I would like to find an aftermarket distributor for my 1963 430. Are there more common Ford distributors from other engines that would interchange?

Many internal parts of the FE dist also fit the MEL. There is no PN on the distributor housing itself as it can only be bought (or could) as part of an assembly. I recently purchased a 383 MERC dist asm. to see how difficult it will be to convert to DURASPARK II. When I get that FE 360/390 distributor in my hand, I will make the necessary comparisons. Just guessing, the only difference would (could) be the housing and possibly drive gear. The shaft itself is common to either. So many things are interchangeable from one to another that one would think the distributor is also.

I looked it up at one time and I am pretty sure all parts are interchangeable including the drive gear and housing thus an FE distributor will fit in an MEL. Hawkrod

Hawkrod

39 Ford Deluxe Coupe
59 Tbird 430
60 Lincoln Premier
(2)62 Tbirds
(3)68 Cougar XR7-G's
69 Cougar 428CJ 4 speed
77 1/2 Ford F250 4X4 w/460 swap
86 SVO mustang

look at my cars past and present at superford!

I understand that "MEL" stands for Mercury, Edsel, Lincoln but what does "FE" stand for?
I would like to eventually buy an aftermarket distributor but would need to know what common Ford model "FE" engine would have the kind of part that would fit my '63 Lincoln. I just don't know where to find this kind of interchange info.
Thanks

In 1958, FORD introduced three new engine families.

The FE (FORD-EDSEL) was introduced with the 332/352 assigned to FORD and the 361 asigned exclusively to EDSEL.

The MEL (MERC-EDSEL-LINC) 383/410/430

The SUPER DUTY Truck Series 401/477/534

The FE included the 332/352/361/390/406/427/360/410/428 and a host of off-spins (competition engines)

So looking for FE parts, you would look for 390/427/428 parts these days.