Hey all...i've gone back and forth several times on what to do about the engine in my 77. WHile the 351m in it is healthy, it's pathetically slow,...and it hot months the oil pressure drops to the bottom of the guage. So, planning for what is inevitable in the future, I was gonna go 400. I even picked up a 400 shortblock...but finally decided all the block work and rebuild work would put me out more money than I had.
I then did some more research and found supposedly that the van 460's made some of the best swaps. Boy did I get lucky...$200 got me this complete longblock from a 77 van...same year as my truck too (good for cali smog)...
From all my research, this is the right vehicle to get it from. I "believe" the motor mounts on here are plug and play right? The oil pan is a rear sump, so that should work too...the exhaust manifolds are correct too, as is the alternator bracket. So, what I seem to be missing is the power steering pump and bracket. It has part of the bracket there, but I don't think all of it. There isn't a way to mod the 351m p/s pump onto this is there? It's also missing the carb,...what size came as oem on these things?
Lastly, I have some confusion about the np435 that will be going behind it. Lots of reading and I'm left with more questions than not.
1. I've "heard" that it's ideal to trim the input shaft on the trans as the 460 protrudes further out than the 400 where the pilot bearing goes. Can anyone cornfirm this is necessary? Could I just shim out the trans back a little bit with washers or would this be dangerous or stupid?
2. I've heard to go with a 360/390 flywheel, but also read it's the wrong depth and could lead to starting issues. I heard the 427 flywheel is the one to go with, any opinions? Can I simply re use my 351m trans and bell with a 390 flywheel and clutch and 351m starter? What about a spacer plate I hear about? Is the 390 a diaphram clutch?

Thanks all!

btw, this is in my 77 4x4 f150

 

when i installed my 460 in place of the 400 in my 78 f250 4x4 i simply used a 390 flywheel and had a pilot bearing made to fit deeper into the crank of the 460 thus allowing the tranny to bolt up the way is should. if you cut the shaft on the tranny it's pretty much useless if you want to go back to the original engine. as for spacer plates i didn't seem to need any. hope this helps.

 

alright, thanks....I read on a swap site that I can use a 302 pilot bearing and it should sit further back into the crank...I'll have to try that. Just in case though, where do you have a pilot bearing made?

Which clutch did you go with? I see some as cheap as $100 for a zoom clutch for a 390, but is that enough to handle a 460?

 

im about to do 460 swap too. and i have the same questions you did lol

 

You don't say what truck you have ? 1/2 ton 3/4 ton ? 2wd or 4wd ? '77 is the High Boy cut off so if you have a 3/4 ton you could have a High Boy or a Low Boy it makes a difference in answering your questions. Either way the motor mounts will not work. Brackets depend on the truck you are working on as well. Being as the van is a '77 that was a long time ago and who knows if it had a motor change ? The first thing to do is see if it has the hatchet weight on the crank dampers spacer.

 

I installed a 460 in front of a NP435, I went to a clutch transmission shop, talked to a counter guy, he said here is what you need, it is a 11" clutch, I couldn't find a brand name on the box which seems weird to me, but it was re-packaged by an aftermarket manufacturer, the clutch works perfectly, it is so smooth, its holding up perfectly, the part number on the box is 07-027A, it is supposed to fit a 1968-1976 ford 390, I have a resurfaced 390 fly wheel, I do not know what pilot bearing I have. The "A" in the part number stands for the many pressure plate release fingers instead of just the original 3.

 

He says 77 f150 4x4

 

indeed, the truck in my sig...a little f150. Maybe I will just go with the 390 flywheel...we'll see. I just found one of my local friends actually has a stockpile of extra parts...so I'm going to pay him a visit

 

I bolted my 351m PS pump and bracket right up to my 460 in my 1977 F-150 4x4 with no mods at all. I've seen some people say it wont work but it worked for me and the pic is in my gallery if you are interested.
I still don't know what is up with some people using spacer plates and some not, I'm pretty sure you posted in my thread regaurding that. I bolt all mine together with no plate and it worked fine. I got freaked out and made a spacer and installed it between the trans and bell housing. I wanted to make sure my input shaft wasn't pressing on the crank.

 

Thanks! I love when stuff bolts that is not supposed to, lol. That gives me encouragement about this.

I think what I'll do is take some measurements with the trans and input and block, and see if it's in danger of bottoming out...that way I know if I need to fab up a spacer or not.

I guess the way to get her done is to jump in and get my feet wet, lol! Get her done!

 

i used a 360 luk clutch kit that i got from my friends transmission shop, never had any trouble with it.