79 460 into a 74 Highboy
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
79 460 into a 74 Highboy
It'll fit in there, but what is in there now?
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John
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In the cool still quiet of night, you can hear chevies rusting away.
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John
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In the cool still quiet of night, you can hear chevies rusting away.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,686
Likes: 1
From: Racine WI
79 460 into a 74 Highboy
From a 390 to a 460, thats like going from a Lincoln Continental to a Ford Taurus, the 460 being the taurus of the analogy
Whats wrong with the 390 that you want to pitch it ?
You will need a new tranny and it has to be a highboy tranny so that you have the mounting boss for the 4wd lever, This tranny is very hard to find
You may also need new motor mount towers
The 79 460 probably pushed all of 180 hp
Thats probably 100 less than the ole FE pushes
Whats wrong with the 390 that you want to pitch it ?
You will need a new tranny and it has to be a highboy tranny so that you have the mounting boss for the 4wd lever, This tranny is very hard to find
You may also need new motor mount towers
The 79 460 probably pushed all of 180 hp
Thats probably 100 less than the ole FE pushes
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,281
Likes: 18
From: Northern California
79 460 into a 74 Highboy
If you have the stick, you'll need to change the bell housing, for the auto, you'll have to change trannies.
Different mounts, headers probably too. L&L makes a kit for this and I've heard it works well. I was looking into the same swap for my 73 w/360 and I bought the bellhousing then didn't like the cost of headers and all the other stuff so I did some more research on the FE engines.
I ended up getting a 428 crank and built the FE, changing the FE for a 460 for more power isn't a great idea unless you need 500+ and want the 514 stroker crank for the 460 or if you already have the 460 setup.
The FE offers great torque and a whole bunch of aftermarket parts from alum waterpumps to alum heads from ED and Dove. About a dozen different intakes and you can always find a 428 crank for more size. I know of at least 20 different cams for the FE too. You can get into the 400HP range with the FE without too much money too.
Different mounts, headers probably too. L&L makes a kit for this and I've heard it works well. I was looking into the same swap for my 73 w/360 and I bought the bellhousing then didn't like the cost of headers and all the other stuff so I did some more research on the FE engines.
I ended up getting a 428 crank and built the FE, changing the FE for a 460 for more power isn't a great idea unless you need 500+ and want the 514 stroker crank for the 460 or if you already have the 460 setup.
The FE offers great torque and a whole bunch of aftermarket parts from alum waterpumps to alum heads from ED and Dove. About a dozen different intakes and you can always find a 428 crank for more size. I know of at least 20 different cams for the FE too. You can get into the 400HP range with the FE without too much money too.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
79 460 into a 74 Highboy
As these guys are noting changing engine families is more than just swaping an engine out. IMHO you could come out with much less work by rebuilding the FE, and will have a nice motor at the same time.
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John
jowilker email me
[link:www.ford-trucks.com/users/jowilker|My Club FTE Page] Member since 01 01
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker/NCFTE.html|NCFTO] North Carolina Ford Truck Owners Group
In the cool still quiet of night, you can hear chevies rusting away.
http://www.clubfte.com/users/jowilker/USFlag.gif
John
jowilker email me
[link:www.ford-trucks.com/users/jowilker|My Club FTE Page] Member since 01 01
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker/NCFTE.html|NCFTO] North Carolina Ford Truck Owners Group
In the cool still quiet of night, you can hear chevies rusting away.
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 144
Likes: 1
From: Savannah US
79 460 into a 74 Highboy
I agree on leaving the FE in it's home. The FE's create gobs of torque and are pretty damn tough as well. I have an FE 360 in my 78 f-100, and i love it. I can't kill the thing!! It's done more than enough pulling to prove to me it's tough. The only things I dislike about the FE's are poor gas mileage (probably why they stopped using them after '76), and removing the intake can be a pain because you must remove all the pushrods. I put an edelbrock performer on my 360 coupled with a holley 600cfm. It gave me more power, but I regret not looking into aftermarket 4bbl heads. I can't say i've ever heard of a stock 4bbl 360. But, KEEP THE FE!!!!!!
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 145
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From: Prescott USA!
79 460 into a 74 Highboy
i put a 69 429/ auto in my 75 highboy
this isnt as a easy swap as i thought it would be theres alot to it that id not thought of. i was lead to belive this was a near bolt in.
first ive never been able to find the right engine mount stands, so im gunna have to make them, youll have to figure out something different for the power steering hoses i found using the hoses off the 69 t-bird was the best thing, along with changing the steering pump and its location.
i had trouble fitting the exaust pipes in, the passenger side is still quite close to the frame
the tranny selector isnt anywhere near correct
and i still dont have the 4 wheel drive selector hooked up, im gunna have to fabricate one somehow since one cant be found.
im no master mechanic, but if i had it to do over again id have kept the 360/4 speed, it was more reliable bout the same gas milage (didnt mind regualar unlided) and just as good off the line,
the only pluses i got were was better highway power and an auto tranny, and for a mostly off road truck these things arent all that important
good luck, there are others who have done this right, i wish i knew their secrets
-Sam
this isnt as a easy swap as i thought it would be theres alot to it that id not thought of. i was lead to belive this was a near bolt in.
first ive never been able to find the right engine mount stands, so im gunna have to make them, youll have to figure out something different for the power steering hoses i found using the hoses off the 69 t-bird was the best thing, along with changing the steering pump and its location.
i had trouble fitting the exaust pipes in, the passenger side is still quite close to the frame
the tranny selector isnt anywhere near correct
and i still dont have the 4 wheel drive selector hooked up, im gunna have to fabricate one somehow since one cant be found.
im no master mechanic, but if i had it to do over again id have kept the 360/4 speed, it was more reliable bout the same gas milage (didnt mind regualar unlided) and just as good off the line,
the only pluses i got were was better highway power and an auto tranny, and for a mostly off road truck these things arent all that important
good luck, there are others who have done this right, i wish i knew their secrets
-Sam
