Information

406 & 427 Full Size Mercury Facts and Information

The engine code is the 5th digit in the VIN.

Mercury installed 406 4V and 6V engines in full size cars in the last half of 1962 production and the first half of 1963 production.

Mercury installed 427 4V and 8V engines in full size cars in the last half of 1963 production, and all of 1965.

In March 1963 Mercury officials talked about creating a "Light Weight" 427 Mercury, but the car never saw production.

Production figures

I make no guarantees about the accuracy of the production numbers listed here, but simply list what I have seen and heard over the years.

1962 production

It has been reported that Mercury sold 124-125 full size 406 (B & G code) cars. This number has not been verified but is consistent with other figures. Assuming 124 cars and equal percentages with 1963-4 there would have been about 85 G codes and 39 B codes.

406 production ran from the middle of May 1962 through the end of January 1963 based on available information. Eight and a half months.

1963 production

Mercury sold 176 full size 406 and 427 cars (document above).

Breakdown by engine is shown below. This data was provided by Greg Donahue.

B code        406  4V        385 HP        29

G code        406  6V        405 HP        64

Q code        427  4V        410 HP        25

R code        427  8V        425 HP        58

It has been reported by a Ford engineer that 21 of the 58 Mercury "R" cars were Marauder S-55s.

It is known that at least 2 Marauder S-55s were built with the 406 6V engine.

1964 production

Mercury sold 64 full size 427 cars (document above).

It has been reported that 42 of these were 427 8V cars (R code). This number has not been verified but is consistent with other figures.

That would mean there were 22 427 4V cars (Q code) which is also consistent with other figures.

I have heard reports of 9 427 cars in 1964 of a specific model, but have seen that figure assigned to at least 2 different models. The information is very sketchy.

1965 production

While the document above states that Mercury sold 7 full size 427 cars in 1965, it doesn't specify 8V or 4V.

I have also seen a letter from a Ford executive stating that the production figures below are correct.

R code        427  8V        425 HP        12 cars (non-wagon)

R code        427  8V        425 HP        7 station wagons

I cannot say which numbers are right, but the May 14, 1962 engineering document in the documents section, mathematical evidence, and the document above indicate that 7 is more likely the correct number. It's possible that 2-3 of those 7 were 4V engines, but we just don't know.

Engine Information

406 and 427 engines were true high performance engines with special blocks, crank shafts, connecting rods, pistons, high flow cylinder heads, solid lifter camshafts, dual point distributors, cast iron headers, and Holley carburetors.

These engines were installed as part of a total performance package that included;

    Heavy duty brakes (3" front shoes vs the standard 2.5")

    Heavy duty suspension (still 5 leafs in the Mercury, not 6 like the Ford)

    Manual transmission (3-speed or 4-speed)

    15" x 5.5" Kelsey Hayes wheels in place of the standard 14" x 5.5" wheels

    3/8" fuel line instead of 5/16"

    4-pinion differential instead of 2-pinion

    In April 1963, 427 cars began getting 31 spline axles in place of the 28 spline axles Documents

    Automatic transmission, air conditioning, power steering, and power brakes were not available

406/427 cars came with a 3 month/4,000 mile warranty instead of the standard 12 month/12,000 mile warranty. (prior to summer 1963)

427 cars came with a 6 month/6,000 mile warranty instead of the standard 24 month/24,000 mile warranty. (after summer 1963)

The front passenger brake line on 406/427 cars runs in front of the engine rather than under it.

The only differences between the Ford and Mercury 406/427 engines are the valve covers, and 6V air cleaner.

  Mercury 406s used Gold "Mercury" stamped valve covers (C1MY-6582-F right, C1MY-6582-G left) rather than the Ford "Thunderbird" stamped valve covers.

        The Mercury 406 valve covers did not use an identifying CID sticker like the Fords did.

        The Mercury 427 used the same chrome valve covers as the Ford (C3AZ-6582-F right, C3AZ-6582-G left) but with "Marauder 427" or "Super Marauder 427" stickers.

        The bald chrome 427 covers are also listed in the parts book for a 406 and the 1964 390 Police Interceptor.

The Mercury 6-barrel engine used the Ford 390 6-barrel air cleaner lid without the cutout for the "Thunderbird". The Mercury 427 8-barrel engines used the Ford air cleaner top with the "Thunderbird".

406 & 427 engine blocks and heads were painted black (not red as show on the Motor Trend cover).

Exhaust headers came from the factory in the natural cast iron finish and did not use gaskets.

The aluminum intake manifolds used on all 406 & 427 engines were unpainted.

The 1963 406 engine with an alternator used a different size balancer pulley than the generator engine. An alternator was optional in a Galaxie but came standard in the Mercury.

Engine and Parts Identification

All 1962-1965 406/427 blocks used solid lifters and had no oil galleries drilled in the lifter bores for hydrolic lifters.

406/427 engine blocks can be identified by an "HP" cast into the block on the right side behind the alternator and behind the flywheel.

    (the 390 HP blocks also used this identifying mark)

427 engine blocks can be easily identified by the cross bolts for the main caps at the bottom of the block.

    (a hand full of late 406 blocks also used cross bolted main caps, but they are very rare, and cross bolts can be added to any FE block so cross bolts alone don't make a 427)

Casting numbers:

        Blocks

                C2AE-J, C2AE-K, C2AE-V         1962             406

                C2AE-BD                                  1962            406 with cross bolts

                C3AE-D                                    1963            406 with cross bolts

                C3AE-D, C3AE-V                      1963            406 with cross bolt bosses but no cross bolts

                C3AE-M, C3AE-AB                    1963            427 top oiler

                C4AE, C4AE-A                          1964            427 top oiler

                C3AE-Z, C5AE-A, C5AE-E         1965            427 top oiler

                5AE-D, C5AE-D                        1965            427 side oiler

                C5AE-H, C6AE-B                      1965-66       427 side oiler to 12-9-1965

                6AE-C, C6AE-C                        1965-66       427 side oiler

        Crankshafts

                C2AE-D                                    1962-63       406

                C3AE-D                                    1963             406

                C3AE-G, C3AE-U                      1963             427 cast iron

                C3AE-V, C4AE-B                      1964              427 cast iron

                C4AE-AJ                                   1964-65        427 forged steel

                C4AE-H                                    1964-65        427 forged steel, cross drilled

                C5AE-C                                    1965-67        427 forged steel, cross drilled

        Connecting Rods

                C2AE-B                                    1962              390HP

                                                                1962-63        406

                                                                1962-65         late 390PI from 1-15-1962

                C2AE-D                                    1962-63        406

                                                                1962-65         late 390PI from 1-15-1962

                C3AE-C, C3AE-F                      1963-65         early 427 to 3-1-1965

                C5AE-B                                    1965              427 Le Mans - original

                C5AE-C                                    1965-66        427 Le Mans

        Cylinder Heads

                C2SE-6090-B                           1962              early 406 4V & 6V to 1-29-1962

                C2SE-6090-C                           1962-63        late 406 4V

                                                                1962-63        early 406 6V to 12-17-1963

                C3AE-6090-C                          1963              late 406 6V, has spring-seat cups, 2.02/1.65, 58-61cc

                                                                1963              390 high altitude, 2.02/1.55, 58-61cc

                                                                1963              390, 2.02/1.55, 70-74cc

                C3AE-6090-D                          1963              427 Low-Riser, released 10-14-1962

                C3AE-6090-G                          1963              427 Low-Riser, released 12-26-1962

                C3AE-6090-H                          1963              427 Low-Riser, released 3-28-1963

                C3AE-6090-J                           1963-65         427 Low-Riser, has improved intake port

Mercury used these engine names during the 1962-1965 production period

1962

The 406  4V (385 hp) was referred to as the "Marauder" engine.

The 406  6V (405 hp) was referred to as the "Marauder 406" engine.

       (There is at least one 1962 ad that refers to the 406 6V as a "Monterey" engine. It's likely an early ad. )

1963-1965

The 406  4V (385 hp) was referred to as the "406 Marauder" or "Marauder 406".

The 406  6V (405 hp) was referred to as the "406 Super Marauder" or "Marauder Super 406".

The 427  4V (410 hp) was referred to as the "427 Marauder" or "Marauder 427".

The 427  8V (425 hp) was referred to as the "427 Super Marauder" or "Marauder Super 427".

       (The arrangement depends on which Mercury document you are looking at)

Tuneup Specifications

Transmissions

1962-1963 cars could be had with a 3-speed manual transmission, but almost all were 4-speed manual equipped.

1962-1964 cars used the Borg-Warner T-10 4-speed.

1963 T-10 gear ratios were 1st - 2.36:1, 2nd - 1.78:1,  3rd - 1.41:1, 4th - 1.00:1, R - 2.42:1 (1963 Monterey brochure).

In April 1963 two more sets of ratios were made available for the T-10 (Documents)

    Wide ratio    1st - 2.36:1, 2nd - 1.66:1,  3rd - 1.20:1, 4th - 1.00:1, R - 2.42:1.

    Close ratio    1st - 2.20:1, 2nd - 1.64:1,  3rd - 1.31:1, 4th - 1.00:1, R - 2.26:1.

The Ford top-loader 4-speed was introduced in 1964. While many 1964's documented here used the top-loader transmission, several 64s listed on this site came from the factory with a T-10. I suspect, the earlier the build the more likely it is to be a T-10. The earliest Top-Loader car here that I'm aware of is June 18, 1964.

1964 gear ratios were 1st - 2.36:1, 2nd - 1.78:1,  3rd - 1.41:1, 4th - 1.00:1, R - 2.42:1 (1964 Mercury brochure).

Wheels

1962-1964 406 and 427 cars used 15" x 5.5" Kelsey Hayes wheels (C1AZ-1007-A) in place of the standard 14" x 5.5" wheels, with the same 4" back spacing.

They can be identified by the FoMoCo and K-H stamps, and the crescent shaped opening.

There are other wheels out there to be aware of.

There is a Kelsey Hayes 15" x 5" wheel (1961 Police Special - C0AA-1007-N) that looks like the 5.5".

There is a Ford KW wheel that is 15" x 5.5" with a 4" back spacing and no opening, shown below.

Tires

Tires were available in 6.70-15 (standard prior to April 1963), 7.10-15 (standard after April 1963), and 7.60-15 sizes. Blackwalls would have been standard, with whitewalls optional.

The cars tested in magazines all appear to wear the Firestone Patrol 500 7.10-15 tires.

Wheel Covers

Mercurys of this period did not use engine identification on the outside of the car like the Ford's did so the 15" wheels and covers were the only external clue that a 406 or 427 engine was hiding under the hood.

All 1962-1965 low cost Mercury Montereys would have come with Mercury "dog dish" hub caps shown below. This includes those

with 406 or 427 engines.

1962

The 406 Monterey S-55 used the "dog dish" Mercury hub caps (C2MA-1130-A) with beauty rings shown here.

There is no beauty ring shown in the parts book and no 15" cover shown for a 1962 model, but the magazine test car with wheels pictured here clearly has the beauty rings. If the production cars didn't use beauty rings, it would have been just the hub caps.

1963

Cars with full covers used the 15" spinner shown here (C3MY-1130-D).

It was available with the silver center shown.

They would have been standard on 406/427 Monterey Custom/Marauder and S-55, and available on the Monterey.

1964

Cars with full covers used the 15" spinner shown here (C4MY-1130-F).

It was available with the red center shown.

Parts book shows a part number for the spinner, C4MY-1035-A.

They would have been standard on 427 Montclair, and Park Lane, and available on the Monterey.

The 1965 Mercury in Canada also used this cover.

These 1963-4 covers are rare and expensive today but they can be re-created.

The 15" cover is the same general stamping as the 1952-3 Mercury and the 1966 Bronco shown here.

The spinners were commonly used on the 1964 14" cover shown here, (spinner C4MY-1035-A).

Can you tell which of these is the real one?

The one on the left is a Bronco cover with a plastic spinner and transplanted center

                               The center one is a 1953 Mercury with the correct metal spinner

                                                                                                         The right one is the real thing

1965

All 1965 full size Mercurys used 15" wheels so no special wheel covers would have been required for a 427 car.

This also means that there was no external clue that a car may have had a 427 under the hood.