FE rods ...what are these?!

[Mr427]

Hi FE fraternity: I just bought a set of connecting rods for my 429 Cobra Jet, that I am building. When I open the package, something very different and unusual pops out. The casting number is D1AE- AA.

Have not yet found the number in my books, but the measurements are all FE. What rods could Henry have been issuing for the FE with an engineering number and part numbers into the 70´s

The rods look fairly sturdy, althought my C7AEs look thicker in the md-section. Do appear to use press fit piston pins, 3/8 bolts and the crank journal end is very sturdy indeed.

Any comments?

[Excaliber]

Any pictures?

[VitaminC]

I am no Ford historian, but I thought D1AE- AA was for 351M/400 rod... ?

[FFR428]

VitaminC... I think your right. I have D1AE-A as a 400 rod and the AA would designate upgrade or change for a later year after all the single letters had been used. BTW some of the FT truck rods have a "D" 70's prefix. Hope we are wrong and you have the right ones though! At any rate I'm hope your contacting the seller. G.

[FFR428]

BTW Mr427 tell me more about your 406?

[Mr427]

Oh, this is where I want to be. As most of you I have way too many hobbies. But since I live so far away from most of you, it makes life difficult sometimes.

Once up on a time there was a lonely GT-500 in a shed. I had been trying to get my hands on that car ever since I at the tender age of 17 at the wheel of my older brothers´71 Mach 1 had the pleasure of seeing its taillights flash by, both cars at WOT. When I bought the car many years later It had been the subject of many attempts at one persons´quarter mile dream. Gone was the power steering, the C-6, the heads, exhaust manifolds, parchment interior, rear end, shoulder harness, intake etc. I spent four years trying to revitalize it but gave up, bankrupt and disappointed. It was the worst trade I ever made. I sacrificed my ´70 Cyclone GT in pristine condition for this pile of rubbish. I sold it and Dave Matthews at SAAC has confirmed that the car is now in an automuseum in Tokyo, Japan. You figure the rest. But, I still have the engine. I want to pay tribute to the man himself and blueprint it. I am slowly gathering parts for it, but in the meantime I want to complete the 474 Cobra jet for the ´70 Spoiler that I now have. It is gooing to be the main engine, the SCJ will be mounted on a stand for display. Have found the original valve covers and ram air air cleaner, distributor and other parts. Can´t wait for spring. Now page two:

In 1990 I bought a 1967 Galaxie 500 Converitble to drive to school. I was in college at the time. Two daughters were born during the tenure and they learned about that old car with that cool top that would disappear and there was nothing between them and the sky at 70 mph. The only noise was the wind blowing past the radio antenna. A nice sound and even nicer if it happens at 115 mph. So I took that one home and started building it. In went a new interior sewn to exact proportions with moondust blue vinyl OEM Ford for the 1960 Starlner. It looks unbelievable. Then I had to replace the frame ... sixties Fords have a nasty habit of rusting out behind the left rear wheel. Then the engine. Bought a 1970 390-C-6 combo and went to work. Heads ported, block drilled, deburred and bored .060 os. In went forged slugs, C7AE rods, CJ windage tray, Wolverine cam, Crane springs, locks and retainers, Edelbrock 427 intake, ported heads, 427 oil pump and a Ford duraspark distributor. The C-6 was prepped and then the package finished off with a set of Le-Mans valve covers and a matching oval air cleaner. This package is 402 CID of FE power and after three years I find it does not suit this car and so in goes the original drivetrain this spring and I am on the lookout for a 67-70 Mustang coupe or fastback to slap that 390 on steroids at ...... which brings me to FFR427´s question about the 406 ........

Well the 406 is patiently awaiting its turn. The mothership Galaxie is long gone and I am gathering parts for it along with the Shelby 428. The only thing missing from the 406 is the intake and carbs. Some bright young man thinks he is going to race Merlin - powered Chevrolets with it. NOT! So, in order to familiarize myself with the 406, I bought the original road test report from Car Life, published in july 1961, when Ford had only built ONE fully dressed production mule and what interesting reading it is. As it turns out, the 406 Galaxie was as they put it "quite a package". They complained that the engine wa so tightly set up that they could not wind it above 5200 rpms. But they liked it enormously and were absolutely convinced it would put one up on the GM crowd ... which it did both on quarter mile tracks and on the superspeedways. My conclusion from this reading is that the 406 is much, much closer to the 390 than it is to a 427 as many have tried to convince us in latter day sermons on the issue. The journalist effectively states and puts evidence to prove his point that the 406 was a veruy humble outgrowth out of the Super Stock 390 of 1960-61. But, Ford knew he was on to the right recipe, so that is how the 427 in all its forms was born. My most interesting bout with a 406 happened a few years ago when a friend told me about this set of FE heads someone had thrown in the trunk on his car. He said he was going to throw them away as asked if I wanted the set. Neither of us know what they were until I looked the casting numbers up in my Fooooord bible by Bill Carroll. They are a fairly good set of C3AE-C´s, cast in may 1963, just a few days or weeks ahead of the first 427 LR´s. So they will be glass bead and put in a glass case for display.

Now, historical revisionism may have it that the 427 Ford may not be the archduke of motorracing in domestic and international circles. But that is wrong and so totally inadmissible evidence ...

It is the mother of all winners, indestructible, pretty to look at, but most importantly ... it was there at the right time in history. Sort of like Patton and MacArthur ...... The revisionists can toss and turn all they want but we won at Midway and crossed the Rhine and turned the FIA world on its ear in 1966 - 70 with an engine that was an embarrassment to all that Italian aluminum.

Just picked up a set of D0OE-R´s for the Cyclone last night. Cant wait to start the assembly.

Now, if this story, my auto-biiograpy over the last 24 years rings a familiar tune to any of you my friends, I´d absoluteluy love to hear of it. It is getting lonely out here on the ice........

[FFR428]

Well the cool thing about the 406 is it's RARE. With a 62 1/2 to 63 1/2 production not many were made. As a matter of fact less production 406 cars were built than 427's. Mine is a C3AE-D block with C2SE-C heads and the original 3x2 and carbs. Missing the original crank and rods but replaced with a 428cj IUB and C6 Lemans rods and aftermaket forged pistons. Which block do you have ? G.

[mj_duell]

I just looked up D1AE- AA and it comes up as 351M/400 rod as VitaminC has said.



--Mike

[VitaminC]

I was right?

Well, even a stopped clock is right twice a day.



Chris Weisberg
Carroll Shelby Enterprises
(310) 538-2914

[Mr427]

Well guys, I was taken for a ride. These rods are fine but I failed to aske the seller for the casting numbers and at 26 dollars I don´t care now. The only problem is the time it takes to bid on, buy and get shipped a new set. We will see.

That 406 I am working on comes out of a very nicely equipped 1962 Galaxie. It was originally dark "Ford" blue and of course it had the 3x2´s and a BW transmission. The block is a C2AE, rods C1AE, heads C2AE, but as I said the first time, the intake and carbs are gone.

I need one rod for it. Someone put it in a 73 Mach -1 and raced it with an autmoatic transmission, turned it past 7 grand and dropped a rod on the pavement. Everything else is fine.

Where do I get the correct flat top pistons for it?

I just want to say that it is interesting how these engines evolved throughout the sixties. Both the 427 and the 428 are decendants of the 406 but each in a different direction.

I drove the 428 GT-500 quite a bit and what I like about these engines is their "small block - like" liveliness as you wind them up past the 4000 mark. The sound is very tight and they behave much more pleasantly up there than most engines of similar sizes. That goes for the 390 as well. A very interesting and fun engine to play with. It responded very well to the modifications I made to it, but one always wants to go further.

The sky´s the limit. (ah, the wallet too, sort of, but one can always dream .........)

[FFR428]

Mr427 I three extra C3 rods. If you need one let me know I'll send one out to you free. G.

[FFR428]

Oh and the flat tops are almost impossible to find. I know a guy who has some sets of std ones but may take a while before talking to him. He's moving from Ill to Fla and his shop included. I can get in touch with him if std works for you. Mine came with a set of old TRW forged .030. G.

[Mr427]

Hi:

Thanks for your very kind offer. I will take you up on it and if you can get hold of one std, piston, that will do the deal.

Also, if you know of any intakes for the 406 that can be had for a decent fee, I might consider that also.

Later I will try to get hold of a T-10 w. shifter.

There was 1963 Galaxie 406 sold on E-bay this fall. It was an abolute rarity: A 4-dr sedan w. 406-4spd, man. brakes and steering.

Purportedly one of those Tennessee Moonshine runners.

There is a similar Montclair Marauder from 1964 for sale on Cars-on-line.com Beautiful black hardtop. 390 Super Marauder 4-speed toploader.

My email is:

gudmundur@fmeignir.is

[FFR428]

Well the rod is yours and the piston I'll see what I can do. Send me your address in a PM or email. I'm guessing your looking for a 3x2 intake? What about the carbs, need those too? I often see complete setups for sale. A recent one for $600. Such a deal! These are way over $1000 on ebay. I'll keep an eye out. So as soon as the gentleman with the 06 pistons is back online I'll talk to him and forward you to him. Do you ever go here? www.fordfe.com G.

[FFR428]

Oh almost forgot. The rod is a C3AE-C from a 427. Not sure which you have but it should do the trick. If needed I'll weigh the three and send you the closest in weight to yours. Let me know, G.