So I am going to start working on my '57 Lincoln this winter. Not that the factory 3 speed auto is giving me problems, but I would like to upgrade to either a 5 speed manual or an AOD or 700R4 for the overdrive. Does anyone make a conversion plate? Not sure if this has the same bellhousing as the ford y-block? Mike
I believe Willcap makes an adapter to the 700r. I'm in the process of reworking a 390 bellhousing to fit my 368 so I can run a top loader 4 speed. If you want to run a t-5 rework the 390 bell and buy the mustang adaptor to install the t-5. Goodluck, Mike.
Have not tried it myself but am told by someone who should know, that a FE blowshield comes very close with the dowel pins being the major thing that needs to be delt with. Planning the same swap myself.
Cragar made a stick bell housing for this engine but it requires the use of a 1958 Merc. clutch fork. So far I have not found the one year only fork yet.
Rich, I built a fixture that bolts to the crank and pilots the bell deadcenter on the block. 1 dowell is real close, in fact the bell went right on it with a new pin. The other dowell and the 6 bolt holes are off quite a bit. Its doable, but gonna be a little work. A scattershield would probably be easier to mod because of the flat flange. I also have a fixture to redrill the FE flywheel to match the 368 crank. Once I have perfected mine I plan on offering a service to mod the bells and flywheels. Goodluck, Mike.
The same guy told me that a 460 flywheel was a better place to start. If and when I do it I will be using a blow shield. Done it before on other motors. It's pretty easy.
Hi, Rich, This is going back a lot of years, but as I remember, the 430" and 460" Lincolns from the early '60s are the same basic block. However, to complicate matters, FoMoCo used three different bolt patterns on the backs of these blocks. Might be worth a look to find one of the later blocks with the more current bolt pattern. Adding ninety cubic inches would be nice in the bargain. thnx, jv.
Rich, do you remember why the 460 flywheel is better? I was thinking the 460 was externally balanced, and the 368, 390 were internally balanced. Not that rebalancing the flywheel couldn't be done. Just curious. I'm using all the pieces from a 67 390 mustang, my only concern so far may be starter to ring gear depth. Maybe thats the deal with 460 flywheel. Let me know, Mike.
hi trying to get my 368 to 4 speedy , went out a got a 332 y block truck engine but havn,t got anything too match the wide bolt pattern of the big truck trans. does anybody make one of them? thanks
As I remember, and I forget lots of stuff, maybe it was that the bolt pattern was correct and the locating recess was smaller, so that you could turn down the crank flange or bore the recess to fit. I have a 460 flywheel and it's netural balance. At my age it is enterily possable that it was the 460 bellhousing and the 390 flywheel. Take anything I say as a maybe. I know i have been looking for a cheap FE blowshield to try on the 368.
Rich, I'm sure it's not the 460 bell, the 2 center bolts are very tall on it. The FE flywheel went right on the 368 crank pilot, like it was made for it, just the bolt pattern was larger, which I redrilled. Ya, I looked for a cheap scattershield on e-bay, but they all went thru the roof towards the end. I hope to have time to finish mine this week, will let you know how it goes. Take care, Mike.
Rustymetal, make a reducer ring for the pilot hole and drill and tap the trans pattern into the bellhousing if it's thick enough. My concern is the truck bell may be to deep for the 4 speed input shaft. Can yoiu give me a measurement from the engine flange to the tranny flange? Good luck, Mike.
It's just sitting on the engine stand waiting for the next project. Did you sell your Lincoln? Take care, Mike.
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