Does anybody know of a good place(s) to buy engine parts for the Ford 430 C.I. engines? I pulled one out of a 1965 lincoln and want to rebuild it and use it in my pulling truck. I have found some parts but wasn't sure if you guys knew of any good suppliers.

Thank You in advance.

 

Matt, When I read your post I wondered if you might love seeing blood run past your eyes down your face from beating your forehead on a brick wall.

You surely could save yourself much grief using a 460. IMHO


John

 

The MEL was last used in '67 - and aftermarket parts are non-existant, as far as I have been able to tell. It was a heavy engine, with great power, but with a rather low power-to-weight ratio.

It is a late '40's/early '50s design, and was introduced about the same time as the FE.
However, the MEL doesn't have any modernization of the design, or upgrades as found in the FE, which was produced until '76.
The MEL was completely abandoned by Ford in '67, and in '68 used the MEL plants to make the 385 engines (429 and 460).

The MEL was never used in the trucks. If it was offered as a rare option, it would be worth considering for a restoration project perhaps, but that is not the case.
It seems a very poor choice for a truck power plant, especially when better choices are available, which can be installed in these trucks as Ford factory installations, with better after market support.

I wish you best of luck, but I also advise against using the MEL for your truck.

 

When I first started searching for an engine for my truck I was given a 462 MEL. After talking to a machine shop about the options available and what it would take to make the HP and TQ I was looking for it was going to cost $10,000. Not only that but the engines are hard to machine since the block and heads need to be angle milled to change the C/R. If the head is cracked or at its max limit for machining your stuck trying to find a replacement. They are good engines in stock form but nothing more then that. I spent $5000 on a 460 and only have three original parts from the engine: the block, crank, and head castings. Plus if I want to change the total attitude of the engine all I need to do is slap another part on there.

 

Yeah I knew this was going to be a real "project". The book shows the motor in stock trim producing like 575 ft lb of torque and 375 hp. I have found a comlpete engine rebuild kit but I didn't need the pistons and what not. I only needed the bearings, rings, valve stem seals, timing chain, and gaskets. The engine only had 68,000 miles on it. The cylinder walls looked good just needed honed. Heads looked good as well. Everything cleaned up well. Yes, you guys are right, it is a big bulky engine. But the truck that it's going in is big and bulky. The front and rear ends are out of a 77 F-700 4x4 state truck as well as the drop down transfer case. Wanna talk about huge. The dana 60 front ends look like babies compared to this guy. Using a 1940 ford milk truck cab and walkway. Kinda looks like Mater off of the movie cars. lol But anyway, thanks for your input. I do agree that a 460 would be a much easier way to go. Kinda one of those things where the rest of the truck is kind of different so why not the motor and tranny. Good thing I'm not in a big hurry to hook it to the sled.

P.S. No, my fore head is not bleading yet! lol

 

I got the basic kit from Kanters for my 58 430 which is in a 49 F3 being turned into a wrecker.

There is a guy out west making dual quad and log intakes for the MELs

 

I just purchased a 1977 460ci and C6 out of 1977 Ford LTD. I am going to (try that is) to put into my 1960 Lincoln. Does any one know if the motor mounts and tranny mounts will line up or any tricks I can use to get this to work, help!

 

Welcome to FTE

Nothing interchanges, everything will have to be fabricated.

430: 1958/65 Lincoln / 1959/60 Thunderbird (optional) / 1958/60 Mercury Montclair.

 

Hi, I love the big 430's, always have. there is no problem getting parts. did you ever find any aftermarket parts (cams,intakes) for yours? thaks, Henry

 

hi, ford made a 400 HP try-power 430 in 58, they're rare and very expensive. edelbrock made a small base carb try-power intake and 6x2's log, weiand made 6x2's log a blower intake. crower u-fab made 6x2's and 8x2's. check with the cam companys, i've found that some still have billet cam blanks and will grind to your specs. fordged pistons were made by a number of companys in the 60's. a 2', 4 hole spacer, 4 hole adaptor and a big carb on a stock intake and a set of big tube headers will give you a lot of torque, that's what you need for truck puller.

 

i am going to have Oregon Cam Grinders regrind my cam. Maybe a SCJet 428 style hydraulic grind. I am going to install a 750 Holley or edelbrock carb also. A durasparkll ignition is going on it too, thanks for the help.Henry

 

430/400 HP with 3 deuces: Available as an option in 1958 Mercury's.

This is a gross HP figure...at the flywheel. The automakers (except AMC) were in a HP race in the 1950's. Their stated HP figures were vastly overstated.

 

yes, rated HP was way out there in the 50's and 60's. How much HP does it take to pull a 4,200 pound car to 100 MPH at say 14 seconds, in a quarter mile? Anybody out there have a formula to figure it out? thanks,Henry

 

Hey Matt, if you are still listening after 7 months you may want to try John Mummert in Calif. He is the Y block king and I think the 430 was considered a Y block. If I remember correctly he is repopping some stuff for them. Even if he isn't he will probably be able to source the stuff for you. You can google him using either his name or Y block ford. I've had three of those 59 and 60 Lincolns with the 430 and they would pull without a doubt, but were hard to find parts for even in the 80s. Good Luck, Russ

 

I had a friend back then that collected these elephantine behemouths. He never had a problem getting parts, cuz he knew a certain partsguy at Crenshaw Motors Ford.

1958/60 Lincoln's were integral bodied, 1958/59's had rear coil springs. Within a short time, the coil spring mounts would tear out of the body...not pleasant!

Ford solved the problemo in 1960, these cars had rear leaf springs.