Odds of obtaining a 406 engine cheaply?
 

Original preferred, but a repro is a possiblity, I guess. Got a '62 Fairlane project that I've considered dropping a 406 into it to loosely replicate the Tasca Ford/Hotton DST '62 drag car. If a 406 is or isn't readily available, will dictate where I'm headed. Mostly just throwing ideas out there right now. Any input would be accepted. TIA

The odds of getting an original are not good unless you have a lot of bucks to spend. A not cheap but more obtainable option might be a 428, its just a stroked 406 but there are more of them out there and the 406 and 427 low riser heads would give it an authentic look. Good luck with it.

Serving suggestion:

-Find a wheezer 360.

-Put a stroker in it out to 445 or so.*

-Run faster on street-legal tires than any 406 ran on slicks "in the day":D
.
.
..
.
..

*plus a few other easily found parts....

Yeah, the 390 or similar version FE is on the list at plan D :)

Cheap 406 is most definately an oxymorom. I made a cheap 406 many decades ago. 1971 in Lost Wages, Nevada. Found an old 390 in a junk yard. Did some numbers checking and figured out it was a 1961/62 375 horse 390. Bought it for $100 and tore it apart. Block to the machine shop on base and had it bored .080 over(you could do that as the block were used as the early 406 blocks). Used my spare 428CJ heads and found a 406 3X2 setup complete for $200 (it's amazing what you find when you deliver parts for a parts house as a part time job). Assembled everything and had me a 406. Today the chances of doing that are nil and not at all.

Bear, I figured such. Wish I coulda been doing it back in 1971, myself.

I was hoping to keep everything pre-'63, and I know that's difficult to do, but one can dream, lol. So I assume there's no thicker casting repro/crate blocks.

You can but look. There is stuff showing up all the time. You might even find a 428 block and it gets easier after that. There is all kinds of aftermarket stuff, but cheap it ain't.

You are in possibly the best place in the country to find old unloved FEs. Take a road trip armed with casting numbers and VIN codes also cash, start cruising some of the smaller communities like Lake Woebegone Mn. looking for salvage yards and not the nice looking ones, the old timey ones and ask if you can look around for some 1960 to '64 cars. They will probably let you look with no problem. If you take a truck you may go home with a few 352/360 to 390 High Perf. engines. It would also be a good idea to look for old police cars and others that had 428 engines. Youn had better do your homework before you go or you won't have a clue as to what you are buying until you get it apart. Good Hunting.

Didn't the 406 have cross-bolted mains like the 427? If it did, they may be something to watch for if trying to have a "period" correct vehicle. If it didn't, I wonder where I got that thought from?......LOL

Some of the late '62s and some '63s are reputed to have the cross bolted mains but I have yet to see one. I'd rather have a 427 and say it was a 406:-X14

Put it that way, I would too, lol.

There is a C2AE-6015-J 406 block for sale right now on 332-428 Ford FE Engine Forum in the classifieds for $850. See the "FE blocks for sale" Ad by DSC Dennis. There are numerous 428 and 390 blocks listed as well. Ad also says he'll accept time payments which is a nice option. HURRY!

Seems like a good price. The last few I've seen have been $1000-1500 bare blocks.

Thanks! I'm in the Cleveland group, didn't even think of looking in the FE group.

Noooo, you are IN the FE group. Are you lost in Cyber Space?8D

Here's a couple of nice blocks..if you dont care about casting numbers.

D3TE Ford FE 390 Cross Bolted w/ Program Eng. Main Caps : eBay Motors (item 170446531658 end time Feb-21-10 17:25:52 PST)

C4AE Ford FE 390 Cross Bolted w/ OEM 427 Main Caps : eBay Motors (item 170446529488 end time Feb-21-10 17:15:41 PST)