Just got back from Columbus Ford expo. Ran my 462 MEL in a 48 Ford pickup streetrod. Truck weighs 3900. I did a best of 15.1, but had a difficult time hooking up. I redlighted in eliminations vs a fast 55 T-bird. Truck hooked best it had all day and I would have broken out anyway.. T-bird went on to runner up in 26 car Y block shootout, and won 4 rounds in the street eliminations program. I made a total of 6 passes, just glad I did not break anything
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Hi your truck is way cool runs pretty good too! the Edsel is still loaded havent done a thing to it yet still raining! a question about mels, is it common to goof up the placment of the head gaskets? i am working on a 430 the owner said it leaked coolant in the pan and (it did have coolant in the pan) had block and heads checked, magnafluxed and (pressure tested heads)the leak looked like coming down #7 cylinder before tear down head gaskets look ok any info you can give would appreciated!--------------------------Rob
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Rob, Good to see you at Columbus. Let me know what the problem was when you get the Y block sorted out.
Not sure if head gasket placement could cause your problem, but oil in coolant is a common FE problem, and it's cause is cracking of the oil passage that runs from the oil gallery to the block deck, and which feeds the rocker arms. It is very difficult to detect a crack in this area, but the FE fix is to drive a small block chevy pushrod down the passage to seal the crack
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Funny you should mention that. I had the same problem with my old 410. After 3 head gaskets, it turned out to be a pin hole from core sand in the #7 exhaust port. A quick braze job fixt it fine.
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I bought a cheap set of block huggers for a BBC, and cut the flange off of it. Headers by Ed in Minneapolis made me a flange with stub pipes to fit the MEL. The exhaust port spacing is almost identical. I only had to tweak the pipes slightly to weld the BBC headers onto the MEL flange.
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I had no idea that this was your website. I have read over this site many times.
Three questions if I may...
I have talked to others about this a few times before but have misplaced the information. The C6 bolt pattern for the 462. Did the 462 have dual bolt patterns, one off the older series and the new to accept a C6? Is the later pattern for the FE or 385 C6?
The '48 is great. How did you mate the air cleaner base to the Rochesters? Are those origional SM rocker covers (I have never seen a clear photo of them) or aftermarket?
Where did FORD put the PCV valve in later engines...in the valley pan like the later Y-Block?
I appreciate any and all information.
I Am Presently Looking For Any Factory/Aftermarket Parts/Information Regarding The MEL Engine Series
Also Older FORD Special Service Tools
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PCV outlet is a simple hose nipple from the rear of the valley pan. The complicated road draft tube that snakes down the back of the block is gone on 462s.
I made a plate to adapt the smaller air horn of the Rochesters to the larger holes of the air cleaner. It makes the air cleaner sit a bit higher than normal but can be removed to put it back to original configuration.
The 462 bellhousing pattern is a hybrid of the FE and 385 bolt patterns. The block has one extra hole and a cast bracket that lets it mate to the newer 385 bolt pattern. However, an FE belhousing fits as well, there is just one extra hole, and the cast bracket is not used
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I have an old illustration that shows the SM 430 as having a set of ram horn exhaust manifolds similiar to the ones on the medium duty 292 Y-Blocks. Supposedly that had water cooling passages. Do you have any info/photos on these?
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The rams horn style exhaust manifolds were used on all 58 Mercury MELs. In 59 the manifolds changed to a different style. They are conventional,no water cooling. Perhaps you are refering to some of the brochure hype about the engine touting water passages next to each exhaust ports The back cover of the 58 Merc dealer brochure shows a picture of the SuperMarauder engine. It is not an actual photograph, but an artist's rendering. Several details appear in the picture that do not appear on the actual SuperMarauder setup. This brocure was no doubt printed before the option was actually available
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I strongly suspect that the SuperMarauder induction was dealer installed. There are references in some car mags that though the option was listed by Mercury it was yet unavailable. Many of the Ford tri-powers were shipped with the vehicle and installled by the dealer. I believe Mercury sold quite a few of these systems over the parts counter as well, since many seemed to end up installed on boats.
I have a pair of valve covers. I will try to get a clear pic and post it
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I took a look at a 462 engine at the wrecking yard yesterday, i trued a 390 flywheel which seemed to fit, there was no bellhousing handy but the block doesn't have the boss below the starter an FE has. Is it the other 5 bolts that fit?
I'd like to put one of these things in my 53 F350 and maybe a ZF 5 speed would fit up if the 429-460 pattern is adaptable too.
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"The 462 bellhousing pattern is a hybrid of the FE and 385 bolt patterns. The block has one extra hole and a cast bracket that lets it mate to the newer 385 bolt pattern. However, an FE belhousing fits as well, there is just one extra hole, and the cast bracket is not used."
You need to contact 58MercuryMarauder
The above photo is his '48 with a 462. He will be able to give you all the details I imagine. His contact information is on his website;
"There are pics of my 462 pickup and the 58 Merc Super Marauder on my website."
