[topdog]

Have a chance to pick up a 406 dyno'd at 475 horse power. Never in a car .
Right now it's got a single 4 barrel carb. I was thinking about replacing my 327 with the 406, and swap the tri power unit off the 327.

Any experience with a 406 engine? Will the 10 bolt axle survive. I was planning to keep the muncie 4 speed that in the 55.


The engine has been sitting on an engine stand for several years and wraped in plastic? It has Dart heads

I know the owner/builder

I appreciate all comments thanks

 

[Hatconversions]

Topdog, We had a 406 in the hill climb car before we went to the 430. The 406 is going to have more torque than your 327, but you are going to sacrifice the quicker response of the 327 and lose LOTS of fuel milage... Bobby

 

[psb]

Yap;

Hatcoverstion nailed it.. If its a good one and sounds like it.. You will smile every time you thouch the gas on the street... for all that fun you will be flipping $20.00 bills in your gas tank. If you dont care about solid lifter free reving 327 and want a monster mouse of power.. great move.. you will not be disipointed... Only MPG will be a issue.

This is why i always want 3 of every build I do ofr my self.. there are times i loved the MPG of my DZ 301 solid lifer and the revs... OMGosh Sweet!..
But the 406 can burn rubber in any gear and is a better driver on the street.. i Only wish i could get 302 like MPG... I could if carfule get 18 MPG in my 302.. now with the 406 If a cheat i think I can get 13-14 MPG Trully its more like 11MPG... But dang I burn rubber anywhere if i want..

the 10 bolt... dont put sticky rubber on #1 dont bang gear/ speed shift/ and no droping the clutch.. You will be fine.. What you can do is take off norma and get on cam and stand on it and it will burn rubber like you droped the clutch at 7200 PRMS. I say go for it! big fun... If your looking for MPG.

 

[63chevytoo]

If you know the builder and they have a good record of reliable engine builds, (I would like to see the build sheet), and the price is right, and like is said before, you are not looking for great MPG, and you do not have a "Big tire" car, and you know where to get rear tires at a discount, Go for it!


Don

 

[angs1957]

That engine will boogie down the road, how hard you drive it will determine how quick things will break, if you can pick it up cheap enough grab it, if not stick with what you have :anim_25:

 

[bowtie_nut]

Had one in my 67 Biscayne. I have a video of the car at Osceola Dragway in Indiana pulling the drivers side tire a couple of inches. The motor made tons of torque.

 

[GaryC]

The Muncie will be fine..........

 

[Bamaboybwoody]

I have one in my 55 good engine, single 4bbl and 3.42 rear gets fair mileage but it depends on the speed 65-67 about 21 mpg any faster or slower the mileage goes down to 18 or so. I like it because it has great torque and will rev to 5500 easy.


Joebowtie-trifive

 

[55DART406]

Gas mileage doesn't always get worse with more cubes or HP.
I had a an old 350 that ran 12:2 on the strip and now have a 406 that did an easy 11:8 in our 55. No change to running gear, just the motor and it gets the same mpg but more driveable. 16mpg while towing a camper. I'm sure we would get around 18-19mpg without towing something.

 

[cruzn57]

I thought

most of us built these cars for.......

SMILES per gallon
not Miles per gallon!

 

[Jim Cimarolli]

Top Dog,
I haven't heard anyone mention the cooling issue yet, so if you have A/C or other power accessories, you will need a good cooling system with the 406 vs. the 327.

 

[mountain_motor]

The 406 in my Nova is scary fast (550 hp+). Took fat tires off for steelies w/225 tires and a "COPO" look. It sometimes chirps the tires when I leave a typical stoplight. A couple of times turning a corner and goosing it, I was almost looking at my own taillights!! I'm too old to drive like that. Strangely, it almost seems like it gets better mileage than my mild 350 '56. At least it appears the '56 (3.70 gears) drops to half a tank faster than the Nova.

 

[MikeB]

Which 10-bolt?

 

[pmbinc7618]

topdog,

I have a built 406 solid roller motor in my '56. It has a Ron Davis cross flow rad, Eddy alum water pump, power steering pump, no AC. AFR 210 heads, 10.5 JE SRP pistions, Lunati cam with huge lift and duration for street motor, Vic Jr. intake and single Holley 800 cfm carb. Car runs 175-180 in the summer, in traffic. The torque and hp power made by a well built 406 is pretty impressive, I think you would be happy. One more thing, as others questioned, which 10 bolt? The tires are, and sometimes, should be the weak link and the first thing to break. I wanted to be sure not to break the third member so run a Dana, (Strange Eng.), 60.

Pete

 

[finn210]

406 is mighty fine SBC combo when built right. Machine shop receipt along with build sheet would be required if he is looking top dollars out of it.

X3 which 10 bolt?