I have a 75 highboy (4x4 F-250) with a 360 and 4 spd manual. I want to put a 74 460 in it. The 460 is in a 1/2 ton 2 wheel drive with an automatic. I need to identify (and find) parts to mate the 460 with the 4 speed. Specifically, I think I need to know which flywheel and bellhousing will work, and whether I need to use the starter from the 1/2 ton that's in the 1/2 ton with the 460. About the Flywheel, it seems like the 460 wants to use a 176 tooth flywheel that uses a 12 inch clutch (12" OD x 1 1/16" ID with 10 teeth). Rockauto.com shows these flywheels at either 40 lbs (part # 673-463220) or 28 lbs (part #673-463222). About the Bellhousing, I've been told that the 460 only came mated with an automatic, but maybe I could use a bellhousing from a 429? Assuming I can find a bellhousing, can I use the fork (the arm that holds the throw out bearing and sticks out of the bellhousing) from the 360 bellhousing if necessary?

All help, insight appreciated.
Steven

 

Steven, you should visit L&L's website. They sell kits to do this conversion. The kits are not cheap but you will see all the parts you are going to need (which is a bunch of parts). You will need a bellhousing from behind a 351m or 400. You will also need a flywheel for your internally balanced 460. Lots of guys use a 390 flywheel.

 

Thanks. Is a 390 flywheel same as the one on my 360? I read somewhere that the 360 flywheel is smaller diameter (11" vs 12" clutch on the 460 also) and has more teeth on the ring gear (184 teeth vs 174 teeth on the 460 ring gear), so you have to be careful which starter you use with which flywheel.

L&L site brings up a host of other questions I see I need to think about: Motor mounts and routing exhaust are the first two that come to mind.

 

Yes the clutch on a 390 is 12" like the 460, i have one and a bellhousing for sale if your interested, i already sold the flywheel but it was a LUK LFW114 for a 390 there about $150 at autozone. Jeff's Bronco Graveyard has come heavy duty looking motor mounts that look better than the L&L jobs you should check out.

 

Thank you. I'm interested in the clutch and bellhousing you've got. Can you email me details at swolh@comcast.net?

I'm thinking the bare essentials to put in the 460 are - flywheel, bellhousing (with fork and rubber fork boot), clutch, motor mounts and the brackets that hold the motor mounts to the frame.

Do you have to change the oil pan on the 460 to fit into the highboy? Do I have to use headers designed for the conversion? L&L includes an oil pan and high volume oil pump and headers in their conversion kit. The headers seem to come in two types - one through the inner fender? They also include alternator brackets. I'm not sure why those would have to change to fit the 460.

 

The rumble of the 460 is sweet! But I'd eventully like to hear the clatter of a diesel. You can see the fuel needle moving in the 460. Probably not much different than the 360 though.

 

I think if you use fenderwell exit headers, you'll have to trim the inner fenders a little to get them to fit, but they will fit. I actually went with the chassis exit shorty headers and they fit like a glove. Those two options are the only ones I know of and no one else makes a header that will fit. You'll also need the rear sump oil pan.

 

Thank you very much - to everyone who's posted in the thread. My 360 2bbl gets around 10 to 12 mpg, unless I'm hauling 2 tons of sand (which I did a few times years ago without bottoming the suspension).

The list of parts I need to change over to the 460 and mate it to the 4 spd that's in the highboy seems to be - motor mounts and brackets between motor mounts and frame; flywheel, bellhousing and clutch; oil pan (which seems also to require new oil pump to reach the new rear sump location); headers. That explains everything in the L&L conversion kit, except for the alternator bracket. Am I leaving anything out?

Of course, the next question in my overactive mind is whether I can put the 460 along with it's automatic trans into the highboy. That way instead of mating the 460 to the 4 spd, I'd be mating the 460 and it's original auto trans to the highboy and it's transfer case. I read that the C-6 auto trans are burly, but can cut gas mileage because it takes a lot to turn them. I'm wondering if using the C-6 trans would mean just messing with the frame cross member under the trans and a custom length drive shaft to reach the transfer case. Everything that goes with the transmission could be taken out of the 74 1/2 ton where it's sitting mated to the 460. Still need headers and motor mount set up and oil pan and pump, I suppose.

 

To answer your question regarding the alt mount the 460 engines only came in cars, vans and 2wd trucks in the 70's. The van brackets work perfect but are getting hard to find. The alt and power steering units on the 2wd trucks and cars were mounted low on these engines so they will hit the higher crossmember of a 4wd truck. Some people have modified the 460 brackets to fit but the L&L brackets bolt up everything perfect and easy.
As for your exhaust another option for you is to use either manifolds for a van or a 2wd truck. The car manifolds will hit the frame on the passenger side. Headers are great if you can afford them though.
Lastly the C6 should work for you. The only issues you would run into would be the crossmember for the auto trans and the driveshaft between the trans and transfer case may be different lenghts.

 

I did use the stock 460 brackets and the alternator does sit very low. I had to grind a bit off the bracket to clear the crossmember. Very close, but it did work. I'm going to get the alternator bracket from L & L to see if I can mount the alternator higher on the engine. I thought I read somewhere awhile back that if you get the complete kit, everything goes on nice and easy, but if piecing things together, some things won't line up right such as using certain crankshaft pulleys and water pump pulley and L & L brackets. I don't know if that is true or not, but I'll know soon enough once I get the alternator bracket. My crankshaft pulley is three groove I believe and my water pump pulley may be different than L & Ls.

 

Don't know if anyone's following this thread still, but here's what I've come up with for parts I'll need to put the 74 460 from a 1/2 ton XLT 2x (with C-6 automatic) into a 75 3/4 4x "highboy" with 4 speed)

These are already located:
Bell housing (from 351M) with arm
Clutch (12") w/pressure plate and throw out bearing

These are maybe located - if anyone has any of these they want to sell, please let me know

* Spacer plate between back of block and bell housing (from 351m - will need to cut extra half moon out of it to fit) Not sure why one from any 460 won't fit.
*Pilot bearing? (in end of crank to receive tip of transmission input shaft)

* Flywheel from 390 176 teeth (LUK LFW 114) for internally balanced crank - autozone $150
* Manifolds (from an 85 or 86 4x truck 460) Found a pair for $100 - or maybe use the pricey after market headers from L&L - some year econoline 460 might also work
* Motor mounts - I think I'm going to use the pricey after market ones from Broncograveyard or L&L that just bolt the perches to the frame. Other solutions seemed to involve welding perches further back on the frame
* Rear Sump oil pan w/ pump tube and dip stick (from an 85 or 86 4x truck 460) Found one for $60 -$70 - some year econoline 460s might work

* Alternator, power steering and A/C brackets and belts? I'm going to look at clearances once it's in and customize. Some folks seem to get away with the 460 brackets. Some need new brackets.

Am I leaving anything out?

Forum has been incredibly helpful. Thanks to everyone who posted. I think the internet is mostly mind-numbing junk, but this forum is really useful.

Steven

 

I believe there are some oem Ford frame mounted towers that will work with your 460 and High boy.

In early 1977 Ford changed from using FE series (360 CID) engines to 335 series (351 and 400 CID) engines. My understanding is you can use those frame towers on your High boy along with either the Bronco Graveyard or L&L mounts to swap in the 460.

I think your 2wd exhaust manifolds may work?

 

Have you considered just building a nice 390. You may be able to trade or sell and aquire another builder or rebuild your 360. Just sayin.

 

Hey thanks. Been reading in Swaps forum about guys who've taken the 360/390 perches and either 1) cut off the face of the perch (where the motor mounts rests) and put on a new face with a new location for the notch into which the motor mount stud goes. He moved it "about 3/4" inch forward or 2) line up 2 of the 3 holes in the frame and bolt the perches tot he frame using only two (instead of three) bolts. That second idea seems sketchy to me - but maybe just drill out one more hole to line up and get the perch on the frame at a new location using three bolts.

There's sure more than one way to skin this cat.

 

kennewick

It crossed my mind, but I think converting the 360 to a 390 needs new heads, crank, rods, pistons and ?? The 460 has a 4 bbl. my 360 has a 2 bbl. The 460 swap is full of fun puzzles, but seems a lot cheaper than trying to get something comparable out of my 360.

But a buddy just told me that a 390 HP (which may be hard to find) is a hot motor. He's telling me to spend time and money on 390 enhancements and get the benefit of bolt in simplicity.