I finally got the short block assembled. I plasti-guaged all bearings, checked ring end gaps, and ring side gaps in pistons. Coated all bearings with assembly lube, and coated the cylinder walls, and pistons with the break in oil from Brad Penn. The timing chain ,oil pump, are in, and the oil pan and timing cover are on. I put a repair sleeve on the snout that goes through the front timing seal because it had a groove in it where the seal rides. Now I am finishing the heads. I am lapping the valves and hoping that does ok. I know a complete head job would be better, but im thinking it will be fine. THings are getting a little pricey I am only posting this so other people might know what they are getting into with a simular project. Block cleaned and checked, crank turned 10-10, new cam, bearings, and rings, and exhaust surface milled on heads. $1000.00 Transmission rebuilt. $1000.00 New radiator. $500.00 I am getting most all my other motor parts from my sister in laws parts store, and I get a good price, and I have a tab going, so I really dont have a total yet on everything else. This project has been a major job, time wise, and money wise, but as you guys know, thats just part of it.
Cool! I bought a '59 Edsel villager as well, last summer, $1800 and in relatively immaculate shape - except that the engine is seized. Last inspection sticker is 1973. I've been working on it for a bit. Decided to go with a 460 Here's a few pictures of the car when I picked it up: http://blog.packrad.net/wordpress/i...llager/bringing-home-the-1959-edsel-villager/
castirondude, great wagon. Its not from indiana so the floors should be in much better shape than mine were. I didnt know they put the 6 cyl in the wagon. I cant wait to get mine driving. start ya a build post with lots of pics. Im still doing engine assembly. The heads are on, and im getting ready to work on the rocker shafts and check the valve lash. Greg
Yea I should start a build thread. I settled on a 460 with efi so I've been a little hesitant to start a build thread. May get the rotten tomatoes Sent from my DROID device using the TJJ mobile app
I have the engine assembled enough for paint. I want your opinions, Im thinking black on the color. Thats what came factory and I cant come up with anything else that I think would look right. I was thinking maybe satin, or semi-gloss on the block, so the pulleys and fan and generator could be a gloss color for a little contrast. Or should I just paint the block gloss black also? Im thinking also the valve covers and air cleaner the cream color that came stock. Or maybe since some day I want to do the roof metal flake red, then I might paint the valve covers and air cleaner metal flake red. Tell me your opinions. Thanks.
I think black and satin are good, I would use glossy paint if you think you can keep it clean Make sure you use real engine paint, do a couple of coats.. Sent from my DROID device using the TJJ mobile app
So is this an FE block? Looks like it with the intake manifold under the valve cover. I thought the 361 was an industrial version of the 360, with low compression for delivery trucks etc, no? Sent from my DROID device using the TJJ mobile app
Yes its an FE. I think its rated at 303 hp, and 9.6? compression from the factory in 59. Its a shorter stroke than the 390, with the same bore.
sorry if I missed it but did you do ball joints on this car? Based on this thread http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=519413 they are hard to come by
I guess this is it, $55/ea https://cgfordparts.com//ufolder/cgcat.php?onepart=C1AZ-3050 The control arm bushings to the frame are rotten and I'm having the darndest time getting them out. kind of poor design having a press fit part there. If I just disconnect the lower ball joint I can use my press, save some frustration and have then the whole front end redone. Anyway. On the plus side this is a good time to clean and paint everything.
I ordered one of the Bob Drake tanks from Concours Parts, $500 at my doorstep. I only got around to moving it to the doorstep on the other side of the door so I can't comment on fitment yet, but it looks the same.
castirondude, no I havent did any front suspension work yet. Real soon I will be degreasing and inspecting the front end. I can tell the front spring are bad, but everything looks tight, but time will tell. The drake tank is a nice unit.
The rubber bushings on the A-arm were completely deteriorated, I expect yours will be too. They are a press fit. After turning my C-clamp into a J-clamp I decided to bite the bullet and take them out so I can use my 40 ton press. The ball joints seemed fine but once you get that far into it, it's hard to justify not replacing them. Sent from my DROID device using the TJJ mobile app
Hmm front springs. Was yours sitting low? Mine didn't seem to be sitting low but i'd hate to put some tiring springs back in and have it sit low once I put the 460 in. I wonder if the coils were different depending on the engine choice. I'm going from a 223 to 460 so I'll have some extra weight to account for. Sent from my Verizon 4G LTE smartphone
The 58 Edsel 361 was: 361 cid (5.911 litre) 303 hp @4600 rpm 400 ft-lb Torque @2900 rpm 10.5:1 Compression Ratio 4.0469 x 3.500 Bore/Stroke 4-bbl Holley carburetor oops! I meant to quote post 188 not 189 Info from the Edsel Pages Specs
Its been a little slow going, but here is my progress. The engine is pretty much finished. There are still a few small details, but there always are. The trans is also rebuilt and ready to go. Next on the list is the engine bay. But heck, after what ive done on this car, there isnt much to be scared of.
Wow! Glad to see you're getting stuff done. Hehe those trans look all "fisher price" compared to the e4od What are you doing for steering? I started to adapt a rack n pinion from a chevy cavalier but the steering shaft wants to point up inside the exhaust manifold, so I have to mount it off center, kind of a mess. Maybe I should have gone with the borgeson box after all. but they had some issues too. Sent from my Verizon 4G LTE smartphone
Nice wagon...keep posting! They always bring back good memories of vacations cross country...to places like the grand canyon, or Yosemite. Two lane hi-ways, and no a/c!
Greg - I recognize that transmission! 100% sure that is a Dual Range Cruise-O-Matic. See my rebuild thread as to how you can tell. I have an identical one in my 63 Mercury Monterey. Do you know if it was good before rebuilt? Who rebuilt it? Any issues found on the rebuild? I've learned way more than I ever wanted to know about the Crusie-O-Matic. Interesting design for sure. Interested in hearing how the rebuild worked out for you!
When I took mine to a car show this weekend - all I got from people were stories of trips with mom, dad, and the siblings to *fill in the blank destination 1000 miles from the start*. Usually the tale is of high adventure. Why is it people remember the time "Frankie puked while mom was changing Elsie's diaper and dad just kept driving" and act as if it's a fond memory???? Other people with normal classic 2 dr's and 4 dr's get fond memories of having their dad's 55 Buick in HS, or hot rodding their first 32 roadster back in 67 - but us Wagon owners get the truly GOOD stories from people! I hope to recreate some of these stories some day by taking a few long trips myself in the wagon. Hopefully non involving puke....
rprice, The trans seemed fine before the rebuild. I drove it aroung the driveway only, so i never had it through the gears. It never slipped that i could tell, but from the condition of the engine and every piece of rubber on the car, I think it was a good move to have it gone through. I want to use this car for some of those road trips. The shop that rebuilt it is right here in town. He has been in buisness for over 30 years. I trust his work fully. He told me what all he did, but I dont know transmissions, so i was in the dark. I will be more than happy to go ask him details if you want. There is a "sungear/shaft" and a "rear plantary fmx", and "low roller clutch" , on the invoice. He said something about he had to find a shaft for it?
Thanks for the info. If it needed a shaft it was well worn from what I can read. Sometimes the bearing surfaces if worn too much can score the shaft requiring it to be turned down. If you do that you need a custom bushing made. A lot of folks try to find new. Nice to know there are other COMs out there...
Its been a slow summer for car projects. I have got a little done this fall already, so here is the latest. 1st winter I had her, I rebuilt the passenger floor and rockers, plus the rear floor area. 2nd winter I rebuilt the drivers floor and rocker. 3rd winter I pulled the motor and trans, and rebuilt, or had them rebuilt. This fall I have cleaned and painted under the hood, and the front clip and inner fenders. I ended up removing all the front grill support for cleaning and re-painting. I like the looks of an all original car that hasnt been touched, but this one was just too greasy and dirty to leave it like it was. I could have just cleaned it up, but then it needed coated so it wouldnt rust back. Here are some before and after pics.
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