Hey all,
I finally picked up my 58 Park Lane in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Monday the 28th. The Merc had no engine in it, but I did get a complete engine and a short block along with the car. The car and the short block were in the garage and the garage was at the bottom of the hill. The complete engine was in a shed next to the house on top of the hill. We managed to get the engine on a 2 wheeled handcart and strapped it down. What a bear it was trying to move that engine. The engine also had exhaust manifolds with about a foot of exhaust pipe still attached to each manifold and the pipe kept digging into the dirt. The generator was still attached to the engine. Last but not least for extra parts attached to the engine was a torque convertor still bolted up to the flexplate. It took four guys, but we muscled this thing down the hill, luckily we weren't going up the hill. We all survived with no injuries but I can't say as much for the hardcart, although a little welding action will take care of the cracks.
The short block is missing two pistons and two rods. I think the short block may be original to the car, as it is painted gold suggesting it is a 360 horse 430. The complete engine had a black block, but the heads and intake are gold. So I think at some point someone was switching stuff around. It all has to come apart and be assembled properly. The mounts on the black block are way up front, where as the mounts on the gold block are more towards the middle like what is shown in the picture in the recent 58 merc mount message thread.
The car itself is exactly what I expected. I bought the car over e-bay and the sell had a very accurate description. I am happy with my purchase.
This car has A/C in it, I am wondering if it is something like a dealer installed A/C, factory A/C or maybe an after market A/C. It has factory looking controls on the dash to the right of the steering wheel, but there are only two vents that sit in a box under the middle on the dash. The A/C compressor has an aluminum body and the A/C lines are not smooth and have a braided finish on them. I don't think there is a condensor in the car though.
I don't have the car with me right now. The car is in Louisville, Kentucky and I am in Massachusetts. I should get home about the same time the car arrives to where I live in Florida on the July 6th. A friend of mine who lives in Louisville helped me pick up the car and will be dropping it off for me as he is taking his family vacation in Disney World. The timing couldn't be better. Hopefully I can clear enough space in the garage to fit this giant car. I will post some pictures when I get back home.

Mark Piechowski
70 XR-7 460 AOD
69 SS 351c 2v AOD
70 XR-7 conv 351c 4v FMX
69 Sunroof Eliminator 351w 4v FMX
78 Bronco Ranger XLT TS 351m C-6
78 F-150 Ranger Lariat 460 C-6
58 Park Lane Phaeton Coupe 430 Merc-O

Mark, I feel with you. This motor is HEAVY. I once had to move one up hill w/o any dolly or s.th. Know how I managed it?.
I wrapped the whole anchor into multiple layers of plastic foil and rolled it inch by inch with my skinny arms and a wooden bar. Yeah, just like they built the pyramids LOL. It worked!
...........glad to hear your e-bay purchase was so succsessful. Cars are not an easy deal on an auction. Too many hidden corners that no pic can show right. I'm curious to see a few pics.