Questions about putting new bearings in a Ford 460

**74stang2togo** · 03-24-2003

Hey guys, the 460 in my T-bird has 115,000+ miles on it, and it's starting to have a light bottom-end knock. I've been told it is probably my main bearings, so I was wondering how difficult these would be to replace with the engine in the car.

(my only expirience with main bearings is on a Chevy Small-block that was OUT of the vehicle)

Jarrett · 03-25-2003

It will be nearly impossible to do with it in the car.
The crank will have to come out (also everything else attached to it).
You will have to be able to get the crank in and out(not a very light piece of metal) without damaging it.
You will have to be able to install the main halves in the block upside down,and keep them from falling out.
You will have to move all the pistons and rods to the top of the cylinders in order to be able to move the crank around.

Pull the motor, you'll be glad you did.

**74stang2togo** · 03-25-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Jarrett
Pull the motor, you'll be glad you did.

That's the problem, if I yank the thing out... I'll probably find something else I'd rather put it in!

I found the info at Autozone.com on how to swap the bearings with everything still in the car (which is gonna be complicated, but I don't have the time/room to pull the engine out of it, but I do have the equipment.)

Flex · 03-26-2003

The only way to do it without yanking the motor is rolling the car on its roof.LOL

Seriously, yank that sucker. My brother's and I did a 400 Ford in a pickup which has more frame clearance and it was the worst headache ever attempted by man. Even lifting the motor as high as it would go in the bay didn't help much.