460 or 400

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May 5, 2002 | 06:07 PM

fyrfytr

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Cross-Country

Joined: Nov 2000

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From: Utah

460 or 400

just purchased a 1977 F150 4x4. Previous owner stated it has a 460. In looking at the vin# it shows it originally had a 400. Are there some external identifiers I can look for that would help decide which engine I am running?
Thanks.

May 5, 2002 | 06:15 PM

busdriver1

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Joined: Jun 2001

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460 or 400

460s have 7 for each of the valve covers. 400s have some number other than that (I think 8, but I'm not sure about that).

May 5, 2002 | 08:45 PM

daywalker

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Joined: Jun 2000

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460 or 400

Might be a little tricky figuring it out but the firing order of a 460 is 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8. A 400 would fire 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8. Figure out which way the distributor rotates and just start with one wire on the cap and see which cyclinder it goes to and then move to the next wire over on the cap and see which cylinder it goes to. Repeat until you have the firing order.

May 6, 2002 | 02:09 AM

Superdave

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Joined: Sep 1999

Posts: 2,297

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From: Indiana

460 or 400

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 06-May-02 AT 03:10 AM (EST)]For a visual inspection, on a 460 the thermostat housing is mounted to the intake. And you will also have a very short bypass hose coming from the front of the intake going to the water pump. The 460 will also have a big aluminum timing cover between the block and water pump. The 400 will have no bypass hose and the thermostat housing will mount to the block in front of the intake to the left of the distributor. And the water pump will pretty much mount to the block. It just has a thin steel plate to cover the timing chain and gears and the water pump mounts to it.

May 6, 2002 | 02:29 AM

trinogt

Cargo Master

Joined: Apr 2001

Posts: 2,364

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From: Eustis FL

460 or 400

The valve covers on the 460 are the same shape front to back. The 400 (and 351) valve cover has a horizontal part at one end, then slopes to parallel to the head. Not a symmetrical valve cover like most other engines.
The other stuff stated is also good to go by; But I look at valve covers first when at the junkyard... Easy to identify quickly if the covers are still on.
Mark

Ford started it; Ford will finish it!

May 7, 2002 | 01:14 AM

Superdave

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Joined: Sep 1999

Posts: 2,297

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From: Indiana

460 or 400

fyrfytr, We have given you some good info here. So have you figured out what you have?

May 8, 2002 | 06:53 PM

fyrfytr

Thread Starter

Cross-Country

Joined: Nov 2000

Posts: 73

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From: Utah

460 or 400

Hi guys, thanks for all of the input. The engine is a 460. It is nice to learn some of the differences so I won't have to ask next time.
Thanks again,
Terry