Another FE will fire soon! A couple pics "418"

[YoungOne]

Congrats. Hope it runs and sounds as good as it looks. I love the Merc and old PBF valve covers. Was the intake ported or is it as cast? When I talked to Blair Patrick about a set of BBM's he said he would sell a ported rpm intake to match the ports for around 750 or charge 80 a hole to port it. Just a thought.

[YoungOne]

OOPS I brain farted. I think it was 40 per hole to port.

[TimeWarpF100]

Pulled the original 352 out of the '66.

Note how nice stuff stays in AZ! Natural finish on the tie rods, brake and fuel lines. No rust. Bare metal spots that are still shiny . .



Engine nearly ready to drop in . .

[TimeWarpF100]

Finally found a good use for a SB chevy intake . .

[427Fastback]

That would appear to be a small block version of that trans...Notice how long the pilot is on it...Usually not an issue...Cory

[TimeWarpF100]

That would appear to be a small block version of that trans...Notice how long the pilot is on it...Usually not an issue...Cory

Original trans to truck . .

[427Fastback]

That kinda makes sense then as the truck bellhousing is 3/8 deeper than the car one...Interesting

[TimeWarpF100]

Dropped the engine in. Nice, did not have to take the hood off . .

[TimeWarpF100]

Of course the headers did not match the exhaust ports . .

Picked up some 5"x 3/8" plate to build header flanges for the 418.

I need a bit more practice with the plasma and to lose maybe 40yrs in age. A bit on the shaky side.  Its interesting how much difference there is if I am going left or right or towards me or away.

If it were not for the operator the cuts would have been nice.

My initial start cuts..



Ended up using the plasma to cut the flanges off headers. The easy way would have been to just use the band saw but was worried about losing that near 1/4" of pipe. Add the new 3/8" flanges and felt it would have been too much.

Very difficult to get the plasma in there to make a proper cut . .



The new flange. A bit shaky but worked out well.

[TimeWarpF100]

Another as I was cutting out the flanges.

My freehand cutting not so good . .



Another right before I made the final little cut.



I drilled holes in the bench to hold the flange & gasket while I used the transfer punch so the holes would be more exact. Not perfect but all 16 bolts go in just fine.




I stacked 3 gaskets so the transfer punch would actually work . .

I also moved the flange slightly to the bottom side would be a actual hole vs the notch like existing flanges.

[TimeWarpF100]

A pic of how much difference between new and old flange.





After touching up the pipes I reshaped them to fit the new flanges. Using the tool I had made for 427 Truck.





I was pleasantly surprised how well they fit! No doubt got lucky. Hope the luck holds out for the drivers side . .

[TimeWarpF100]

Without even checking for fit just guessing how they might be . .

Lucky again they fit right in! I have absolutely no clue how that happened.

New 5.00 garage sale headers, a 10' piece of 5 x 3/8" strap for 50.00 and I have headers to fit the new head perfectly!  Ok, I need to do the drivers side then get to welding. Will probably bolt them to the extra head while welding.

I feel like the dog named LuCkY !

[ToddK]

Great work!

[Heo]

Ground those bottom holes open to a slit.
Then you can install the bottombolts first
hang the Headers on them and just thighten
them up.

[mlcraven]

You say lucky...others might disagree and say it's a combination of 'inspiration' and 'perspiration'.

Very nice job and thanks for the pics.  Envious of how much room you pick-up truck fellows have to work with.