I have a 76 f250 4x4 with a 360 in her mated to a np435.What mods do I need to swap to 460? Also how much more torque does the 460 have than the 390FE?

 

I can tell you I am doing a reinstall into my 77 F350 and I am having a tough time finding the cups that bolt on the engine the rest seems to be not to tough I got my motor out of a 1975 Lincoln and it had different motor mounts as the car uses a 2 piece mount and the truck uses a 3 piece system and I heard that power steering might be hard to mount but my motor came complete and fits like a glove. Now if I could find the missing finger (mount) I would be happy..Don

 

Mainly, the bell should be about all you'll be looking for. Or, an adaptor to fit the bell you have. I know the np435 has a couple different length input shafts, so keep that in mind. I have 3 np435's laying around, each one is a bit different, but excellent trannies. I also got a couple different bells, one for an FE engine, and one for a 460. If I'm speculating right, the long input shaft will go to the FE and the shorty for the 460. Also, the np435 had a couple different bolt patterns on the rear. Whether or not it was married to a transfer case. Thats beside the point here tho. I have a hunch you'll need a bit of luck finding a bell from a yard. Np435 was a popular tranny, and 460 in a lincoln was popular too, but not together very much.
As for the torque issue, I would compare stroke lengths. The engine with the longer stroke should be more torquey. Also, compare rod lengths. Engines with more torque tend to have short rods. Lastly, compare the bore size, goes w/o saying. There are too many factors to list that deal with torque, carb, intake, exhaust, .....

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 27-Nov-02 AT 09:29 PM (EST)]Hey Wickman, I am in the middle of doing the same swap on my 74 F-250 4x4. I can tell you that all the parts you need are available from a junkyard, and that the 460 has way more torque than a 390. Also the 385 series engines are cheaper to build, and cheaper to buy go fast goodies for. I am not slamin FE motors, in fact I love them, but unless you have a sweet 428 or 427, the 460 will blow the doors off of a 390.

Most of the people on this site have not done a conversion on a 4 spd 4x4 truck. But the select few would be more than happy to help you out. If you have anymore questions I will do my best to anwser them, Andy A.K.A. (grey 79 F250) also has been through all this, so he too may be able to help. Good luck!

Nick from the frozen north
1974 F-250 4X4
soon to be 429
dana 60 front and rear

 

I have a 1976 3/4 4x4 with divorced transfer case. Replaced the 360 with a 429.The bell housing to use is the 400M with a np435. I had a machine shop grind the clutch splines back approx. 3/8ths of an inch. The 400 belhousing appears to be 3/8ths of an inch shorter than the 360. The clutch fork and the throw out bearing also should match the type of clutch you are going to use; diaphram or long style. The pivot point is removable to switch them. The pilot bearing will also have to be modified---either the brass or the later torrington style. I am useing the 1977 style clutch bell crank and adjustment rod. You will probably want to find an oil pan out of a van to clear the front cross member. Hooker makes a nice set of full length headers and L&L makes a set of shorty units that fit. L&L makes a motor mount kit that bolts in. You also can buy the clam shell three piece motor mounts from Ford. I have used both. The ford mount is a captive unit and can not pull apart. My 429 out of a 1971 T-Bird had a low mount passenger side alternator. It did hit on the front cross member. Made a support bracket and mounted it on the front of the head. Also useing Holley 900 cfm fuel injection,K&N air filter,Performer intake. Feel free to email at d.fyffe@worldnet.att.net
Thanks

 

I am using the same setup as Andy. 351M bellhousing, which is 5/16" too shallow if you use a 460 pilot bearing. So I am using a 400M pilot which fits into the smaller, deeper hole in the crank, thus eliminating the depth problem (the splines would have dug into the pilot).

Clutch to use if a diaphragm style 12" for a 77-82 truck with a 400M, flywheel from a 390 with 12" clutch.

My motor mounts are from a Superduty, and they drop right into the perches with a little modification. Nothin major.

The only other part is finding brackets. The 2WD 460 brackets are too low, and will hit the PS box. So this is where my dellima is at right now, findin brackets.

Anyways I am not sayin this is the only or best way to do it, it is however a proven good methed.

Nick from the frozen north
1974 F-250 4X4
soon to be 429
dana 60 front and rear

 

Im looking at buying a 78 f250 for the parts, power steering mostly but it has a 400 mated to a 4speed. is this the bell housing ill need for the swap.will the motor mounts from this truck work on 460.

 

The bellhousing will work, motor mounts won't, and brackets won't. If the truck is a 2WD you can't use the box as the sector shaft is too long (and weak), if it is a 4WD it will have all the steering parts you need, but that is another forum topic anyways.

Nick from the frozen north
1974 F-250 4X4
soon to be 429
dana 60 front and rear

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 29-Nov-02 AT 07:27 PM (EST)]Yeah, its a 4x4 so it has the steering parts i need. How does the 400 compare to the 390. A couple of shops around here are telling me they can rebuild 385's cheaper than FE's. What do you all think?

 

Yes 385 are cheaper to build, this is especially true when it comes to performance parts.

Nick from the frozen north
1974 F-250 4X4
soon to be 429
dana 60 front and rear

 

What about the M engines, are they as cheap as 385's ?

 

R The M engines cheaper ?

A dime a dozen so to speak.



Dennis

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