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Technical 460 flywheel same as 390?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by birdman1, Nov 24, 2021.

  1. birdman1
    Joined: Dec 6, 2012
    Posts: 1,593

    birdman1
    Member

    I bought a 1956 Ford pickup and want to install a 460 in front of the granny low 4 speed. I have a 390 stick flywheel and I want to know if it will fit on the 460? Also, does the 390 bellhousing fit the 460?
     
  2. egads
    Joined: Aug 23, 2011
    Posts: 1,419

    egads
    Member

    460 bell is different. I think the flywheel will bolt up but might take a special made pilot bearing?
     
  3. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 56,044

    squirrel
    Member

    The bellhousing is different.

    rockauto lists a new flywheel for the 390, but not the 460, so it's likely different. 76 F150 could use either engine.
     
  4. Engine man
    Joined: Jan 30, 2011
    Posts: 3,480

    Engine man
    Member
    from Wisconsin

    I think the later model 460s were externally balanced. 1979 might have been the change year. I think the bolt pattern on the crankshaft might be the same but external dimensions might be different. The bell housing won't bolt up then it gets into what starter will work. There are probably some guys who know more about it.
     

  5. F-ONE
    Joined: Mar 27, 2008
    Posts: 3,271

    F-ONE
    Member
    from Alabama

    It's Ford, You can count on it being "different". Even 390 to 390 flywheels are different.
     
  6. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 56,044

    squirrel
    Member

    The bellhousing is very different....

    460.jpg
     
    alanp561 likes this.
  7. Jeff Norwell
    Joined: Aug 20, 2003
    Posts: 14,842

    Jeff Norwell
    MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    No. 2 completely different families within Ford .
     
  8. Is that the Hi-Performance 460 or the Reg 460
    if its the Hypo. 460 I Would put a C6 Trans behind
    and it will Be a Great Running Machine.!

    Just my 3.5 cents

    Live Learn & Die a Fool
     
  9. AccurateMike
    Joined: Sep 14, 2020
    Posts: 637

    AccurateMike
    Member

    Don't forget, after '79 460's were externally balanced and used this thing on the snout
    [​IMG]
    Mike
     
  10. Relic Stew
    Joined: Apr 17, 2005
    Posts: 1,209

    Relic Stew
    Member
    from Wisconsin

    One way to put a manual trans behind an early 460 is use the late 390 FE flywheel (same bolt pattern, neutral balance) and a 351M/400 bellhousing. Starter engagement can sometimes be an issue, as the tooth pitch is slightly different. 400- 180 tooth, 15.512 dia. FE 184 tooth, 15.503 dia
    The 400 bell housing will only take an 11" clutch. It's too shallow for a 12" pressure plate.
    L&L makes a custom conversion flywheel specifically for this that is supposed to work better than the FE flywheel. https://www.landlproducts.com/details.aspx?ItemID=1008

    The 79-up 460 used a thicker 180 tooth flywheel for the external balance, and therefore deeper bellhousing. You can have the late flywheel rebalanced to neutral, then use the late truck bell to mount a manual. The pilot bushing mounts in the flywheel rather than the crank.

    There were muscle cars equipped with a 429 and manual trans, but those bellhousings are hard to find and expensive. The 176 tooth flywheel for it are available aftermarket.

    If you are installing a 79-up external balance truck 460, then just use the truck manual trans parts that go with it.
     
    Last edited: Nov 24, 2021
    egads and AccurateMike like this.
  11. oldiron 440
    Joined: Dec 12, 2018
    Posts: 3,321

    oldiron 440
    Member

    Hey I've got a 460 with the flywheel, clutch, starter and bellhousing still on it...
     
  12. birdman1
    Joined: Dec 6, 2012
    Posts: 1,593

    birdman1
    Member

    it is a 1972 460 from a Lincoln, so the 390 flywheel should work.It now has a c6 bolted to it. Thanks for the help.
     
    Boneyard51 likes this.
  13. I don't think it will be that simple.... I get the impression that you're trying to use the OEM '56 trans and also keep swap cost down. There are multiple issues here. First, Ford made a major change in the bell-to-trans bolt pattern in '65 so you won't find any OEM 429/460 bell that will match the trans as these motors didn't appear until '66 and the 351M/400 was even later at the early '70s. As already pointed out, the FE bells won't fit.

    Second, the trans input shaft length changed. All the '50s era Ford motors used a short pilot shaft on the trans input (.75"), with that increasing to 1.25" in '65 along with the bolt pattern change with the single exception of FE-equipped passenger cars which retained the short shaft. The trucks got a slightly deeper bell for the FE to allow the use of the longer pilot shaft. So even if you gather the manual clutch parts for the 460, chances are the trans won't fit the bell and the input shaft will be too short, not going into the pilot bearing enough or at all. One other change was Ford also enlarged the trans input bearing retainer in '65, you need a larger retainer for the early trans or an adaptor ring so that the trans can register properly in the bellhousing assuming you can make the bolt pattern work. Some of the 429/460 bells can be drilled for the early trans pattern, but not all have enough 'meat' to do so.

    Last, that early trans may not be tough enough to handle the 460 torque even if you get past all the other obstacles. While Ford started offering the 460 in trucks starting in '73, manual trans availability was spotty with Ford eventually dropping any manual option because of concerns with trans longevity/reliability. The majority of them used the C6 automatic.
     
    Boneyard51 likes this.
  14. AccurateMike
    Joined: Sep 14, 2020
    Posts: 637

    AccurateMike
    Member

    If you are looking to put a "Granny Gear" manual behind a 460 in your truck (and the combo you have now won't work), and the above mentioned 351/400M bell/flywheel/starter would get you in with a later engine, the NP435 in my OT '72 Bronco came out of an OT '78 or '79 F150. It had a 351M in it. If you can only find a 4WD donor (I think most were installed in 4x4's), a 4WD NP435 can be converted to 2WD with a WT291 2E output shaft and some drilling. You still would need a 2WD tail housing. Just throwing it out there, sounds like a bit of luck would be needed to get what you have together. Mike
     
    seb fontana likes this.
  15. birdman1
    Joined: Dec 6, 2012
    Posts: 1,593

    birdman1
    Member

    Yes, I'm thinking about just using the c6 and I have a floor shift from a 72 mustang . Plenty of room for it
     

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