hello; your engine has to be a HD302 or 332 from 57 to 63. they started using them in 56 but it would have had a small based 4bbl. they both used the same crank ( 3.66 stroke ), same as the 368 linc., but the truck used a forged steel crank. they have the best manifolds, intake and exhaust. they used timing gears instead of a chain so the cam runs in reverse. you'll have a hard time finding anyone with cam blanks. you could have a 368 cam reground and rehardend, they use the same lifters as an FE. the only intakes that were made were a 2x4's by fenton, 2x2's and 2x4's by edmunds, and the factory 335 hp 2x4's. also weiand made 6x2's log and hilborn made fuel inj. the MEL engines came out in 58 same as the HD401-477-534. the HD is designed like the mel only dementionally larger. the 383 was only offered in the merc. 58-60. the 410 was only offered in the edsel 58, the 430 was offered in the merc. 58-60, the linc. 58-66, and the t-bird 59-60( so it could be used in nascar ). you could order the 3x2's for the t-bird. the 462 was used in 67-68 in linc. an FE bellhousing will fit a 332 truck-368 linc. block if you drill out the dowl holes.if your truck block has ( ECU ) on the side it's the same as a 368 block and can be bored .125 over 4.oo in. in 58 merc's the engine was called a super maurader if it had the 3x2's and said so on the huge aluminum air cleaner. don't mean to step on any toes, just trying to help, wayne.

 

Just for clarification, the SUPER DUTY Series (401-477-534) was introduced in 1958. The FT Series (330-361-391) was the replacement for the 302/332.

 

UPDATE ON MEL INFO

I need to correct a statement(s) I made earlier on Post #29 -

LINC did plan on a 1958 430 3 x 2 option to counter MERC's option, but was decided later not to offer. LINC had ordered so many 'kits' and these were later sold over the counter or to MERC. There are no known LINC assemblies coming thru with the option installed (this was current as to a few years ago).

Also, it has been rumored FORD offered a 3 x 2 kit OTC for the 59 J-BIRD as Holman-Moody was racing them in NASCAR. I never found any conclusive proof.

If anyone has more or differing info, please share.

The only reason I brought this up after so many years is that anyone GOOGLING MEL may come across the first post and interpret incorrect info.

Now returning to regular programing...

 

-LINCOLN Y-BLOCK INFORMATION-



-FORD MOTOR CO. V-8 ENGINE IDENTIFICATION-