I'm putting a 79 460 into my 77 1/2 f250 4x4 with an np435. If I make a spacer for the bellhousing how thick does it need to be 3/16", 1/4' or something else? If I do it without the spacer where will the clutch and/or 460 flywheel hit the 400 bellhousing? Can I use a smaller clutch and machine the edge off the the flywheel surface to clear the bellhousing or is it the pressure plate assembly that hits the housing? Also if I do not use a spacer with the stock 400 bell what are the drawbacks to cutting 3/16" off of the tranny input shaft? Will the clutch plines fully ingage with the tranny input shaft? What pilot bearing will I need to use for that? Does anyone know the pilot bearing that I will need for the first step hole on the crank if I use a spacer on the 400 bell? I understand there are two differant clutches that were used on the 400. How can I tell which one I have and which one will work with the 460 flywheel. I understand that only the clutch assembly originally installed in the bellhousing will work in that bell. What size clutch does the 400 have? What other sizes are available for the 400. What size clutch will I need with the 460 flywheel and a spacer on the bell housing?
As you can tell I'm not familiar with all these ford setups and I'm attempting this conversion on my own so any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 28-Aug-01 AT 11:49 PM (EST)[/font][p]When I had a 77 F-350 Ford it had a 460 in her and I put a NP435 behind it by doing this.

I used a 351M bellhousing with the clutch throw out arm, a 390 flywheel thats drilled for a 11 inch clutch and a half inch thick spacer plate to go bettween tranny and bellhousing and for a pilot bearing I used one for a 86 460 engine.

I does take a bit to find all these parts then put it all together so it works right.

I had the truck for allmost 2 years with this set up in the truck then the guy I sold it too is still driving it with no problems.

 

Thanks for the info. I bought a flywheel from the boneyard the two days ago. They said it was a 460 flywheel from a truck but there is something puzzling about it. The number stamped on the flywheel is D9TE-6380-BB. These numbers tell me that it was made in 79 for a truck. It also has the balance weights on it. Every Ford parts dealer and boneyard dealer that I have talked to says the only years that a 460 came with a stick was 83-87. A fellow that I work with said that he had a 78 with a 460 stick that was factory. The flywheel to crank bolt pattern is the same. It has 180 teeth and was setup with an 11" diaphram clutch. I'm fairly confident that this is a 460 flywheel but there are a lot of grey areas here. Has anyone else seen or heard of a factory 70's vintage truck with a 460 stick.