460 swap install question
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460 swap install question
I am going to be installing a 460 into my 77 f250 4x4 highboy this week. The mounts are coming from l&l, and I am wondering about the install. What is the easiest way to get it in there? Is it possible to put the mounts on the perches and drop the motor with the bellhousing attached down onto the mounts and slide it back? is there a better way than this approach?
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From: Missouri
I did this swap over the summer. First, put the mounts on the engine, not on the perches. Mine had a c6. The rest is basically reversing the removal of the original engine. Have the trans raised up so it will mate with the engine. Put a few bolts in to secure them together along with the torque converter. One important note, the 460 is longer than the 351M/400, so you will need to loosen or remove the nuts that hold the transfer case to the cross member so it will be able to slide back about 3/4 inches. With all of this done, you should be able to lower the engine down on to the perches. Also have the shift linkage to the trans disconnected while doing all of this. Good luck. 
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hadnt heard to do that before. I do agree just put the mounts on the motor i dont think you would ever get em lined up putting them on the perches first.
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Yeh, that was something that I hadn't heard either, but had to deal with. I couldn't get the engine back far enough to sit down in the perches. 
So I was crawling and rolling around on the floor under the truck saying to myself, "F$#@, What the hell!!!!!
But once I loosened those bolts, it slid back and the mounts fell right in. Im not saying it will be like that for all applications, just something to look for from my experience.
So I was crawling and rolling around on the floor under the truck saying to myself, "F$#@, What the hell!!!!!
But once I loosened those bolts, it slid back and the mounts fell right in. Im not saying it will be like that for all applications, just something to look for from my experience.
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Thanks for the tips! I have a 4 speed, but will definately loosen the bolts just in case. did you guys use 460 bellhousings or 351M bells?
I hoisted my engine today to put in the rear freeze plug, and clutch pilot bearing and noticed that the new pilot bearing sits in the smaller boss in the crank, and about 5/8 of an inch further into the crank than the old one did. I wonder if that is what makes it hard for some to use the 351 bell?
I compared the bells i have and the 460 bell is about 1/2 inch deeper (and half the weight of the cast iron 351M bell)
the 460 bell i have is for a hydraulic clutch so I am going to have to do some sawing on it to get the 351 manual clutch pivot to work. just wondering if it might not be just fine with that 351M bell?
I hoisted my engine today to put in the rear freeze plug, and clutch pilot bearing and noticed that the new pilot bearing sits in the smaller boss in the crank, and about 5/8 of an inch further into the crank than the old one did. I wonder if that is what makes it hard for some to use the 351 bell?
I compared the bells i have and the 460 bell is about 1/2 inch deeper (and half the weight of the cast iron 351M bell)
the 460 bell i have is for a hydraulic clutch so I am going to have to do some sawing on it to get the 351 manual clutch pivot to work. just wondering if it might not be just fine with that 351M bell?
Tuned
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From: Park City, Utah
What flywheel are you using?
It's my understanding (disclaimer) that if you use a Ford 460 flywheel you can't use the 351M/400 bellhousing unless you put a spacer plate between the engine and the bellhousing.
L&L makes a special (and spendy) flywheel to use with the 351M/400 bellhousing. I have also read that a 184 tooth Ford 390 flywheel will work with the 460 and 351M/400 bellhousing. However some 460's (roughly '79 and newer) are externally balanced and the 390 flywheel won't work, as the 390 is an internally balanced engine.
It's my understanding (disclaimer) that if you use a Ford 460 flywheel you can't use the 351M/400 bellhousing unless you put a spacer plate between the engine and the bellhousing.
L&L makes a special (and spendy) flywheel to use with the 351M/400 bellhousing. I have also read that a 184 tooth Ford 390 flywheel will work with the 460 and 351M/400 bellhousing. However some 460's (roughly '79 and newer) are externally balanced and the 390 flywheel won't work, as the 390 is an internally balanced engine.
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theres not a ford flywheel for a 460 if its older than 79 so i dont know about any spacer. Perhaps with a newer 460 you have to have a spacer? I dont know. L&L does sell a flywheel for the swap but most, myself included just use a 390 flywheel.
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I just remembered the part about his bellhousing being for hydraulic clutch so, if it came with his motor its a newer motor. So you could be correct about the spacer, ive never done the swap with anything newer than 78.
, ive never done the swap with anything newer than 78.
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My 460 is an 86 blovk with D0ve heads on it from a '70 lincoln. The bellhousing is aluminum with an ear on the drivers side that will have to be removed and some grinding will need to be done to the bell to accomodate the shift pivot mount. I saw a thread on this site where a guy did this mod to his later 460 bell. I saved it for reference but I am not on that particular pc right now. not sure if I need to go as far as that fella did to make it work. he cut the flange down on the drivers side so it was the same thickness as the 351 bell. not sure if this needs to be done or not. guess i will find out!!
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