Hot Rods 410 MEL

Ive heard they can get pretty crazy, over 500 ci, though ill probably stay with this block because its already magna-fluxed and crack free. I bought it machined and done for 1500 bucks, so i might run it as is and start ac***ulating parts for stage 2, which will consist of stroking it out, 6-71 blower, higher profile cam, and headwork.

 

I never heard of a MEL, (Mercury, Edsel, Lincoln).. That sure is a nice looking mill.. Fords always seemed so exotic to me (GM guy), I know this much, they are too expensive for me..

 

You put a good cam, four barrel, recurve the dist, big daul exhaust. It may surprise you!






Bones

 

I like them, historically significant, big inches, front distributor, right hand starter, FE bellhousing (on the early ones). Perfect hot rod stuff!

 

The 410 MEl was an Edsel motor a 430 with a .100 less bore and the same crank If anyone needs a home for one check this out. https://wichita.craigslist.org/cto/d/hutchinson-1958-mercury-2dr-hardtop/7081091878.html

 

I rode in a 58 Edsel back in the day with that engine.......the tire stores loved them.....smoke'n they was...once they hooked up, it'd pin ya to the seat.

 

We had a 58 Edsel Bermuda 9 p*** wagon. 361-303 hp. We drove it back and forth from Calif to Ks a few summers. Yeah it would get after it pretty good for a big wagon. I had a 67 Lincoln 2dr hardtop with a 462 it was a brute. And made pretty good mileage on the hi-way. Good engines both of them. Lippy

 

I have a 430 Mel. mine is a 2 bbl engine. I last ran it in a 56 pickup with a granny 4 speed attached to it. I used the regular FE flywheel and never had any vibration or balance problems.

 

In about 1959 I modified a 430, stuffed it in to a 57 Ford. Early ones had FE bolt pattern on rear of block, FE flywheel & adj rocker arms from FE fit. If you raise max rpm you will need stronger con rods. I used stock rods, had them Magnafluxed, yet one broke in the middle. I then phoned Holman Moody. They said that failure was common & I would need to spend big money for after market rods. Greg

 

There is a guy on ebay selling a complete engine kit. Finding some one with the plate to bore it will be tuff.

 

The plate wouldn't be that big of a deal. Same bore spacing as a 429/460, just need new bolt holes.

Be very aware of the E-bay kits. They most likely are re-selling Egge kits and use a flat top piston that will ruin compression ratio and combustion performance.

 

The plate would need to be angled to square up the bore with the deck. the combustion chamber is in the cyl bore.

 

Good Point. Brain fart on my part.

 

Not really, when I had my 430 bored, many moons ago, the machinist, Louis, had to set up his boring bar at an angle. I can’t remember how he did it, but I know he *****ed a little at this 16 year old kid bringing that MEL in there. Back then , he didn’t use a plate.








Bones

 

So how'd it turn out?