Thread: Info on 460 in 32 ford

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Want to use BBF460 in 32 ford and need all the information i can get about frame length extension ( to get to fit) and any other information i can locate-and any one who has done it also-THANKS

rich

I don't know how the 32 body length compares to a 27, but I built my frame at 117" wheelbase and had plenty of room for the 429, shroud, 18" OEM fan and fan clutch.

I had my car (not a deuce) set up with a 429/4 speed. Long story, 429 went away and now a 260 sleeps there. Anyway it is A frame rails up front and there wasn't any fitment issues, although I didn't mount the radiator until I had the engine set and shuffled everything around it.
Somewhere I have a chart with all the engine dimensions and there is only an inch or so different in length on all the Fords.
I was also setting up for a pusher fan though and that would look pretty goofy on a 32.

455 Buicks are fairly long.

I have one in a 32 with flat firewall.
The other is in a 31 A on 32 frame rails and the firewall has a 4" recess.

Easy fit on both and both cars run mechanical fans.

the biggest difference in most engines are where the distributor is---on the ford up front will fit firewall better than chevy at rear

thanks guys for all the info, when doing (Planning) a project i don't think you can have to much info. From what you guys are saying it seems most of the negitave i have heard up to now is just that, negative! 117 wheel base sounds long i think the stock 32 is 106 and the 34 is 112 or something like that. again thanks and i would love to hear more. anything on the subject is welcome. thanks again

rich

This is a 350 Small Block Chevrolet in a 32 Ford. The firewall is cut back 1 inch for the HEI GM distributor. I know the 460 Ford has it's distributor in the front but the 460 is a wider, longer and heavier engine than a little 350 SBC.



Room is at a preminum ... and you fight for every inch of clearance ... even with the little Chevrolet.

IF I were going to put a Ford in a 32 Ford ... I would use a 302 ... made into a 346 ... smaller, lighter and a way better fit.

If you must pursue the 460 thing ...
I suggest you set the radiator on the crossmember and then trial fit the engine and transmission ... and then see were the firewall sits.

I've built a Deuce and a 34 with BBF power, the Deuce even had a 4 speed. Takes some very careful planning to get everything to fit, but it will fit. The front mount distributor eliminates one of the biggest issues..... As with most any build, if you want it in there bad enough, and are willing to do the extra work, it can be made to fit.

Good luck with your project... Plan on a lot of measuring and mockup time, but don't let the sbc brigade convince you that that's the only way to go...Heck, a member here just took his sbc out in favor of a Hemi!!!!

My car was originally built with a 426 Hemi. The front crossmember was moved 3" forward to accomodate the engine. The Hemi has since been replaced with a 302 Ford.

....and an even better combo is the 351W which can be taken out to over 427ci. It is a bit wider across the exhaust and taller then the 302/5.0 but is the same length.

A 460 gets kinda long and kinda heavy, but I have seen them nicely installed in almost everything

Here are a couple of sites to look at for dims

http://www.geocities.com/infieldg/v8enginesizes.html

http://www.carnut.com/specs/fengdim.html

The 460 is at least 6 inches longer ... than a SBC
The 460 is at least 4 inches wider ... than a SBC
The 460 weighs at least 200 pounds more than my 350 SBC

If you are going to build a Highboy car ( no original style front fenders ) then you could move the crossmember forward a little and gain a little room. The rest would HAVE to be in the firewall unless you extend the chassis. If you are building a coupe or a roadster ... 3 or 4 inches out of the floor board makes for a very cramped interior unless you are smaller and shorter than the average American man. ( I believe the average is 5 foot 10 inches )



There is NOT a lot of foot room ... to lose in a coupe/roadster

I vote 460!!!!!!!With aluminum intake and heads its the same weight as a smallblock cheby.
There is thread on here that lists weights and sizes ,the 460 is not that much bigger than the rest of em.