517 MEL Big Street Power Less CFM

[chris401]

Considering the combustion chamber design it is a little unfair to compare the FE to the MEL. However it a good example of how a well tuned engine can make useable street power without overcarbing.

http://www.ford-mel-engine.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1461

[Royce]

Well if you like that stay tuned a bit.. I am going to re-cam it and let it eat some more.. Bigger cam,, bigger carb, bigger intake. Hope to hit 600..  A 420 cube version I had at the engine masters made 540ish. But this one is a pump gas non roller cam so it probably only makes between 1.1 and 1.2 hp/cube.
 Heads flow right at 300 with 2.19 valves

[chris401]

Well if you like that stay tuned a bit.. I am going to re-cam it and let it eat some more.. Bigger cam,, bigger carb, bigger intake. Hope to hit 600..  A 420 cube version I had at the engine masters made 540ish. But this one is a pump gas non roller cam so it probably only makes between 1.1 and 1.2 hp/cube.
 Heads flow right at 300 with 2.19 valves

Is that yours? Are Edsel 410 heads the same as my 59 Lincoln 430? Forgot the casting # but they are tha small valve version of 58.

[Royce]

Yes Chris that is mine..  The Edsel head would be the same as your 59... But the heads on the 517 are from a later 462. Even though the early heads have bigger ports the later heads flow better...

I am assembling a 510 for Stan Palma to go in his blown street/race 57 T-bird, He is also building a 550+ cu in version using a 4.5 stroker crank.

[chris401]

Yes Chris that is mine..  The Edsel head would be the same as your 59... But the heads on the 517 are from a later 462. Even though the early heads have bigger ports the later heads flow better...

I am assembling a 510 for Stan Palma to go in his blown street/race 57 T-bird, He is also building a 550+ cu in version using a 4.5 stroker crank.

Had it in my head I was pm'ing Mike.

With th 59 damage I considered buying a 462 and transferring to the block. Does the taller ECG out flow the 462 intake?

[Royce]

I don't have them available so I can put them side by side, but I would say the early intake was better.. I never use them.  Either I use the 3x2 manifold or I adapt a 460 intake

[cammerfe]

What does it take to adapt the 385-style intake, Royce?

KS

[Royce]

Slover Porting Service Sun Valley Ca.makes an adapter plate.   Jay also has his CNC machine programmed to kick them out..

[FirstEliminator]

   Wow, this is awesome. I have a 383 MEL in a 58 Monterey daily driver. also have a 58 Parklane that I may like to get a little extra pep from when that project comes up.  Very interesting.

[Royce]

Man that Parklane is a rare car... You need the Super Marauder 400 hp engine package to finish it off.

[FirstEliminator]

Once, I saw an NOS  Super Marauder air cleaner sell. It went for $6000+. How many NOS of those could still exist?

    The 4 barrel will work good enough. Although, if the air cleaner was ever reproduced, I'd love to go that way. It has such nice style.

  The two Parklanes that I have need a lot of work.

   Here is the 58 I've had since 2004. It's stored in my shop. a 68 Monterey convert is in front and a 69 Cougar XR-7 390 is below. There are two other 70 Cougars in this picture.


   Can't seem to upload a photo of the white Parklane.


 

[Heo]

I Remember a guy from next town had a front engine
dragster with a 462 in the 80s. When no one else
wanted a F.E.D .I saw it on the "lokal"dragstrip a few
times

[thatdarncat]

Once, I saw an NOS  Super Marauder air cleaner sell. It went for $6000+. How many NOS of those could still exist?

    The 4 barrel will work good enough. Although, if the air cleaner was ever reproduced, I'd love to go that way. It has such nice style.

They have reproduced the air cleaner, although it looks like you have to buy the whole 3-2V induction system to get it. Make sure you're holding on to your beverage when you check the price, although honestly it's probably not bad when  you consider what goes into reproducing all this stuff.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SUPER-MARAUDER-TRI-POWER-COMPLETE-SYSTEM-FOR-383-410-AND-430-CU-IN-ENGINES-/140882645585

Decades ago there was a local guy who had one of the air cleaners ( and probably other MEL parts ) for sale and was at every major swap meet. I don't remember what he was asking, but the price seemed sky high at the time and it never sold, just on display for us to lust after. Of course in hindsight...lol.

Oh, and if you think the 430 Super Marauder air cleaner is rare and expensive...well, there was a Lincoln version too!

[Royce]

Kevin, that vendor who had the Super Marauder setup at all the swap meets was Cy Kubista. . I bought just a Super Marauder air cleaner from him at the back to the 50s swap meet back in the early 90s.  I think I paid $350 for it.  I found out that he also had a complete setup stashed away, and after about 2 yrs of haggling I finally bought it from him.  It resided on my 58 Mercury Monterey for several years till I took it off and sent it to Joe Bunetic for a complete restoration  Now it sits on a shelf in my basement. It's too pretty to re-install it on the car  lol.. Best looking air cleaner ever...

[thatdarncat]

Kevin, that vendor who had the Super Marauder setup at all the swap meets was Cy Kubista. . I bought just a Super Marauder air cleaner from him at the back to the 50s swap meet back in the early 90s.  I think I paid $350 for it.  I found out that he also had a complete setup stashed away, and after about 2 yrs of haggling I finally bought it from him.  It resided on my 58 Mercury Monterey for several years till I took it off and sent it to Joe Bunetic for a complete restoration  Now it sits on a shelf in my basement. It's too pretty to re-install it on the car  lol.. Best looking air cleaner ever...

Yes, I just didn't want to call out his name since I was editorializing on his prices. By all accounts he's a nice enough guy. He had a trailer full of vintage early speed parts, he was just ahead of the curve on the prices, he would fit right in on ebay lol. He had lot's of cool stuff and would even show up at swap meets around the country, I remember seeing him in Phoenix one time. For those that don't know, Cy was a old time Minnesota drag racer and hot rodder. He is probably best known for his mid '60's ISCA show winning "T" which was MEL engine powered I believe. Here's a picture: