Had a guy offer me a Ford 406 and cruise-o-matic tranny for CHEAP. He says it was running fine when he pulled it. He claims he needs some quick money for a bill. I don`t need it - but is this engine worth anything ? He said it was in a 63 Galaxie 500.
I would be a little sceptical 406 never had an automatic behind it. All 406 fords had solid lifters and hp blocks aluminum intakes in either 4v or 3x2v header style exhaust manifolds and factory dual point distributors. But if it is a 406 $100 dollars is a steal. Hell at 700lbs its worth a near $100 scrap .
hmmm....if its a 406 snatch it up and sell if for double on here. check the numbers if you can....lotsa good resources on here and the internet.
The 406 is a great FE. 4.13" bore with the higher-revving 3.78" stroke of the 390. It's only .100" smaller than the great 427! Buy it, and sell the damn thing to me! It would go great in a Fred Lorenzen tribute car I'm building. 406 FE, Ford toploader, 9" locker, HHmmmmmmm......EEFFFFFF EEEEEEE.....
What he said-406 was 62-mid 63. If you're lucky, it might be one of the later ones with cross-bolted mains.
Yeah, do your homework and verify you have a 406 there. With the automatic, the greater odds would make it as a 390 or 352. Bob
Don't be surprised if it turns out to be a 352 or 390 but for a 100 bucks you can't go wrong unless you don't need it and it turns out to be a shin buster in the garage. If the exhaust manifolds are not the header style then you can be sure it's a garden variety FE.
Hell, offer him $200 and get the whole car! Whatever the motor is, $100 for some FE stuff is a bargain, probably a 352. Those 406's are kinda scarce, saw one last week with cross drilled mains. Nice to get one of those for a $100.
The car is long gone. He told me it was actually a 63 1/2 Galaxie 500. I haven`t seen the engine yet, but he also said it had a Holley 4 barrel carb on top with FoMoCo tag on it. He thought the intake was cast iron. I am very skeptical. I don`t know this guy very well, but he came into the parts store where I work and asked for points for an `88 Mustang GT. Hell, this engine might be a 427 or it could be a Slant 6 . . . He probably doesn`t know. I absolutely do not need any more stuff in my garage, but if I could make an easy couple hundred bucks on it, I might grab it. I have his phone # and address. Maybe I`ll check it out today.
Yea, it probably is, but you never know until you take a look yourself. I certainly don`t have my expectations up.
You work in an Auto Parts store and had to ask if a 406 was worth anything. Must be on the Job training. The Wizzard
Have you been an 'auto parts store' lately..If it is not in their computer it simply does not exist...ggeeesh...that ojt will take twenty years. .
Didn't some 406's have cross bolted mains like the 427s? Would be a easy indicator. edit: Just saw someone else already posted this.
total production run from 1962 to mid-'63 was less than 500, most saw action at the strip or Nascar. too bad the car is gone as the engine code would have told you what this was. If it is a 352, walk away from it, least amount of HP for the year and was the bottom engine.
After this many years anything could be bolted to it for a trans. It will def have HP stamped on it. A 390 HP would be nice also. And yes either is worth a lot more that a $100.00
It is fairly easy to identify a real 406 as I think they have screw in freeze plugs and cross bolted main caps
damn.. 100 bucks for a fe and trans. send the guy my way. good deal if it is a 352,390, a great deal if it is a 406
Only the late 63 406s have cross bolt mains. Head casting numbers will be C3AE between center exhaust ports
'63 406's were made until the 427 fastbacks were released in February 63. 1963 406 Galaxie wasn't that hard to spot, just look for the gold 406 flags on the fenders, and knockoff caps on Mercury (57 I believe) wheelcovers used to cover the 15 inch wheels. Car I learned to drive in was a '63 red notchback Galaxie XL with black guts and a 3X2 406 four speed.
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