Bronco Big Block Engine Swap

A write-up on performing a 460 motor swap into an 1988 Bronco

1980-1996 use similar parts

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I recently went through the whole process of swapping in an 1989 EFI 460 in place of my 1988 EFI 302. Basically, I used an EFI 460 from a 1989 E-350 van. This engine came with a saginaw PS pump, 100-amp large case alternator, a rear sump oil pan, and the engine wiring and ECM. . Parts I needed to do this swap were 80's 2wd F-250 460 engine perches and mounts, already had a 4-row radiator installed, a big block 4x4 C6 tranny, Hedman headers for a 1988 460 F-250, and some other small stuff I can't remember offhand. Overall the swap wasn't that bad- the biggies were replacing the 302 perches with 460 perches and wiring up my own jumper harness to join the van engine harness (too short) to the ECM and relays. The tranny crossmember did not have to be moved at all (formerly 302/AOD). This isn't going to be a comprehensive write-up, just a bunch of pics with short descriptions to help explain what went on to help people who know what they're doing.

The 302 and AOD removed from the Bronco (80,007 bytes)The empty engine bay (104,507 bytes)The engine mount holes on the 460 block (78,035 bytes)
A comparison between engine mounts for a 460, 302, and 390 (100,849 bytes)I heard it was possible to use 390 mounts and this shows how much the hole has to be slotted to get them to work (90,961 bytes)The truck 460 mount does not match the van 460 bracket that came with the engine (34,060 bytes)
Pic of the van engine bracket (28,971 bytes)The bracket on the left is what's needed to bolt the truck 460 rubber mounts to the block (117,402 bytes)The truck 460 mount bolted to the engine block (78,178 bytes)
This shows how the two studs on the mount line up with the f-250 frame bracket (49,030 bytes)F-250 460 brackets on the top, Bronco 302 brackets on the bottom (96,536 bytes)Bronco engine crossmember with the 302 brackets (78,000 bytes)
Passenger side 302 bracket (97,532 bytes)Driver's side 302 bracket (riveted in) (89,194 bytes)The Bronco crossmember with the 2wd F-250 460 brackets all bolted in (85,343 bytes)
The 460 and C6 ready to drop in (104,037 bytes)Pic of how the 460 sits on the mounts on the passenger side (63,946 bytes)Pic of how the 460 sits on the mounts on the driver side (92,926 bytes)
Pic of the cuts I made to the crossmember so the 460 oil filter would clear (77,667 bytes)My 460 contacted the firewall at this point. I was able to clearance it with a sledgehammer (52,446 bytes)Front view of the mostly-installed 460 (73,367 bytes)
Overhead view of the 460 (70,184 bytes)This is how the driver's side Hedman header fits (71,587 bytes)This is how the passenger's side Hedman header fits- like a glove (62,491 bytes)
Some of the wiring I did to make my own jumper harness that joins the existing van 460 engine harness to the ECM (49,420 bytes)This shows how I teed the mechanical tranny temp gauge into the rear tranny line port (input) (48,470 bytes)This is the front view of the 460 with no accessory brackets (96,767 bytes)

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