I got a flooded 1979 Ranchero from a coustin of mine, getting ready to rebuild it. With this post I'd like to focus on the engine and not other aspects of fixing a flooded vehicle...

The ranchero originally had a 302, replaced with a 351W of the same year. I can get a '79 460 with trans (I hope its a C6) for $200, rebuilt with 50k miles. I already understand that the 460 won't fit under the hood, but no matter.

I plan on using the truck for occasional hauling (I live in New Orleans, so there are NO hills) and occasional weekend fun, such as a few burnouts and such. I know the 79 460 will have crappy heads (emission controls and the like of the late 70s and 80s). I'd like to know if I can keep the bottom end stock, but port the heads and change out cam, lifters, carb, etc.. for about 400HP and enough torque to haul a few things here and there when needed. I'm not trying to build a track vehicle here, so I don't want to put my life savings into it.

Any info would be helpful...thanks!

Craig

 

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Who says the 460 won't fit under the hood? With the factory low profile intake and factory air cleaner it fits with a half inch to spare. Had a 79 that I put a 460 in and drove for years. Sold it to a friend of mine a few years ago when I decided to move and couldn't take it with me.

 

It does fit? Awesome! Even better.

Did the motor mounts match up? And did you modify the front suspension any due to any extra weight of that big block?

Craig

 

Who says it has crappy heads, those heads flow almost as good as the vaunted DOVE heads just have a bigger combustion chamber for lower compression which isn't always a bad thing if you want to run pump gas. Port them paying particular attention to the exhaust port, step up to one piece stainless valves (about $140 for a set) and step the size up to 2.19/171 and after the bigger valve seats are cut blend the bowls. Look for a dual pattern cam with more exhaust duration.
On the block I know you said you want to leave it alone but I would check it out and find out how far the pistons are down in the holes and have it squared, and decked to bring the pistons to Zero deck to get your compression up a little and improve the quench distance.
That engine is stock form will have so much more low end torque than the 351w that is in it that without any mods your gonna have a hard time keeping tires on it, so do a few things and have fun with it.
BTW yes it should have a C6 behind it.

 

I think the 79 Ranchero was based on the LTD II/Thunderbird chassis and the largest engine option at the time was the 400 (same exterior dimensions as the 351W).

If the engine will fit (it probably will, with some finagling/mods) you will probalby need heavier front springs. The 460/C6 combo will be almost 200 lbs heavier than the engine/tranny combo that came in the car.

Brad

 

actually Brad the 400 is considerably larger than the 351w, but if you find the springs for a ranchero with the 400 in it they will support the wieght of a 460 just fine (you might check they may actually use the same springs either way) when I switched from a 400 to a 460 in an F150 the actual ride hieght difference was only 1/8"

 

Not the 351/400 (Windsor series). You're thinking of the M series 400.

Brad

 

Brad,

I am not 100% sure, but it probably has a C6 in it already. It was actually built as a camera chase car, equipped with Ambulance (springs?) in the back used to stabalize a camera as the car drove down the road, plus it was used occassionally to tow.

That doesn't account for the extra weight of a 460 versus the 351W though...

Thanks for the info!

 

there is no such critter as a 400 windsor the only 400 ford ever built was a 335 series engine which is the 351M/400.

 

Brad is correct, the Ranchero of 79 is based on the LTD II/T-bird chassis.

An aquantance of mine shoved a 460 into a 79 LTD-II 4-door, using 75 Thunderbird 460 mounts. I called him just now to confirm, and he said "Total bolt-in".

I personally have not done this.