Thread: 55 Wagon Progress

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Collecting more parts for the shop truck... These are reproduction cast shorty headers by Kugel Komponents, based off the OEM Ford 406 headers. They were media blasted and have been dropped off for a Cerakote finish. Still looking for some C6AE-R cylinder heads, rockers, and an intake for the 410 block.





We also got the underdash AC bezel back from Chrome plating, still waiting on the round vents*[IMG][/IMG]





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vhiNxtUtxE





Still plugging along with the wiring on the 55. Fuse box is installed, still have some fine tuning (shortening) on some of the wire bundles.. but someone installed a steering wheel in the way. And since our Snap On puller doesn't fit the Billet Specialties hole pattern, it's time to make a new one..





Strike two, we didn't have a 1/2-20 tap to fabricate the new part, so we opted for a 1/2-20 hex nut. A shoulder was machined to center it up in the clearance hole, and welded onto our bar stock








All removed, ready for some wiring...





Shortening up another bundle and crimping on new Pak-Con pins

















We went to install the reproduction ignition switch, which came with a grooved retaining nut. We didn't have the needed "socket", and the one found online had fingers that were too short, for a guaranteed slip and scratch of the chrome finish. So yeah, let's raid the scrap pile of some 1-1/4" tubing..





https://youtube.com/shorts/6BCdxgtIQ...3lPnJ6-O-g4KVx











https://youtube.com/shorts/mQLstGXZn...lj5an-ORz-DULd





Works like a charm...

Necessity is the mother of invention! Nice work, as usual!

I like the idea of the "handle" section on the puller, should make it nice for pulling an aftermarket adapter when you don't have a steering wheel to hang on to.


I didn't know the shorty headers were in reproduction, they look nice. I ran a pair of originals on an FE in a 64 Custom. As I recall they were a little tight next to the battery cable on the starter but worked.

64 Custom by M Patterson, on Flickr

Are the heads you’re looking for the ones with the machined combustion chambers from a 406? I pulled the headers from a pair of 406 heads with those chambers. I don’t recall if they had the rockers with them or if the guy I got them from even still has them (been a lot of yeays ago) I can check if there what you’re hunting for.


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Many of the long tube cast headers I've run across had a relief ground on the back side for starter bolt clearance. I just trimmed the bolt on mine. On these new shorty's, they eliminated the heat riser bosses, so they are cleaner on the outside and flow better on the inside.

The C6AE-R's are what is on the existing 352 in the truck. They were used on about all the engine flavors of the FE family, and are known as 428 poor boys because they are similar to the 428 heads but more plentiful and not as pricey. I do have a couple of local sources to check, but the opportunity hasn't presented yet...

Very nice! Appreciate the pictures and detail for the fabrication of parts and tools as that's what hot rods are all about. I know that I've spent hours on certain parts that are "no-longer-available" yet needed to make something work. It's always rewarding to look at the finished product and know that I've been able to keep something going that would have otherwise been cast aside because our generation learned to adapt. I've got a whole list of folks in my past, i.e., shop teachers, uncles, friends fathers and most certainly my own father who took the time to teach and show me how to renovate and restore or build from scratch.

I've tried to instill similar values in my own children and grandchildren, but they seem to be inclined to discard and buy new. We're perhaps the last generation that truly knows how to work with our hands.

Thanks to all here who keep those skills alive!
Glenn