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Out With The Old In With The New 61 Starliner

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Putputboom, Jun 6, 2013.

  1. Woogeroo
    Joined: Dec 29, 2005
    Posts: 1,282

    Woogeroo
    Member
    from USA

    congrats., the starliner is one of my favorite cars.

    -W
     
  2. tedley
    Joined: Nov 8, 2009
    Posts: 2,147

    tedley
    Member
    from canada

    I think it goes like this. Most Fe's are 352 blocks even if it's a 390, 427.
     
  3. chevy54man
    Joined: Feb 7, 2013
    Posts: 1,683

    chevy54man
    Member
    from NC

    Nice Starliner, that's a great find!
     
  4. rustynutz
    Joined: Jun 19, 2009
    Posts: 79

    rustynutz
    Member

    What are the casting numbers on the intake and the heads? The head numbers are on the center of the head between the spark plugs.
     
  5. George
    Joined: Jan 1, 2005
    Posts: 7,979

    George
    Member

    According to my refs the '61s should have a C1, or C2 begining, you may have an earlier engine.Maybe EDG6015? 58-59 352?
     
  6. Putputboom
    Joined: Mar 25, 2012
    Posts: 274

    Putputboom
    Member
    from Fresno

    Thanks for the help. The block could be EDG6015 or EDC6015, its kind of hard to tell, with a tag that says 705 if i remember correctly above it. The heads have EDG cast with 6090 or 0609 next to them. The intake is cast 79y with EDE9425D below that. I am reading that the blocks are nearly the same with the bore being .05 different and having a shorter stroke. I would really like to positively identify what motor it currently has in it.
     
  7. rustynutz
    Joined: Jun 19, 2009
    Posts: 79

    rustynutz
    Member

    I'm thinking you have a 1958 332 fe in there. The casting numbers would be right and the 332 has a 3.30 stroke.
     
  8. Putputboom
    Joined: Mar 25, 2012
    Posts: 274

    Putputboom
    Member
    from Fresno

    Hmm alright thats really interesting. By chance do you have horsepower torque and compression ratings for this? It sounds like it could just be a dog motor that I should stay away from?
     
  9. rustynutz
    Joined: Jun 19, 2009
    Posts: 79

    rustynutz
    Member

    This is a two year only motor;
    1958 4v, 265 hp, 330 ft. pd. torque, 9.5/1
    1959 2v, 225 hp, 325 ft. pd. torque, 8.9/1
    Solid lifters in 1958
    Both years had a machined combustion chamber, probably 60cc chamber
    If it's the 4v motor it's the first year and I would say has some desirability to restoration guys. If it was mine I'd keep an eye out for an early 390, preferably a 1961 to drop in there, and see if there is any interest in your engine. Always loved the Starliner, Good luck with it.
     
  10. sololobo
    Joined: Aug 23, 2006
    Posts: 8,424

    sololobo
    Member

    Sweet, you have one of the coolest ever there. ~sololobo~
     
  11. boo
    Joined: Jul 6, 2005
    Posts: 580

    boo
    Member
    from stuart,fl.

    hey, if you think that was a 390/ 375hp car originaly, many of the suspinsion parts are special to that car. i bought one new in 61 and it came w/special list of suspincion part #'s. i still have the papers if you need a copy if it is a 375hp car, had parts used for NASCAR.,handled like a sports car.nose sat real low.... funny, when i got married in 62 i sold the motor and put in a 58 330 ci. no p/s or auto trans on orig hi po eng.
     
  12. belair
    Joined: Jul 10, 2006
    Posts: 9,036

    belair
    Member

    One of the few Fords I want. Good for you.
     
  13. Putputboom
    Joined: Mar 25, 2012
    Posts: 274

    Putputboom
    Member
    from Fresno

    Thank you rustynutz that is very helpful. I agree that it has some of the neatest lines I have seen and a low profile that just works. Boo I am not totally sure if this thing did have the 390 375 hp but I think its possible from the z code. If you do have any paperwork on it I would really appreciate it.
     
  14. carlos
    Joined: May 2, 2005
    Posts: 1,388

    carlos
    Member
    from ohio

    good one!!! polley a FX ******
     
  15. Nice find! The '61s were under-appreciated, with the '60 getting all the attention.

    Trying to identify FE blocks by casting numbers is an exercise in futility. All that I ever saw had '352' cast into them, even the 427 blocks. At least those you could spot by the cross-bolted mains... But the early blocks (pre-66 I think) didn't use the 'thinwall' casting method that Ford used on the early small blocks (and all later motors) so there's plenty of meat there for overboring. These you could punch out to the 4.13" bore size of the 428 if you wanted.

    The trans should be a cruisimatic, which morphed into the FMX. Expensive to rebuild, better choice would be a later FE-version C6.
     
  16. sunbeam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2010
    Posts: 6,393

    sunbeam
    Member

    I'm pretty sure the 375 or 401 hp 390 was not available with an automatic.
     
  17. Putputboom
    Joined: Mar 25, 2012
    Posts: 274

    Putputboom
    Member
    from Fresno

    Would it only have been available with the 4spd manual?

    Block casting
    [​IMG]
    Head casting
    [​IMG]
    Intake casting
    [​IMG]
     
  18. Yutan Flash
    Joined: Aug 6, 2008
    Posts: 785

    Yutan Flash
    Member
    from Gretna, NE

    You clearly have an early '58 332. ***uming the turquoise paint is original, that is the ID color used for the 332 for '58. Casting dates are from 1957 (the '7' in the date code): intake EDE9425D was cast in September '57, block EDC6015C has date of May '57 if that's a '5' in between the '7' and 'Q'. Last character in the date code corresponds with date of month, starting with "A" for 1st and skips "I" and "O" to go through "Z" then turns "A" thorugh "F" upside down for last days of month. The one dot at the end means it was cast on the first shift, two dots at the end mean it was cast in the second shift.

    I have a '64 390 sitting in my pole barn outside of Omaha needing to be transferred into something - since I've been lusting after a '61 Starliner for over 40 years (my father had a more-door Fairlane 500 with a 223 I6 and OD when I was real young in the mid-late '60s)...oh hell, who am I kidding?
     
  19. sunbeam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2010
    Posts: 6,393

    sunbeam
    Member

    A t85 warner 3 speed or 3 speed overdrive was what was available. There is some disagreement as to a t10 4 speed being available very late in the year.
     
  20. Putputboom
    Joined: Mar 25, 2012
    Posts: 274

    Putputboom
    Member
    from Fresno

    The guy I purchased the car from had a starliner just like this one with a factory 4 speed manual in it. The other car didnt have power brakes or steering however.
     
  21. Sphynx
    Joined: Jan 31, 2009
    Posts: 1,141

    Sphynx
    Member
    from Central Fl

    I'm usually a Chevy guy but I would take a Starliner over any Impala
     
  22. Putputboom
    Joined: Mar 25, 2012
    Posts: 274

    Putputboom
    Member
    from Fresno

    Fresh brakes all around including lines as of today as well as interior completely removed. Time to start on the rust repairs. I must say I am a little bit curious as to the 332 in the car. I am interested in going with a 5.0 as far as gas millage and driveability but I had never really heard about the engine and think it could be mildly fun to build. As it is smaller then the 390 is it possible to get over 15 mpg tuned properly and such? or is it something thats better to just leave alone?
     
    Last edited: Jun 13, 2013
  23. Bigcheese327
    Joined: Sep 16, 2001
    Posts: 6,740

    Bigcheese327
    Member

    I think I would sell the 332 to a restorer, personally. But there is no way I'd put a small-block in there either. I've never heard anything good about 289 Galaxies - not enough torque.

    How about a 430 MEL? :D

    Oh wait, you wanted gas mileage. How about a 300 six dressed like a '61 223?
     

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  24. Putputboom
    Joined: Mar 25, 2012
    Posts: 274

    Putputboom
    Member
    from Fresno

    Yes I am figuring that the 5.0 might be a little undercl***ed in there with the weight of the car but I am not looking to race either. the 300 I6 is an interesting option as I do have one laying around and I am sure they put out some pretty good torque but the problem I have encountereed with them is just the fact that a 6cyl really devalues a cl***ic car for what ever reason as people always want the 8cyls.
     
  25. raven
    Joined: Aug 19, 2002
    Posts: 4,707

    raven
    Member

    If you want a small block, use a warm 351 Windsor. That should have enough torque to move it.
    Nice car.
    r
     
  26. Bigcheese327
    Joined: Sep 16, 2001
    Posts: 6,740

    Bigcheese327
    Member

    The 351W would be my next choice after the 300 (third choice after a 390-428). Dress it like a Y-block.

    If resale is your aim, I think an FE is all around the best choice. That's what people are expecting in a full-size early sixties Ford.
     
  27. Putputboom
    Joined: Mar 25, 2012
    Posts: 274

    Putputboom
    Member
    from Fresno

    For all you interested, the person I bought this car from is getting ready to sell his other starliner. The other car is a 4 speed but otherwise base model with out power steering or power brakes. It runs but the engine needs to be rebuilt.
     
  28. slammed
    Joined: Jun 10, 2004
    Posts: 8,150

    slammed
    Member

    Pix-pix-pix!
     
  29. Putputboom
    Joined: Mar 25, 2012
    Posts: 274

    Putputboom
    Member
    from Fresno

    ALright I will try and get pictures of the other starliner. So quick question I have been doing a lot of reading about the 332 and have been playing around with the idea of using it in conjunciton with megasquirt to get desired efficiency. My question is, from what I understand the 332 block is not drilled for hydraulic lifters. Were I to use this engine and semi build it I would like to update cam and such which there are more options available for hydraulic cams. Can these blocks have oil p***ages drilled in them? and if so what all might be involved in that?
     

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