I am about to begin resurecting a 55 fairlane gasser. I have a few engine options. I have a 360 fe i could refit with 390 crank and rods. But i also have a complete running 58 edsel E 475 410 Mel... I know this engine is a one year production. With very few aftermarket options. However i know the merc and lincoln 383 430 46?5 do have more speed equipment options. Such as intake manifolds and such. I have found a few cool Things that are always advertised as 430 mels.. But very pricey...so before i got about laying out the big bills. Can someone tell me if the Edsel 410 mel and the merc and lincon 430 mels will interchange on these parts. I have tried to research this. But only find where it says they are simalar to each other. I do know the bore is diff. I think a MEL would look great and period correct in this old gasser. And as lite as it is i dont think my 410 would.need much hopping up, to get the job done. But i would like to put some cool parts on for visual effect. Thanks for any help......
Yes the 410 is the same as a 430 as far as speed parts are concerned. I hope you do the MEL I had a 410 but all I kept was the valve covers. I think a chrome set of E-475 covers would be way cool. Moon also has finned MEL valve covers, and there is some speed parts in the classifieds every once in awhile. I have a name I always wanted for an Edsel powered drag car EDSEL-ERATOR "MELTDOWN DRAGS" July 20, 21 2013 at Byron Dragway Byron Ill. www.meltdowndrags.com
Yes, a 410" /MEL would be way cooler than an FE. Look around for a 462" - they're rare, but why not build the free fifty more horsepower? jack vines
Although it would be different, I don't think you will make much power out of one - and it won't be cheap to make that little bit of power. At 3200-3300 pounds for that '55 I'd want some bigger power with less weight than those MEL's have to offer (they reportedly weigh about 30-50 pounds more than an FE, which is no lightweight)
Thanks Ya'll......2funny thats a great name (ill try not to steal it) no promises. Lol. Thats want i wanted to hear. I like the look of the mel all dressed up with possibly a lm8. 6 0r L300. A 462 would be.awesome. But the reason i was thinking about the 410 is that it is a pretty fresh engine that runs good with good compression. Plus the one year edsel odd ball cool factor. Don im not as concerned with big power on this build as i normally would be. Although i do tend to go over board on any engine build even when im trying to have restraint...Im more into keeping this build nostalgic and period correct. It will mainly be just a light to light street car. But im curoius as to what you would use to build the power with? Im kinda knew to ford builds and want to learn all i can..
BEEP here on the HAMB runs a blown Edsel in a rail. He also has a blown lincoln powered comp coupe. I think he switches manifolds because parts are so rare. They can make pretty decent power for the era they were from. The Grist btothers ran a chopped Willys coupe that ran a 500 inch stroked Lincoln too. It was a black 37-42. "MELTDOWN DRAGS" July 20, 21 2013 at Byron Dragway Byron Ill. www.meltdowndrags.com
Hey Jar...go check out the MEL engine forum for any and all info you'd probably need. Here's a link to it. http://ford-mel-engine.com/viewforum.php?f=1 And have fun with your MEL-powered '55 Fairlane!
Back in the mid '60s while attending an electrical tech school, a new student brought in a real nasty sounding '55 Ford 2-door sedan to our dorm parking lot early one morning. Found out next day the new guy was to share the ground apartment below mine, AND that the Ford had a built 430" Lincoln! Over the next year or so, the engine was removed, rebuilt/replaced with a 462". The '55 gained a reputation in our area and showed it's tail lights to many factory muscle cars of the time. It was one bad ass hot rod! Stay the course and stick with the MEL. It may not be the fastest car today, but will be one of the coolest!
The San Jose Goodies Speed Shop crew and some associates all had a hand in Doherty's '58 Ford tudor, a gutted 'street car' with built 430 Lincoln. Car was phenomenal, and like V8Bob stated...Factory muscle cars were its main menu. (this was from 1962-early '64) There were some used in dragsters...LeBlanc Engineering's Yeiji Toyoto held a AAFD record at Fremont, 430 Lincoln digger... Sadly, a chassis failure took him end over end to his death.
Thank you for the great history and stories on the mel powered cars. Im heading out this weekend to pick the car up. It has a race history of its own near the little town where i found it. Although i dont know the history of what it was powered by. I im very excited to get started on it and equiping it with the 410. It has an early 60's econoline drum front axle and leaf set up. That was done right by its original builders. I will post pics of its progress on here. Thanks very much for reading and responding to my post...Im new here on hamb and i find it a great way to interact with other enthusists...
Just a few thoughts... Check timing gears, make DAMN SURE they aren't the ones with nylon coated teeth. If it hasn't been done... Use a high volume or at least a new oil pump and a heavy duty FE oil pump shaft (think you have to shave .075 off the end of them so they fit). If it has block thermostats behind the water pump, carefully remove them and kill them with fire. You can also throw em out. Great motors and that 475? That means 475lb-ft. These are strong and very powerful engines.