Truck 400 to 460 swap

A guy called me today w/this problem that I couldn't answer. He has a 79 f250 with 400 standard(bull dog 1st gear deal).He installed a 1983 460 external bal.He purchased a new flywheel for that year 460. He is using the 400 bell, clutch/pressplate. He says the tranny will not pull all the way in to bolt up because he has ran out of splines on the front shaft.He says it lacks 1" from pulling up. He also says most of it is because the 460 flywheel is a lot thicker than the old one from the 400. What can he do to get this to work.
Thx for any help.

Clutch disc in backwards? if he's running out of spline on the input shaft he can't space the trans or it'll get out of the pilot bearing.....

Are those standard bells on the 400 and 460 the same ?

3 finger pressure plate or diaphragm ? I agree with Lee I think the clutch disc is in backwards . If he still has a problem take the flywheel back and get a 390 flywheel and 390 clutch and pressure plate and it should bolt right up .

I found out the hard way that the 400 bell housing is about an inch shallower than the 460 bell housing. Both housings being factory originals.

Wayne

bbf-falcon wrote: Are those standard bells on the 400 and 460 the same ?

They ARE different depths ... by about .875" I think.

Remember that a 400 was never available in a car; only a truck.

So, sounds like he needs a bb bell huh

I've been told that a 400 bell is usable with the right combo of flywheel, clutch, and starter motor, but an adapter is needed to space the transmission back. With all that hassle, I decided to go all correct pieces for my setup.

Wayne

Use a 302 pilot bearing and install it into the inner/smaller recess hole..worked for us-A

Wow, that solution was right under my nose, and I didn't see it! Thanks for that tip!

Wayne