Started tearing into my 430 today and hit a snag. Now this engine has been sitting for 20 years without any fluids being drained and looks like a nightmare. So far I have taken off the carb, intake manifold (man it's heavy), valve covers and rocker assy. Drained all the fluids and sprayed pb blaster heavily into each cylinder. I took the keeper around the neck off and she wouldn't budge. I was trying to take the distributor out when I heard a snap. I looked and sure enough, I cracked the outer casing on the neck part. I sprayed all around it with pb blaster and used a prybar (yeah, I know) when this happened. Is there a secret to getting these off or what? I can't see anything still holding it in. I even took all the guts out of the top thinking there was a key or something inside. I can't really rotate it. Once I do get it off, where can I get a new one or better replacement for it?

Thanks for any and all input on this!!
Hobbz

Where the distributor base rides in the bore designed to hold it, the O-RING on the distribuor housing becomes hardened to the point of actually freezing in the bore.

When you come across one frozen this badly (and it is common on other engine series also), you try to soak the area immediately at the valley pan where the distributor housing protrudes. LIQUID WRENCH...PB BLASTER. It may have to soak for several days before being able to break loose (use oil filter wrench gingerly around distributor bowl to try and break loose)(may only get a few degrees of rotation at first-re-soak).

Some may be frozen to the point where breakage is the only alternative. Coat the O-RING (sparingly) with anti-seize when setting the new one in.

You can find a replacement salvage, E-BAY or rebuilt.

Thanks for the info! I figured that it had to either be really seized in there or there was a midget hidden in the pan holding it from escaping. Is there a modern equivelent to this distributor? Does MSD make anything that will fit? I read that it's the same as a FE? I noticed in your picture that the turquoise cover has a rather larger "bump" on it in the rear. What's that for or covering? Mine doesn't have that but it does have an opening torwards the firewall. What is that cover to? A 430? It gave me an idea. Can I just cover up my crankcase vent like you have it?
Also I have been trying to insert pictures with my messages but that doesn't seem to work. Everytime I click "upload" after browsing for my file it goes back to "No files to display". The picture is only 123 kb. How do I insert pictures?

Thanks again!
Hobbz

The valley cover shown is from a 1958 LINC and the bulge covers the road draft tube opening at the rear of the engine. Yours will have a PCV System.

As for a later distributor, an FE (352/390) FORD will interchange. On an early MEL, you have to ascertain the drive gears are of the same design and change it if neccessary. MSD does make a performance distributor, but I believe it has no vacuum advance feature, which you need for driveability and fuel economy.

My suggestion is to take a good core, make sure the bushings and shaft are good (you can have this rebuilt), buy a repair breaker plate asm. (D2PZ 12151-A), a later style vacuum cannister (yours has shims and a spring to control the amount of vacuum advance)(later model FORD or ACCELL), install a PERTRONIX II ignition and have it curved properly. Of course keep the earlier advance housing if you want the period correct appearance.

I forgot to mention, if you have a stuck distributor on this style engine and the distributor becomes free but still will not pull out, make sure the valley pan is not causing it to hang up. If it is, remove the pan to free the distributor so as not to warp the pan.

There are also two styles of special service tools to remove a stuck distributor housing, one is a hook that surrounds the bottom of the bowl and is attached to a slide hammer puller. The other is a tool that is placed under the bowl and by tightening two cap screws will force the distributor housing up and out. I haven't a flat scanner at the moment or I would show them.

As for the photo upload feature of this site, it has not worked for awhile. If you will notice, this is a very low buck message board. You have to have hosted the photos and then just insert the URL here and it will show automatically.

Is there any intake or exhaust manifolds (oem or aftermarket) that are interchangeable? If so, which ones/years? I was at Pomona today and a few people said that they had someting "that might work". Before I hand over cash, I want to make sure what will work and what won't. This one guy said that he could get me a 3x2 setup that would work bitchin. He said that it would cost $7-800 though. Have you heard of anything else that I could try to get a little better performance?

Thank you again for helping as this is the only place I can go to for help. It's great to find people willing to help other people with their "money pit" issues.

Hobbz

I need to know this to help you further.

I have a '64 Lincoln Continental that has been sitting for 20 years undrained.

Beautiful car, but...

When LINC went to the new sheet metal design with the lowered hood line in 1961, it had to reduce the carb pad height of the intake to fit under the hood and the runners of the cylinder heads were also reduced. To retrofit any performance intake from 58/59 would require a hood scoop.

MERC/LINK offered an OEM 3x2 setup in 1958. The 58/59 MERC/LINC 4V intakes of the period have taller carb pad and larger runners, but you run into hood interference.

The only actual performance exhaust manifold released for this engine was the one used on the 58 MERC SUPER MARAUDER PACKAGE (rare and expensive)(Also EDELBROCK 3x2 intakes released). Photos are elsewhere on this board. Even the later 59 MERC manifolds appear to flow better than the LINC log style manifolds. But you would have to trial fit a set to make sure they clear all components.

If you are doing a dedicated restoration on your LINC, about all you can really do is a quality overhaul and assembly with maybe the addition of electronic ignition.

As always, thank you for all the great info! I still haven't decided on what I'm going to do with the engine yet. (I'm still taking it apart.) As far as the rest of the car goes, I'm going to restore it. None of that 22" wheels, gold flake, or even air bag shit! This car is too beautiful to do that too. Below is some of the before pics. How she looked when I found her.

This is Lisette:






I'll try and post more as I take her apart.

Cheers!

Here is another gentlemans' restoration efforts;

http://groups.msn.com/HobbyPics/shoebox.msnw

How about an update? How's your lincoln doin'?
Got any pictures?
I have a 64 myself, and it's a beater as of yet. It smokes, both cause my power steering hose leaks on the exhaust manifold, and the carb needs some help to say the least... It probably needs a complete overhaul. I was wondering if anyone knew of a place where I can find a replacement 430 for a decent price.
That would be a start... or if there are any engine rebuild kits..?
I'd appreciate any help.
Thanks and God bless,
Dennis

I found this TSB;

http://www.network54.com/Forum/message?forumid=257364&messageid=1118753881