After a couple of years of talking about it, I finally went and bought a '62 Continental Convertible. I am trying to decide what direction I want the restoration to take. I am leaning towards keeping and rebuilding my 430. I want to make performance improvements as I go. How hard is going to be to get peformance parts? I don't want to try to turn this boat into a drag racer, but I want to make some updates if I am going to rebuild this thing anyway. Also, is there a way to get an overdrive transmission to bolt up?

Unfortunately, there was very little OEM/aftermarket speed equipment released for the MEL Series Engine. The performance years for them was 58/59 and after that, they just became workhorses to pull heavy cars.

When LINC lowered the front end sheet metal in 1961, they also had to lower the carb mounting pad and reduce the size of the runners in the cylinder heads. The earlier pieces will not fit yours without some type of hood scoop.

About all you can do is a detailed rebuild paying close attention to CR and bearing fit, maybe have a cam reground to more modern specs, electronic ignition conversion and maybe a TBI FI upgrade.

There is a conversion kit to allow an AOD to be placed behind one.

LCOC BOARD;

http://www.thelincolnforum.net/phpbb/

Really my main objective is to make a cruiser. I saw the pictures of the Edelbrock 3x2 intake, and it was love at first sight. Also, did Lincoln make a Tri-Power intake in the late 50's? Are you saying that neither of these setups fit under the '62 hood?

I was thinking that an improvement in carburetion, some head work and a new exhaust would do what want with car. I am leary of any cam work that would lead to solid lifters.

What do you think of the tranny swap, worth the effort, or is the original tranny ok?

"Really my main objective is to make a cruiser. I saw the pictures of the Edelbrock 3x2 intake, and it was love at first sight. Also, did Lincoln make a Tri-Power intake in the late 50's? Are you saying that neither of these setups fit under the '62 hood?"

If you just want a cruiser, the stock 430 or 462 will do the job. It is a torque monster. As for the 3x2 conversion, you would have to cut the hood (There is an entry on this site that has a website of the 3x2 installation on an earlier CONTINENTAL).

MERC and LINC had a 400HP 430CI 3X2 engine in 1958.

"I was thinking that an improvement in carburetion, some head work and a new exhaust would do what want with car. I am leary of any cam work that would lead to solid lifters."

You have a 2V on your 430 don't you? I would consider a later 4V intake and the stock CARTER. It would not change the origionality of the car.

A nice mandrel bent exhaust system with fairly low restriction mufflers will help it breathe. As for the cam grind update, you would want to stick with hydraulics.

"What do you think of the tranny swap, worth the effort, or is the original tranny ok?"

The origional trans is a TWIN-TURBO CRUISE-O-MATIC. The thing is almost bullet proof. Maybe later on you might consider an O/D.

For sure my intake is a 2v, it looks so small. As well as the exhaust. My car had all the original exhaust on it. It was all flanged and bolted together. The tubing diameter looks like it's 1" at best. Thanks for the help.