78 F150 4x4 351m to 460 conversion
 

First off, I gotta say this board is great! such a wealth of information in one place.

I have searched the forum and researched this conversion for a few nights now and I think i have it figured out. I would just like to confirm that this is ALL i need to do the conversion.

I have a 78 F150 4x4 (automatic)
3" suspension lift.

i found a 78 or 79 450. The junk yard says it runs great.

1.) I assume i will need the headers and possible oil pan.
(would the stock headers from the 351 fit this motor?)

2.) Motor Mounts

3.) obviously the plugs filters and oil

The engine comes with the altenator and carb adn everything so i will not need a new alternator bracket?

Its an automatic so i will not need the spacer?

My questions is... is there anything whatsoever I will need providing the engine actually starts?

They only want $250 for the engine and exhaust manifold.
It has been kept inside the building for approx 5 months.

Is this a deal? Any advice on this conversion.

Is there a walk through on this conversion that i missed somewhere?

Thanks Again,
Ben

78 F150 4x4 351m to 460 conversion
 

search everwhere, many have done this swap, try www.jeffsbroncograveyard.com for swap parts

78 F150 4x4 351m to 460 conversion
 

is this swap worth it? sound like a deal? is that all i need?

thanks again

hi,

i am doing a 77 460 to a 79 150 4x4, sing the 4x4 tranny, my truck ran and drove befroe i started.. will i need to buy anything.. or can i use what i have?

As far as I have found out, 460 is 460 period. The parts from the 351M definitely will not mate to it. The 460 is the big block, the 351M is a totally different size, not to mention setup/placement of parts. The transition from the truck side of it though, is cake work, the wiring, hookups are all the same. And any 460 block (running or not) is worth over $250. But no, the headers will not work, the motor mounts will be different,,, etc :-X10

351 won't fit the 460,you might need to get a rear sump oil pan, don't know if 3" is enough to clear diff.

use the motor mounts from the 460 and the factory perches from your truck

correct

correct

use the flex plate from the 460 you get, you will need power steering brackets, A/C brackets if you have A/C, possibly a different fan setup and shroud or modify your's, you will need a kickdown rod for the trans from a 460 truck and yes the 460 manifold's or header's

that is a good price

Same here
 

I've got a 78 460 out of a LTD in the garage and I'm looking at putting it in a 78 F250 currently a 351M and C6. If you go to L&L products. They have a picture of there swap kit. I haven't jumped into the project yet but you will need motor mounts, and the brackets for the power steering and altenator. I think headers and a rear sump oil pan will also need to be changed. I would look at other trucks and vans for some parts. the distributor is the same as a 351M but the rest of the M block is in the 351C family.

since i have done this swap on Big Ed (check my gallery!) i will pipe in. first off the 460 is a very doable but not cheap swap. nothing on the engine will work in a 4 wheel drive truck. you will need to get a van or 80 and newer truck oil pan and oil pump pickup for a 460, you use the existing frame stands but have to buy L&L mounts as stock ford mounts won't work in a 4x4. the alternator bracket will not work as it hangs too low and the alternator will hit the frame. the power steering bracket will also be a problem in some cases as the pulley will hit the steering box (i've seen some fit and others hit, it depends on the pulley, pump, and mount type as ford had many different ones on a 460). due to the pulley and bracket problems related to using stock parts L&L also has a kit for this which makes it easy (i made my own anyway!). and lastly your trans will fit the new engine but the torque convertor may need to be changed depending on the year of the engine. ford made different diameter pilot holes in the cranks on 460's and you have to have the torque convertor that matches your crank (i put a 73 engine in my 77 1/2 and had to buy a new torque convertor. i had never heard of this until i did the swap and then when i asked the question on the 429/460 forum they laughed like i was some kind of idiot! LOL). hawkrod

yep, i forgot about the torque converter. i to had to buy a 1 1/4 hub piloted TCI converter for mine

I beg to differ on the oil pan thing. I have a 460 in my 78 F150 4x4 with a 3" suspension lift. It has a rear sump pan with the drain bolt in the rear of the pan. Not only is there plenty of clearance between the pan and axle, but I can remove the pan without lifting the engine. I have to remove the starter to get at the pan bolts, but that's it. It comes right out without a problem.

As for the headers, like everyone else said, they won't fit. If I'm not mistaken, the stock car manifolds won't either. You'll neet to get a set of truck exhaust manifolds to fit between the frame rails. They point closer to straight down that down and towards the outside like the car manifolds.

Good luck.

Kevin K.

i am not sure what you mean by beg to difer. you are saying what we all said. he needs the rear sump. the standard 460 pan is a front sump and although it will work, it is way too close for comfort. the van or 80's pickup pan is easy to get and works fine. hawkrod

Oh crap. Sorry.

I meant to say that I have a FRONT sump pan.

http://www.brayarch.com/~kevin/temp/oilpan-07.jpg

Thanks hawkrod.

Kevin K.

wow, you got a mile o' clearance there, mine came much, much tighter than that. hawkrod

Yeah, it must be because of the lift. I've done some serious off-roadin with it too and never hit the pan with the axle.

I've never seen another 460 conversion up close so I don't know what others look like down there.

Kevin K.

Go Big
 

I also meant ditching the front sump for a rear, as my 460 is out of an LTD. Important to consider: If you spend all that money to swap in a 460 what is a rear sump pan you can probably find in a wrecking yard. If you put a hole in it 4 wheelin, your done! Also if your hill climbing you have a better chance of running your motor dry. When you change your oil it drains all over your diff. on a front sump.

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'78 F250 4x4 351M
carb, intake, cam, headers
6" susp, 3" body
39.5" swamers
9000 winch
Starting on a 501 Stroker