Can anyone tell me if the MEL engine will bolt in and replace any previous engines by juggling stock parts???
Specifically, will it bolt in place of a flathead, but any others as well???
I can fabricate mounts if necessary, but would rather not if i can avoid it TKS
DAN
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...as an oversized FE. The mounting pads (59/65) are the same as early FE. I suppose the engine could be used about anywheres in early FORD. What application do you have in mind?
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Years ago I bolted a 1960 Merc 430 MEL motor into a 57 Ford convertible using a 1961 Galaxie 352 bellhousing and flywheel and 3 speed T85 OD trans. The engine mount provisions on the block appear to still be a bolt-in for other Y-block or FE-equipped Fords from late fifties and early sixties going forward, even with the change to 462 displacement. However, it appears that the block to bellhousing bolt pattern was changed in (probably 1961) and so to use a '61 or later motor would require you to also use the later transmission that came with the MEL motor, or another tranny with the same odd engine-to-bellhousing mount pattern (but, I have yet to find anything else that has that odd bolt pattern - and I think I have most every Ford bellhousing size laying around). Neither a BBF (429-460), nor an FE bellhousing appears to fit on the later (61-67)MEL motors and so it does not appear that it is possible to use a manual transmission at all on the 61 and later motors (unless someone knows of a stick-equipped 61-67 Lincoln, I don't think that was ever made...). I have a 1967 MEL 462 and it definitely will not accept either the FE or 385 series (429-460) bellhousing pattern. I am picking up a 1965 430 that I also bought just to convince myself that only the 58-60 MEL's were easy swaps. I have played with the idea of using the '67 462 in a 56 Merc I have, but only way to get a transmission behind it appears to be using the front part of the original C6 and have the shorter tailhousing and 31 spline output shaft of the typical later C6 used to replace the odd duck tailhousing and CV joint(?)output shaft that the '67 Lincoln C6 had. Also not sure if later exhaust manifolds would fit in the 50's chassis though the '60 manifolds did. Mike H
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I also previously thought the FE pattern was carried beyond 1960 but came to learn (through this board) an engineering change was made on the 61 block moving the starter motor location somewhat modifying the origional FE pattern (maybe to fit new 61 LINC chassis?).
The 462 kept this pattern in addition to it's unique C6 pattern. I had thought also that the 462 would accept the later 460 rounded C6 bell, but I now believe it will not. So you are stuck with the TWIN-TURBO or the 462 C6 (but extension housing could most likely be modified as you described). There also must be a bell change (as well as the larger main case) on the LX after 1960 also (unique to new bell pattern).
To go 462 and retain a manual trans, I assume one would have to transfer the internals to a 59/60 block (the 58 block only had the forward engine mount pads).
I also have discovered that when LINC went back to the 4V in 1963, the pistons were redesigned for better flame travel. There was also a new designed intake. The heads supposedly had lowered runners (to fit the combination under the LINC hood) and wonder if the piston redesign had anyhing to do with this?
I also have seen a photo of what I believe to be a true 1959 BIRD TRI-POWER. Supposedly only three were assembled with only two surviving.
Descriptive magazine article describing 1963 upgrades contained in below thread;
I have picked up the '64 MEL 430 also and that bellhousing pattern is as you describe (like FE, except starter location), and the later '67 MEL 462 bell pattern gets a bit more odd with only a few of the bolt holes matching an FE and none of these patterns will accept 385 series bellhousings. And apparently only way to use stick in most cars would be using a 59 or 60 block. Well, I stuck both the 430 and 462 in my pole building and the C6 off the 462. My wife will probably end up selling them at an estate sale some day and wondering what the heck I got those for. Mike H MN
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