460 into custom 300

[Gregs57]

 Afternoon all. Well things change again. I am finally ready to pull the trigger on installing my 460 into my custom 300. The current hang up is locating a bellhousing, flywheel and clutch that will mate to my toploader. I located a bellhousing from an 80's Ford pickup with the pedals and hydraulic master and slave. Not going to work unless I do major fabricating as well as the starter not mating up to the bellhousing. Question is has anyone done this and if so can you steer me in the right direction as to parts you used. The engine I have built is a 1978 460 that originally had a C6 behind it. The flex plate tooth count is 164. I could not find any flywheel that is interchangeable so I have to find start from the back of the block to the front of the transmission. Also looking for a clutch and brake pedal assembly as my 300 is 1t is an automatic car. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

[59meteor]

Are you certain of the 164 tooth flexplate? I was always under the impression that 429/460s used a 176 tooth flexplate/flywheel. I am more of a FE guy, but my understanding is that a 351M/400 bellhousing will work on a 429/460, but may require the use of a diaphragm clutch, due to the taller height of the older 3 finger "Long style" clutch used on older vehicles. I also believe that a 360-390 FE flywheel will work on a 429/460, but since the FE has a 184 tooth flywheel, compared to 176 for the 429/460, you will need to use a starter drive for a FE application. I also understand that starting in 1979, Ford changed the 460 from internal to external balance, but if your 460 is from a 1978 (or earlier), you should be OK. Also, the 1968 thru 1972 429/460s use the same large 1.84" diameter pilot bearing as a FE, but from 73 onward, they had the smaller 1.375" diameter , as used with SB Fords, 351Cs, 351M and 400 engines. Another option would be to obtain a bellhousing from a 77 to 79 (& possibly later?) PU truck with a 351M or 400, and use factory mechanical clutch linkage. I have a FE 428 Cobra Jet in my 59, using the factory clutch pedals and mechanical clutch linkage, and it has been working perfectly for coming up on 6 years. As for the clutch and brake pedal setup, pretty sure 57 & 58 are the same, not sure about earlier cars, or 59s and beyond, but the pedals don`t care if the original application was a 6 cylinder, FE, or Y Block. Most of the mechanical clutch linkage is the same between 6 and, V8 as well, other than the engine side pivot for the Z Bar.

[gasman826]

I often bought used Lakewood bellhousings for little money because the Chevy guys didn't know enough to keep the block plates.  Lakewood and up until recently Quicktime sold the block plates separately.  The old Lakewoods are nearly obsolete due to being limited to toploaders and TKOs with Ford input shaft kit.  The aftermarket supports 184 tooth flywheels, starters and hydraulic clutch/brake setups.  Quicktime still offers a 460/toploader as well as 460/T56 and 460/TKX bellhousings.  A good, big-in/out toploader and shifter often sell for nearly as much as new TKX.  Automatics are cheaper!  Third pedal is more fun!  I'm not much help since I have little experience mix and matching OE parts but I'm very sure that it is doable.

[JRD007]

Hi Greg
I have a couple pedal sets if needed. Located in B.C cheers

[Gregs57]

Morning . A bit of follow up. I have located a 390 flywheel with 184 teeth. My top loader is an RUG AH big in/big out from a 69 ford Fairlane. Input diameter is 1 3/8". Looking for the following if I got this right. 77-79 ford bellhousing from a 351m or 400 pickup with mechanical linkage. Supposed to be a bolt up. Is it? also which starter would be needed to match 184 tooth 390 flywheel with this bellhousing. Apparently you can get 10.5, 11 and 12 in clutches for this flywheel. Any suggestions? Burning up a lot of time in an old guys life trying to read various forums for ideas. Thanks again for the replies.

[lalessi1]

I doubt you can put an 11" or a 12" clutch on the same flywheel, I think the flywheels are different. I have both... I think the bellhousings are the same, you could verify that with a quick call to Speed Gems, they make engine to transmission adapters (they might be able to answer the starter question too). Gary (gasman826) would probably know all of these answers as well.

[gasman826]

I know enough to be dangerous!  The clutch diameter will be dictated by the pressure plate bolt pattern on the flywheel.  The 184 tooth, zero balance flywheel will work on internal balanced 460 cranks ('78 and older).  The big input toploader requires a big input fork.  I'm a little iffy on bellhousing to big pressure plate clearance.  It may be just fine...I don't know.