59 Mercury Montclair 4dr.

[kraven]

This Mercury belongs to my girlfriend's dad, but I'm all in love with it and can't seem to learn enough about the mysterious MEL 383 it has underhood.
pic at photobucket:http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff28 ... C01921.jpg
(forum chops it up)
And, here is a shot of the dash:

The only deviation from bone stock it has is the addition of a Holley 4 barrel carburetor.
He's currently looking for an aftermarket tripower manifold for it in the hopes of converting it.

I just enjoy driving it. It's one of the best running (smooth like glass) cars I've ever seen and drives like a dream.

Can't wait to find a 59 Merc Wagon so I can have my own MEL powered car.

[WerbyFord]

Cool Photos!

Are you sure the Holley isn't the stock one?
Check the air horn, for 1958 it would say List-1736 or 1737 (for the 390cfm Holley used on the 383/312hp)
Or List-1738 (for the 550cfm Holley on the hot 383/330hp)

For 1959 it would say List-1849, for the 550cfm Holley on the 383/322hp.

Ford and Merc were pretty keen on stock Holley 4-barrels back then, AFAIK the 383 and 430 Merc were pretty much all Holley equipped in those years, our 430/360hp had the Holley List-1850 600cfm, the original application of the List-1850.

Does it have dual exhaust already? If not, a pair of 2-1/4 duals with flowmaster, magnaflow, or even glasspacks (no louvers!) will add a lot and sound better too, and without them the 6v would not add much anyway.

[KULTULZ]

Cool Photos!

Are you sure the Holley isn't the stock one?

Check the air horn, for 1958 it would say List-1736 or 1737 (for the 390cfm Holley used on the 383/312hp)
Or List-1738 (for the 550cfm Holley on the hot 383/330hp)

For 1959 it would say List-1849, for the 550cfm Holley on the 383/322hp.

Ford and Merc were pretty keen on stock Holley 4-barrels back then, AFAIK the 383 and 430 Merc were pretty much all Holley equipped in those years, our 430/360hp had the Holley List-1850 600cfm, the original application of the List-1850.

Does it have dual exhaust already? If not, a pair of 2-1/4 duals with flowmaster, magnaflow, or even glasspacks (no louvers!) will add a lot and sound better too, and without them the 6v would not add much anyway.

The 59 MERC went to a 2V for the economy 383. 1958 had the LOW-TORQUE 4V and HI-TORQUE 383 4V.

1959 MERCURY

383C.I. 2V
280HP @ 4400 RPM CR 10.0 To 1

383C.I. 4V
322HP @ 4600 RPM CR 10.0 To 1

430C.I. 4V
345HP @ 4400 RPM CR 10.0 To 1

[KULTULZ]

This Mercury belongs to my girlfriend's dad, but I'm all in love with it and can't seem to learn enough about the mysterious MEL 383 it has underhood.

He's currently looking for an aftermarket tripower manifold for it in the hopes of converting it.

I just enjoy driving it. It's one of the best running (smooth like glass) cars I've ever seen and drives like a dream.

Can't wait to find a 59 Merc Wagon so I can have my own MEL powered car.

I suggest that you neither get rid of the girlfriend (she is pretty) or the MERC (and one requires the other).

A fellow not long ago had a two-door (HDTP) 57 or 58 wagon here- -International Mercury Owners Assoc.-

[kraven]

I am not certain it is not the original Holley.
I'll check the numbers since I was told it had an Autolite 4100 as stock equipment. It may be original.

I forgot to mention it already has duals with chrome turndowns at the back. Rear pic here:

Thanks for the info on the wagon, K. I have to sell some junk before I can buy one though. I'm limiting myself to one project at a time now.