460 engine crossmember

[BLES]

I have a big block in my '83 F100 2wd where there was originally a 300-6.
I've always used an adapter from L&L for a remote oil filter. I would REALLY like to get rid of the remote filter and just use a 90 degree adapter if possible, but it's really tight for space. I'm wondering if the crossmember is different for the original 6 cylinder.?
Does anyone have a close-up of the oil filter/crossmember with a 460 installed.?
Any help is appreciated.

[old55pete]

I am sure that someone will come a long and correct me, But from what I have been reading, the engine cross member is the same in all of these pickups. What you need to do is change the engine mounts to the 460 mounts instead of the 300 mounts.

[Gary Lewis]

The 460 crossmembers are different and they have a divot in them for the oil filter adapter.  I'll look in a bit and see if I have a picture of that, but maybe someone else has one handy?

[BLES]

Thanks for the input.
I've had the big block in it for 30 years. I changed the mounts and fit the engine in then, but there is no room for the filter. I switched to the remote adapter to make it fit back then, but I'd like to get rid of it now (I have the engine out again right now.). I know 460 was an option in the heavier trucks but I'm thinking the crossmember must have had a cutout or the 90 degree adapter must have been very compact. The one I tried in the late 80s wouldn't fit.
I'd like to try again... ;-)

[BLES]

Gary Lewis wrote

The 460 crossmembers are different and they have a divot in them for the oil filter adapter.  I'll look in a bit and see if I have a picture of that, but maybe someone else has one handy?

I was too slow responding!
Your answer would sure make sense of things for me. I would still need a 90 adapter, but...

[Gary Lewis]

Let's see if this helps:

[BLES]

THANK YOU!
That would make all the difference! (There are a LOT of differences in that frame area.) Looks like I'm going to have to fire up the plasma and welder and get creative!

[Gary Lewis]

That's an F250/350 4WD frame, and it differs from the 2WD version as well as the F150 versions.

Good luck!

[85lebaront2]

These may help some, these are installed in a 1986 F350 2WD chassis:

Oil filter adapter, mine has the external oil cooler that mounts up front.


Here is the factory mount, left side of my new engine.

Note the heat shield over and behind the mount, this keeps the manifold heat from destroying the mount.

Right side sowing the mount adapter plate.


Here is a front view showing how low Ford had to put the mounts to fit in a frame that was not designed to have a 460.


Hope these will help, you also need to find what Ford calls the perches from a truck with a 460.

[old55pete]

I stand corrected, thank you Gary

[ArdWrknTrk]

Also notice in Gary's photo there is a hole through the crossmember so you can tighten the adapter from the wheel well with a socket and extension.

[85lebaront2]

Jim, the second set of pictures are mine, Gary's was the bare frame.

If you can tighten that adapter from the wheel well I want to see how. I end up raising Darth's front end up high enough to get under easily (not really too high due to the ground clearance) and use a socket and extension.

[fryntrz]

It if helps at all, I tried the Ford adapter with my 460 swap in my 2wd '85 F-150 originally equipped with a 351W and it still wouldn't clear the crossmember.  It was close though, notching and massaging the crossmember you have now is probably the easiest solution.

[BLES]

displacement4me wrote

It if helps at all, I tried the Ford adapter with my 460 swap in my 2wd '85 F-150 originally equipped with a 351W and it still wouldn't clear the crossmember.  It was close though, notching and massaging the crossmember you have now is probably the easiest solution.

That's sort of what I've concluded. Is that what you did, or are you using a remote filter? Also interested in what you used for headers.? I used L&L for my original swap, but I need 2" primaries with my new engine and AFR heads. Only 2" I can find are the #9229 from Mad Dog Headers. I'm waiting on them. Hope they fit, as they're fenderwell exit. Do you have a build thread?

[fryntrz]

Yeah I went remote, and have L&L's nickel plated headers too.  No experience with anything else though, there certainly wasn't as many options in 2008ish when I bought this stuff.  How come you are looking to ditch the remote filter?

No build thread yet, I plan to when I can hit the forum with lots of pics and changes.

[BLES]

OK. Time for an update. I got a new Ford Racing 90 degree adapter that takes the smaller "500" filter and did a bit of modifying with plasma cutter, so the oil filter issue is dealt with.

Finally got my headers from Mad Dog. These are not a quick bolt-on, but again, some help from the plasma, cutting out the plastic fenderwells, and moving the brake valve block, and I got them in and mocked up on a bare block/heads. These fenderwell exit 2" primaries to fit the AFR heads, so they take up quite a bit more real estate than my old L&L/Doug Thorley headers.

Nice to make some progress again.

[Gary Lewis]

As Jim says, progress is good!  And you are making good progress. 👍

[fryntrz]

Looks great!  I'm curious to see those headers stuffed in there.

[BLES]

Hard to see much. This is them in there with dummy engine for fitting:






I got the brake valve slightly relocated and remounted tonight. I don't like the way it is, but I'm going to try it like this. After I get everything working, I plan to redo everything in a frame off project if I have health to do so another year.

[Gary Lewis]

Are these pics before you trimmed the fender liners?  They sure are close.