My pile of parts to build a Ford hot rod is gettin' bigger. '29 roadster body, '32 frame, '33 grill, guide headlights, etc. The newest addition to the pile is a 1960 Lincoln 430 engine that I picked up today. I was never absolutely sure of what engine I wanted to use until about 5 years ago. For a time, I used to frequent a small hot rod shop in Mt. Clemens, Michigan owned by a guy named Poncho. One day, I stopped by and spied an old aluminum Edelbrock intake-manifold on the floor that hadn't been there before. It was quite wide, and I asked Poncho, "What's this fit...a Hemi?" He said, "No, you wouldn't believe it...it's for a 430 Lincoln engine." Suddenly I knew what was to be. I bought the intake. The fact is, that intake manifold is the first part that I bought for the hot rod that as yet only existed in my mind. In recent times I've added to my pile of parts, but hadn't aquired an engine yet. I've now filled in that missing piece of the puzzle.About a month ago, I s****ped an extremely rusted old Buick. As I transported it to the back of the yard, I saw this. A 1960 4-door Lincoln Premiere. On the way out, I stopped to investigate. All the cool exterior trim was stripped, but the engine remained, untouched. The steering-wheel was still there too, and in pretty decent shape. I got permission to come back another day to take a closer look, and to try and determine the condition of the engine. I got a quote of $300 with no guarantee. I said for that price, I'd like to get the steering-wheel also. "No problem.", was the answer. I came back a couple of days later, and determined that even though the pistons were stuck in the cylinders, it was drained of almost all coolant, (no radiator) and what coolant was left was bright green...a good sign of no freeze-damage. I figured that since I planned on doing a complete rebuild, I would deal with the pistons during dis***embly. I left a deposit with the agreement that they would have the engine carefully pulled, and I would come back after the holdays with a final payment, and to get the engine and steering-wheel. I did that today. They had the engine pulled without any apparent damage, and they allowed me to use my sawzall and grinder to cut through the column to save time in removing the steering-wheel. Here's the engine after I got it home and in the barn. And there's the roadster, that I plan on powering with the MEL. Here's the steering wheel. I couldn't wait to see the 6X2 intake on the engine, so I spent 'til almost dark in the unheated barn, freezing my fingers and toes, and removing the stock intake, air conditioning pump, HUGE generator, and fan. There...now it looks a little better. I still have a long way to go, but this is a milestone that I've been waiting to get to. Soon I'll have enough junk to do an initial mock-up, take some measurements, and start building this Hot Rod Lincoln! Hopefully, it won't be long before I can start a build-thread, and join the likes of G***er Kid, Beep, and very few others who have decided to venture into rarely-traveled territory in deciding to utilize the often overlooked "earth-rotating" capabilities of the 430 Lincoln engine. I've been dreaming of doing this since I was a kid. I'm 52 now...gotta get it in gear! I've got a couple of other unique ideas for this hot rod to be. Being that this may be my one build from "scratch", I want to make it count...my masterpiece! Rick
Cool story, good for you and thanks for providing the pictures. I'm kinda like you. I've got a 63' 430 and transmission sitting in a shed, waiting for me to pick up one of these days and a tripower intake sitting on the shelf in my garage for it. Honestly, I don't know if I will build a car with it, but at least I'll save it for someone else someday, if I don't. Good luck with your build.
very cool. i love how the intake was the first thing you bought for this car. its almost like your building a car around an intake. cool motor. what ****** you going to use?
Yes...building a car around an intake! HA! A '60s Ford 4-speed bolts right up to the '58, '59 and '60 MEL, so I'll be using that, unless I decide to buy a new (expensive) 5-speed trans.
Thanks for the encouragement guys! There are a few threads here for the 430 MEL engine. Do a search, and be sure to check out G***er Kid's roadster build.
If you wanna see something really cool in regards to the 430 MEL engine, go to youtube and search "Gizzle Hopper". Brian Perrenot (Beep) recreated his 430-powered nitro-fueled dragster from the 60's. There are a handful of videos of it there. - Rick
If you need anything for that motor, get ahold of Lincolnland in Clearwater, Florida...there awesome and huge!
I like your style. You'll have crowds around your car. And yes despite what some people say that is what we all want.
chucklz, this isn't actually my build thread yet. I was just doing some "show and tell" with the engine and steering-wheel. I've got a few more pieces to get. But rest ***ured that once I'm ready, I'll post a thread to share with you guys. Thanks much cfish50chevy! I'll look into it. My wife's brother lives down there, and could possibly help...his name is Mel!!! Thanks steel rebel for the kind words. Very nice of you to say. I'm not too proud to admit that I'd be honored to draws crowds with a hot rod I had built. Shoot...I'm proud that you guys care at all, in spite of the fact that I haven't done a darn thing yet! HA! Your gracious comments definitely help to inspire me to make this happen though. Thankyou much captainjunk#2! I kinda liked that gage cluster too. I've always liked hooded gages...they have a late '50s "jet" look to them. I considered using them, but rather than use some old gages, I decided I might be able to build something as cool or cooler using some of the many beautiful new gages on the market. I hope I'm right! - Rick
Hey RickyBop,,,,,,,,I am an old MEL fan from the late 50's. I have built many of them. You said that an FE 4 speed will bolt right up to a 58, 59, 60 MEL. True, to a degree for the 58 and 59. Not true for the 60. E-Mail me at BPerrenot@hotmail.com and I'll go over the differences with you. Also, google Gizzle Hopper Racing. That is our website for aour fuel coupe with a MEL in it. Also google Cacklefest.com, got to "the cars", scroll down until you find the GizzleHopper.
very cool project!! i wouldn't waste the dough on a 5 spd- with that much torque you should be more than happy w/ a 4 speed and nice highway rear
Hi Brian. Haven't spoken with you for a while. You're saying the '60 will not accept the 4-speed? Uh-oh. I understood the '58 through '60 MEL shared the FE bellhousing bolt-pattern. Need to investigate this. And I'll contact you.
Thanks, heatmiser! Yeah...I'm thinking you're probably right about the use of a 4-speed vs. 5-speed. But now after Beep's post, I'm bummin' that a standard trans. might not fit my '60! We'll see. - Rick
hope the 4spd can work for you! check wilcap maybe for an adapter? i was looking to run a manual behind a 429 caddy and they actually had one... if not, i guess you'll be spending some of that 5 spd money to make it happen
unclescooby! Maaaaan, I was hoping you'd show up! HA! Thanks for the confindence-inducing info! I actually just got off the phone with Brian. Between some searching, and discussing this, we determined what you just confirmed...that the '60 will indeed accept the FE 4-speed. Brian was thinking that Lincoln moved the starter in '60, but it's in '61 that they did that. I read a post from Homespun91 here on the H.A.M.B. from 2007 that has a fair amount of info, and he also confirms this. I also thought that I had read this on the Mel Engine Forum. It got me goin' when Brian said otherwise, though. You guys who are reading this have to realize something...You've heard the saying that so and so (usually an older guy) "has forgotten more than any of you know"? Well, it's so often true. I'm just learning this MEL stuff, but Brian (Beep) has been at it for a long time, since probably before many of you were born! And sometimes a guy might forget a small piece of info. Brian is a smart man, so don't think he's just haphazardly posting erroneous info. You want proof that he knows MEL engines?...As I said earlier, go to youtube and search "Gizzle Hopper Cacklefest" and check out his recreation of his early 1960's blown MEL-powered nitro-burning dragster. Awesome! (It's his avatar also) One more point...Again, Brian has been doing this for a long time, and before he came to the H.A.M.B. and started sharing what the Lincoln 430 was all about, there were very few here that knew anything about this engine. Our good buddy Beep has been very instrumental in resurrecting interest in this lesser-known phenomenal V-8. I hope that I and G***erKid and others can continue to shine the light on these Lincoln engines, in order that many of you can enjoy them too. Rick
I've still got an MEL stroker motor with 6 dueces sitting in my garage too for something someday. I've also got a 430 in a 61 Continental in my driveway right now as an ode to Flounder. They are cool old beasts.
Hey all. Sorry to dredge up such an old thread but I have a 430 question for all of you experts out there. I already looked through the tech forum and don't see a definitive answer. I once had a thing for Continentals, and still have a '65 complete engine, a '63 mostly complete engine, and another unknown year MEL that looks to be a 430 but not sure. It has a complete stick setup including a 3 speed car type trans (vs a truck type with top mount gear mixer) along with a ton of blowby and a 2 barrel intake. The '63 and '65 both have a crank mounted steering pump, but the other has no provision for this but the starter seems to be in the same place on all 3. I would like to use the 65 engine with the manual setup to feed a 4 speed. Without digging them out and finding casting numbers can anyone tell me if this is possible or if I am stuck with the cast iron automatic? It might be going into my spare 56 Premiere if I can figure out the linkage and pedal setup. If it won't work then I have some really heavy trading stock.... Thanks for any information!
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