460 into a 74'?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
460 into a 74'?
ok i'm a 17 year old guy needing a little help. i just had my grandfather die and he left me a McLaren manta with the 460 in 5.7 out already and a 74' coupe. Looking at insurance it is cheaper for me to drive the Vette and figure out what to do with the manta later. i was wondering if anyone had experience putting a 460 into a C3 vette. i have the cash to buy just about any part i need and i already have all the tools (cherry picker and all) available. so i was wondering how hard it was and what else would i need tranny, adapters, components, rear-end, and body wise. i was also wondering what gear ratio i should go for and if anyone has experience in Colorado DOT and how i might get it to pass if i have issues doing so. hopefully with college dying down in bout a month i can put my heart into this beast and get it running b4 summer starts. also does anyone know any good painters out here in CO i can fiber and bondo but cant paint for ****
thnx
Sean
thnx
Sean
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 11
From: Schaumburg IL
Quite honestly, the Ford into a GM would be a nightmare project. Start with mounts, clearances, bell housing mating, wiring, exhaust routing, linkages, suspension, cooling etc would all be different. You would be miles ahead of putting a 383 or if you want a bb go with a 454 + crate engine that would be drop in.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 13
From: Doha
St. Jude Donor '08
If you think about that factory installed big block in a C3, and how the clearance is so tight where ever you look at, you'll think more than twice about that 460 ford!
I would suggest having a performance small block like a 383 or something and slide it in that '74, would cost a lot less than what that 460 would cost you just for fabrications and parts, and would be more powerful, too!
I would suggest having a performance small block like a 383 or something and slide it in that '74, would cost a lot less than what that 460 would cost you just for fabrications and parts, and would be more powerful, too!
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 6
From: springfield ohio
I don't think the Ford 460 will drop in because of the oil
pan, the oil pump and sump pick up are at the front of the
motor, so it wouldn't clear the cross member. I would stick
with a drop in Chevy motor, cheap and easy.
What is this other car you speak of, can you post some
pictures of the two cars and the motor?
Riggs.
pan, the oil pump and sump pick up are at the front of the
motor, so it wouldn't clear the cross member. I would stick
with a drop in Chevy motor, cheap and easy.
What is this other car you speak of, can you post some
pictures of the two cars and the motor?
Riggs.
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Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 591
Likes: 7
From: Batavia IL
go to the yard and find a 454 chevy for 600-700 bucks. or build your small block to make 500 hp. done and alot less headaches and cost. better yet drop a 5.7 or 5.3 0r 6.0 ls1 motor in for good power and fuel economy.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Once you ge tthe pictures uploaded to photobucket, there are 4 lines under each picture. Select the 2nd one from the bottom, copy it and paste it into the text box in your thread. That's all you need to do.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: McHenry Illinois
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
also if i decide not to do the ford thing (but trust me i still might) i have plenty of cash to dump into this car what engine would you all suggest with a medium difficulty of install and lots of power but still keeping it street legal? depending on how powerful i will go for a roll cage and installing those 5 point harness seats that i have sitting in my basement. also i would like to lower the car not by much but it does sit a little high any suggestions on kits or simple fab to do so?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 35
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also guys i have done some weird engine swaps b4 like a 396 chevy into a 74 280z (my uncle got that car along with the 96 vette) i've seen it done and done it myself so i do know what 'm getting into difficulty wise
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Kid, quit bragging about how much cash you have...if you have all that green, then build yourself a twin turbo chevy, small block or big block and no one will touch you....by the time you suff that ford into the vette and count how much you spent, you could have built a 632 cube big block.
For one it is not a practical union, and second the money spent to do this will be a chunk of change and third, any good running small block will beat you, so all your effort and time and money will be wasted....
For one it is not a practical union, and second the money spent to do this will be a chunk of change and third, any good running small block will beat you, so all your effort and time and money will be wasted....
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 35
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the vette does have a motor its the original 5.7/350 rated at 250 but its starting to die with a hair over 120k of extremely hard driving on it along with the occasional 1/4 mile thrown in at the test and tune nights at Bandimere so the motor is going as for the tranny i would like a 5 speed manual if that is possible in this car