Ford Questions

[Cole Sanger]

I am about to look into this 460 Ford. It didn't come with a balancer. How do I know if it needs one, or which one to get? I have read a little about a counter weight. How do I know if I need one? I guess the first question I should ask is how do I know if it is internally/externally balanced? It does have a flexplate. This is the first of many questions I am going to have. Is there a site I can look at to see what I have? Mortec is for Chevy's. Is there a site for Fords? Also, it has an oil pan like no oil pan I have ever seen. It has a fitting on the front of the kick out and a fitting on the rear of the kick out. I will take pictures of it tomorrow and see if someone can let me know what to do with it. Thanks for the help.

[Jet City]

Here's the best site around for learning about that 385 series Ford (below). They all used balancers, internal before '78, external after '78 if I remember right. I'll let someone else speak on identifying the late model stuff, I've never looked at them, I do know the cranks are stamped with identifying numbers. That pan sounds like possibly a Fox body pan.
http://www.network54.com/Forum/85220

[058]

Look for the crank numbers, any 2 series [2Y etc.] is an internally balanced 460 crank 1968 thru 1978. 3Y series is externally balanced 1979 and up. 4 series cranks are 429.

[GofastRacer]

Look for the crank numbers, any 2 series [2Y etc.] is an internally balanced 460 crank 1968 thru 1978. 3Y series is externally balanced 1979 and up. 4 series cranks are 429.
Bob, it's an FE!..
http://dmontzmax.maximaclubca.com/Misc...Stuff./dmontzmax/DSC00668.JPG

[058]

Damn Art....I thought he said 460...or maybe I'm having a senior moment? :idea: If its an FE then all engines except 410 and 428 are internally balanced. The 410/428 will have a counterweight on the flexplate/flywheel and only the 428SCJ will have the counterweighted spacer for the balancer to balance the LeMans type capscrew rods.

[Squirtin Thunder]

I am about to look into this 460 Ford. It didn't come with a balancer. How do I know if it needs one, or which one to get? I have read a little about a counter weight. How do I know if I need one? I guess the first question I should ask is how do I know if it is internally/externally balanced? It does have a flexplate. This is the first of many questions I am going to have. Is there a site I can look at to see what I have? Mortec is for Chevy's. Is there a site for Fords? Also, it has an oil pan like no oil pan I have ever seen. It has a fitting on the front of the kick out and a fitting on the rear of the kick out. I will take pictures of it tomorrow and see if someone can let me know what to do with it. Thanks for the help.
058 Damn Art....I thought he said 460...or maybe I'm having a senior moment? If its an FE then all engines except 410 and 428 are internally balanced. The 410/428 will have a counterweight on the flexplate/flywheel and only the 428SCJ will have the counterweighted spacer for the balancer to balance the LeMans type capscrew rods.
That is what I see !!!

[GofastRacer]

Damn Art....I thought he said 460...or maybe I'm having a senior moment? :idea: If its an FE then all engines except 410 and 428 are internally balanced. The 410/428 will have a counterweight on the flexplate/flywheel and only the 428SCJ will have the counterweighted spacer for the balancer to balance the LeMans type capscrew rods.
LOL no senior moment, he did say "460"!. :D It could be possible that he has a 427 with a 428 crank in it, or he could have a 428?????... :wink:

[Cole Sanger]

All great questions. I was told it was a 460. How can I tell what the hell it is? I just want to get this thing running so my buddy can drive it and hopefully take it out of my cramped garage.

[GofastRacer]

Listen up!. It's an "FE", not a "385" series!..

[058]

Its an FE if the intake manifold is joined at the head under the valve cover. Displacement is 332-352-360-390-406-410-427-428, not including 361-389-391 which are just FEs that have that displacement for identification purposes to seperate truck engines from passenger car engines.

[Cole Sanger]

Gotcha. So let me rephrase my original question a little. If I find that the crank is internally balanced, do I need a balancer? I was looking at SFI approved balancers for a Ford - Holy Crap they are expensive. So if I can get away with not having one that would be great. Anyway, since I know nothing about Fords, when do you know if you need a counter weight? Does it just go in place of a balancer? On a side note, the boat is still forsale at $4500. If your in California, I can meet you in Blythe or something. I got the crappy "The Chosen" off the sides and the strange saying that was on the transom, and the ugly splatter paint off the boat today. Starting to look better. Now if I can get it running that would be nice. I would like to sell it to someone in CA because the numbers are painted on. Won't take but a few minutes to get them off, but they are in good shape. So I would rather leave them alone. Going to try to get it rewired tomorrow. Need to get this balancer junk figured out so I can get it started. Thanks for the info.