f-250 4X4 with six inch lift and 37's , it currently has a 400 in it. I have a chance to get a running 390 f-250 2wd chassis, not sure of the year. The 390 is an auto, which is a direction I'd like to go anyways. Do the motor tower's bolt in place between the 2wd 390 and 4x4 400, do the cooling lines and all the other happy stuff swap from the 2wd frame to the four? I know I'll have to convert the auto to 4X4, but I have connections there. I'd love to go 460 someday but this one's free and has lots more power then my current motor. Thanks
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Brentwood,CA
well there is a lot of fabrication skills required here because the 390 died in the 76 model year so your truck will require some drilling. look throught the forums for this topic it gets covered about once a day.
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From: dickinson,tx
me personally i would keep the 400 cause you can bolt cleveland heads right on it.
if you didnt wanna go that route you could drop in a 460 much easyier. Aslso its a much tougher motor than the old 390 fe.
if you didnt wanna go that route you could drop in a 460 much easyier. Aslso its a much tougher motor than the old 390 fe.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
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Hey terrmat, I hope you're not saying that the 400 is a lot tougher than the 390. The 400 is a real T!RD, Weak rods, junk pistons, poor cooling, much work & money needed to get any performance and or reliability even close to the "FE" 390. Sorry,but this seems to be the majority of opinions on this subject.
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From: dickinson,tx
no im not sayin that the 400 is tougher,im just implying that the old fes are hard 2 get parts for sometimes. it would be easyier just 2 drop a 460 in. u can massage a 460 and get horsepower out of it. especially if you drop in a 428 crank shaft and change the stroke a little.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2005
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I like the 460 too....however I bought a 73 last year with a 390...I've been in the process of a rebuild...I really like the ford FE's...hop over to the FE forum and you can pick up on what these engines are capable of. At this point I'd rather play with an FE than a 460.
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From: waco
A 400 that's tougher than a 390????
If you believe that....I have a lawn mower with more torque than a 460, but then that's like comparing the 400 to the 390.
Doc
If you believe that....I have a lawn mower with more torque than a 460, but then that's like comparing the 400 to the 390.
Doc
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From: dickinson,tx
u can massage a 460 to make more power than a 390 anyday. 390 fes are based on a 460 platform but they have a smaller bore. the 460s in the late 70s suck because most of them are polution controlled.if yuo get one from the earlt to mid 70s than you can get the nessesary tourqe out of them,but they have 2 be non pollution controlled.
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Posting Guru
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From: waco
A 460 and a 390 are 2 completely different engines. A 390 is a better engine than a 400....but I'm not too sure about being better than a 460. I had a 390 in my truck and pulled it out for a 460. I've been all through both engines....they are no where near alike in any way.
Doc
Doc
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Right on Doc, The 460 is a 385 series and the 390 is a FE. None of the parts interchange. The 460 is definately capable of more horsepower & torque and they are a very tough engine, just ask any Truck Puller. The 390 is also an excellent engine known for it's torque and especially it's reliability. I'm running a .030 over (396) FE in my Street Mod Puller and it's very competitive with the 460, the (Ugh) 454 Chevy, and the 440 Mopar and the best part is that it stays together. Also have a 400 in my tow vehicle (78-F150) and I HATE it.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Nebraska
The FE Family consists of 352,360,390,427,and 428 the 335 series is 351C,351M-400M The 385 family is 429/460 all these can interchange in the own families but is not sure if you can shoehorn a 390-427-428 crank in a 352. But as some said if you can just find yourself a 460 and drop that in your truck it will cost you less money than trying to bolt in a 390.
Last edited by Thomasm67; Jun 21, 2005 at 07:47 PM.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
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O.K. this will be my final post for tonight. Think about this: The Chevy stroker 383, Check out the specs (bore, stroke, etc.) Now check the FE390 specs. Ford did it First. Well it's past my bedtime, got to go to work tomorrow. Goodnight!!
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From: Boring
Ok guys I'm not trying to debate which motor is a better one. Thanks for the all input but, I have a free donor truck with the 390 and an auto. If I went with the 460 I'd have to track down the motor, the trans, the cooling lines. then get 125 dollar motor mounts. If I kept the stick It'd get even more expensive. I just helped my brother do the 460 thing in his 79. What I want to know is what would it take to bolt it in to the truck. So if I can get a good solid motor for next to nothing that doesn't get beat by the hondas, I'd like to know. If it won't bolt in I'll have to wait for a 460 truck to roll around. Another question, do the motor towers from f-150's and 250's interchange, and 4x2 to 4x4? If so could I use the towers from a half ton with the inline six?
Last edited by 63SW250; Jun 21, 2005 at 09:58 PM.