1979 460 swap questions
 

Hi, well ive been back and forth, i have a 300 efi and a 460 and i think ive settled on using the 460 in my 79 f-150 4x4. It had a 351m that i got rid of, my questions are on the ring gear and being internally balanced. This 460 that i got had previously been swapped in place of a 351m, the ring gear is chewed up pretty bad. its got 184 teeth, i was wondering if maybe they used an externally balanced flywheel, i believe this engine is internally balanced, no weights on the crank behind the harmonic balancer. The block code is DOVE-A. The bellhosing they used looks to be exactly the same as mine that as on my 351m. Ive also heard that if you get the wrong clutch pressure plate it wont fit inside that bb-bellhousing of a 351m. So basically im just looking for some guidance on what i should do as far a ring gear, and flywheel? I dont have the money for a L&L kit, im kinda a cheapo. thanks!:-jammin

A good place to start. ProjectBronco.COM! A 78-79 Ford Bronco Resource Center and then keep reading.


Installing a 460 -- The Right Way!

ive looked at that, doesnt mention about the amount of teeth or what flywheel to use just says use the right one, lol. its hard to use the right one if i dont know if mines the right one or witch one is the right one, without getting one from l&l for $500

it looks like the 360/390 flywheels had 184 tooth, and i wonder if i could try a 180 tooth instead,wondering if the flywheel i have is a 360/390 flywheel, ive seen that you can use them for the swap as they work for internally balanced engines.

When I did my 351M to 460 swap I used a 390 flywheel. I found one from a salvage yard for 50 bucks. This will work as long as your 460 is internally balanced (1978 and older 460s are internally balanced). As far as what clutch to use, use an 11 inch diaphragm style clutch. The 3 finger style clutch will not work. You will have to grind some metal off of the inside of the bellhousing (if you use the 351M bellhousing) but the amount that you have to grind off is not very much at all. I believe that there was 2 locations where the ring gear on the flywheel would catch on if you did not grind. If you go this setup you will be able to use a standard 351M/400 starter it already has the correct drive gear for a 390 flywheel.

how could i tell if the flywheel i have is for a 390? i wish the salvage yards around here had parts for me, most of them sell 90's and up only. and its like pulling teeth to buy anything from any of them.