#1 what color is a '58 383 supposed to be? Mine looks like it was silver block and heads with red valve covers. Mines the 312hp version.

#2 I got a Edelbrock MEL 6x2 intake. The water passages look tiny. Maybe like 5/8" diameter. I haven't had the chance to pull the stock intake off, but are they all this small or is this a "preformance" intake thing.

#3 if these are stock size water passages... do these engine overheat? I live in texas..can't have it overheating on me everytime it gets above 90 or it'll be parked all summer long.

Thanks in advance

.....is unique on the MEL engine. You'll find some info in the knowledge base 'bout that.
Can't give you any details on your intake, I've never seen one of those. If you're on the job you'll see the notes on the gaskets. It says TOP and FRONT, so you can't really miss to install them correctly.
Can't tell about your engine's color. The 1958 430 is of dark green color.

The MEL cooling system is unique. You might want to study it. The passages on the EDEL should be sufficient for the engine. There have been a few installed and I have heard no complaints. You might want to compare a stock intake manifold gasket to the passages and see if they are about the same size.

I would be more worried about the block thermostats hanging and the divertor valves rusting out (behind water pump).

As for engine color, I am not sure. I have seen red, silver and gold colors on MERC rocker covers. I am pretty sure your rocker covers and air cleaner are red.

yeah my rocker covers are red and must be original cause it still has the marauder stickers on them. The wierd this is that the block looks silver. It doesn't really matter since this is no restoration job, but I was curious. I found a couple of pictures on ebay of the intake gaskets and the holes look the same size. They were just a shock to find they are so small compared to everything else I've had.

Thanks for the info. I'm sure glad this board is here since almost no one has even heard of a MEL engine. I get people trying to tell me it's an FE all the time...or just the plain "Mercury didn't have a 383"

This is a photo of a 1958 383 installation. As they had two rated 383's that year, one can only assume that both were decorated the same. It is something I need to investigate further.



Say you have decals on your covers?

Yep I have decals on my rockers covers. they say "Marauder 321 H.P." They are foil type decals with orangish red background. I wish I had a pic, but the engine is 2 1/2 hrs away and my computer ate the disk with the pics of it. They go right on the line that comes from the "M". The guy I bought it from had a catalog that had repros of them. I'll try to find that catalog and post it here.

found it. Jim Osborn reproductions

Here's the listing for the decal, but no picture

https://secure15.softcomca.com/osborn-reproduction_com/catalog/ProductList.asp?rsProduct_Action=Filter%28%22CAT+%3D+%27LN2A%27%22%29&rsProduct_Position=PAR:

...they were decorated. Any chance of a photo?

I had a good picture of the sticker, but the computer at the diskette. I'd snap another but it is 2.5 hrs. away from my house. I'll see if I can get someone near it to snap a picture for me.