engine swaps on 86 Bronco - Ford Forums

12-19-2002, 08:43

My 86 Bronco currently has a 351 HO and a C6 tranny. I'm looking to swap in either a 400 or 429 bb and don't know if my tranny will bolt on to these without any mods. I'm doing research now so any help will be great.

Vlad_Padberg · 11-05-2003, 10:05

First of all a 400 is a glorified 351 HO practically the same. I would go with a 429 but you want find one with a trans. that is already bolted on and those trans. have a kind of adapter for 2WD so you can take that off and hook up your T-case and your ready for mounting and settings.

Fat F100 · 11-05-2003, 23:53

I'd go the 429 BB. You will have to find a 'large case'`C6 4X4 auto. These auto's have the rear housing set up so that they can bolt to the transfer case & the correct bellhousing to mount to the Big Block.
(I like the sound of that....Big....Block....).

Dave

'92BigBronco · 11-06-2003, 00:20

The 351 HO is a 351W with higher compression and a Holley 4 barrel carb not a 400. The 351M and the 400 are very similar and share many parts with the 351C but are not the same as the 351HO found in the Bronco's.

The 429 shares the same tranny bolt pattern as the 460. If I were going to do an engine swap, I would go with the 460 and a C6. Both are still fairly easy to come by. Unfortunately, the C6 bellhousing and case are one piece so you will have to pick up a tranny with the 429/460 bellhousing but there are a lot round.

There are numerous companies out there making the motor mount kits for the 460 swap in the fullsize Bronco, making the swap very do-able without a lot of custom fabrication.

Good luck!