1960 Ford T-bird w/ 430 cid

[trident]

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Originally postet by "Mike "

April 30 2005 at 3:47 PM
Mike (Login mragan)
from IP address 209.30.24.151

Is it possible that Ford ( Wixom Plant) installed a Mercury 430 cid motor in my 1960 T-Bird? When I pulled the transmission for repair, the casted part number had the "M" letter within the part number. Also, the intake manifold also had a "M" letter cast within the part number. Any info would help........
-Mike

[kultdouble]

The 430 V8 was available for the 1960 Thunderbird (1959 also, I think). The option was dropped after 1960.

[KULTULZ]

MEL Useage In FORD
The LINCOLN 430 was a regular option in 59/60 (limited 1958) in the BIRD as both the LINC and BIRD (uni-body) were assembled at WIXOM. LINC had a dropping sales history during this period (economic recession) and FORD had the extra engines.
The engine used is actually a 58/59 LINC during the SQUAREBIRD history. LINC went to a derated 430 2V in 1960 while BIRD kept the earlier assembly.
The warranty (door) code for the engine in the BIRD is J to verify it was factory assembly.
Can you list the numbers that you came across?

[Hawkrod]

Actually that is close but not not quite right....
The 430 was planned and advertised as an option in 1958 TBirds from the begining but due to lack of availability it was not used in 58's except for a few test mules (only one production serial number is actually documented as having had a 430 installed and it was a 352 car that Ford converted after production began). In 1959 it became an option but was quite rare due to the high cost the low availability of engines (they could not make as fast as they needed them to meet demand). In 1959 3,154 coupes had a 430 and 1,168 convertibles but total production of TBirds was 67,456 so it was just over 6% percent overall. In 60 the percentage was actually worse with 3,900 coupes and 1,254 convertibles plus an additional 377 sunroof cars but there were 97,843 cars made so the percentage dropped to just under 6%. 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
76 F250 Crew Cab
look at my cars past and present at superford!