Well after 20 hours of driving on Saturday I finally have my first FE. I was raised right working on Fords with my dad, and had a 67 Mustang GTA I restored in High School, but this is my first FE powered car.
A few weeks ago while looking for 406 parts for my dad's 63 G-code, I came across a car on Craigslist that was listed as a 406. It was a 63 Galaxie fastback, and the price was pretty low. It had been on a few weeks, but I decided to call on it anyways and it was still available. The owner had only had it for a year, but the previous owner had bought it in 66 and it had always been garaged, including stored for the last 15 years before he passed away.
He did have one other guy come from California to look at it, but he informed him that it wasn't a 406 and didn't buy the car. Turns out it was just a Z-code 390 and he wasn't sure what was currently in it. As nice and clean as it sounded, it wasn't worth the 1500 mile round trip since I wasn't really looking for a car anyways. He dropped the price and said he would meet me part way, that he really needed to get rid of it to buy more land. The price was right so I went for it, and I am glad I did.
It is a completely rust free car, as in I can't find one flake of rust ANYWHERE! 110,000 miles and even has the owners manual in the glove box with the salesmans signature. Originally a Z-code with a Cruise-O-Matic. White with a blue top and blue bench seat interior. It needs the front seat re-covered and a carpet kit, but other than that the interior is very nice. Outside it had been re-painted once, and it does have some rock chips from gravel roads, but other than that the outside is straight with no damage anywhere. I think with a good buff and wax, it will be more than presentable.
This is where it gets good. The second owner must have wanted a little more of a hotrod than the 390. Turns out it is a 406, but not the traditional way. He built a motor with a 66 428 block and his 390 crank to get his 406, put a solid lifter cam in it, but went with 427 cast headers instead of shortys. It currently has 390 heads and intake on it, but I have a feeling that those were changed out at a later time.
The best part is that this car runs and drives beautifully, and with a little work will be pristine! Plus I got it at a great price, which is always a plus. At 30 years old I finally have my FE powered car, but it definitely won't be my last!
These pictures were taken today, fresh off the trailer/out of the barn.
A few weeks ago while looking for 406 parts for my dad's 63 G-code, I came across a car on Craigslist that was listed as a 406. It was a 63 Galaxie fastback, and the price was pretty low. It had been on a few weeks, but I decided to call on it anyways and it was still available. The owner had only had it for a year, but the previous owner had bought it in 66 and it had always been garaged, including stored for the last 15 years before he passed away.
He did have one other guy come from California to look at it, but he informed him that it wasn't a 406 and didn't buy the car. Turns out it was just a Z-code 390 and he wasn't sure what was currently in it. As nice and clean as it sounded, it wasn't worth the 1500 mile round trip since I wasn't really looking for a car anyways. He dropped the price and said he would meet me part way, that he really needed to get rid of it to buy more land. The price was right so I went for it, and I am glad I did.
It is a completely rust free car, as in I can't find one flake of rust ANYWHERE! 110,000 miles and even has the owners manual in the glove box with the salesmans signature. Originally a Z-code with a Cruise-O-Matic. White with a blue top and blue bench seat interior. It needs the front seat re-covered and a carpet kit, but other than that the interior is very nice. Outside it had been re-painted once, and it does have some rock chips from gravel roads, but other than that the outside is straight with no damage anywhere. I think with a good buff and wax, it will be more than presentable.
This is where it gets good. The second owner must have wanted a little more of a hotrod than the 390. Turns out it is a 406, but not the traditional way. He built a motor with a 66 428 block and his 390 crank to get his 406, put a solid lifter cam in it, but went with 427 cast headers instead of shortys. It currently has 390 heads and intake on it, but I have a feeling that those were changed out at a later time.
The best part is that this car runs and drives beautifully, and with a little work will be pristine! Plus I got it at a great price, which is always a plus. At 30 years old I finally have my FE powered car, but it definitely won't be my last!
These pictures were taken today, fresh off the trailer/out of the barn.


