1959 Hot Rod Annual MEL and FE Engines
 

It was worth the money getting this 'back issue'.


The explanation of MEL combustion chamber straightens you right out.


Sure hope I can use my pistons!!


Funny.It does not call the engines FE and MEL.


It just divides up engines into 3 little ones and 3 big ones.


I will check list against Wikipedia.


Worth the money if you are running a MEL or FE !

Re: 1959 Hot Rod Annual MEL and FE Engines
 

Here is a pic of cover.


Small one are 332, 352 and 361.


Big ones are 383, 410 and 430.


Yep.They match up.FE and MEL.


Pretty interesting that 383 displacement.


Same as Chrysler new for '58 engine.


Guess they were firing a shot over at Chrysler engineering department.


Not quite a '58.Looked it up.It's RB engine.Came out year later.


The article calls MEL's an 'angle top' block.


Goes on to say piston tops create turbulence.


Necessary for complete combustion.


This 'on the spot' reporting is good stuff!

Re: 1959 Hot Rod Annual MEL and FE Engines
 

Thats the signpost up ahead


Welcome to


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G11AhAIf18A






Oldmics

Re: 1959 Hot Rod Annual MEL and FE Engines
 

Cubic inch displacement is what you get with a bore and stroke of certain dimensions. Down through the last 120 years, many different companies ended up with the same sized engines just by coincidence. I heavy trucks and tractors, we see it more than in passenger cars.

Re: 1959 Hot Rod Annual MEL and FE Engines
 

'ended up with the same sized engines just by coincidence.'


Probably.Chrysler held there ground though.They had '59 383 in the works.


Then Ford came out with one in '58 before they did and they just kept



working their plan.Would have cost them money to change it.


Then it doesn't matter really.


MEL 383 bore and stroke is 4.30 x 3.30


RB 383 is 4 and 1/32 x 3 3/4 in or 4.013 x 3.75


Different approaches for same displacement.

Re: 1959 Hot Rod Annual MEL and FE Engines
 

I know this is a Ford forum, but the Chrysler RB 383 ended in '60, then went to a lower deck block for the 383 with a larger bore and shorter stroke.


Sal

Re: 1959 Hot Rod Annual MEL and FE Engines
 

The MEL was a big block and ended up at 462 CID in Lincolns before Ford went to the 385 series 460 CID. The FE was considered a medium block so it was lighter but they were still just tinkering with it until the 390 came out in 1961. It was easier to produce than the MEL for mass production so it sort of took over most applications where that kind of power was needed. The FE design sort of tops out at 428 cubic inches but they did just fine with the 427 engines at NASCAR for the years they ran it.

Re: 1959 Hot Rod Annual MEL and FE Engines
 

The 427 also blew Enzo's ass into the weeds at LeMans

Re: 1959 Hot Rod Annual MEL and FE Engines
 

And the first three places no less.

Re: 1959 Hot Rod Annual MEL and FE Engines
 

The '58-up 401/477/534 Super Duty truck engines also had the angled decks, flat heads and special pistons to create wedge shaped chambers, like the MELs and W Chevys.

Re: 1959 Hot Rod Annual MEL and FE Engines
 

There were LOTS of coincidences like this! Such as 215 Plymouth and Dodge flathead sixes vs. 215 Ford OHV six. 292 Ford V8 vs. 292 Chev six. 327 Rambler V8 (1957) vs. Chev 327 V8 (1962). 360 Ford vs. 360 Dodge vs. 360 AMC. 361 Dodge vs. 361 Ford truck. 350 Dodge vs. 350 Chevy vs. 350 Buick vs. 350 Olds. vs. 350 Pontiac. 221 Ford flathead vs. 221 Ford small block (1962). 302 Ford vs. 302 Camaro Z28 vs. 302 GMC six. 427 Ford vs. 427 Chevy. 428 Ford vs. 428 Pontiac. 305 GMC V6 vs. 305 Chevy. 351 GMC V6 vs. 351 Ford. 401 GMC V6 vs. 401 Buick vs. 401 AMC. 307 Chevy vs. 307 Olds. 250 Chevy six vs. 250 Ford six vs. 250 Pontiac OHC six. 260 Ford vs. 260 Olds. 230 Jeep OHC six vs. Chevy 230 six vs. 230 Dodge flathead six. 265 Chrysler six vs. 265 Chevy V8. 303 Plymouth vs. 303 Olds. 289 Studebaker vs. 289 Ford. 301 Plymouth vs. 301 Pontiac. 400 Ford vs. 400 Chevy vs. 400 Chrysler. 239 Ford flathead vs. 239 Ford Y-block.
And the list goes on!

Add 352 Packard vs. 352 Ford. 390 Ford vs. 390 Cadillac vs. 390 AMC. 304 AMC V8 vs. 304 IHC (Scout) V8. 392 Chrysler Hemi vs. 392 IHC V8 (Travelall, etc.). 345 Desoto V8 vs. 345 IHC V8. The list may be endless!
None of these pairings have anything in common with each other! For example, a 327 Rambler V8 is totally different than a 327 Chevy. Nothing interchanges (except maybe rings if the bore size is the same). The same with all the others listed. (The 230 Pontiac OHC may share a few block parts with the 230 Chevy.)

Re: 1959 Hot Rod Annual MEL and FE Engines
 

Interesting hop up article using Edsel 361 and Chevy 348.


Done by Isky complete with young Ed Iskendarian working on engines



pictures.


They were revving those puppies up to 6500 and 7000 rpm!


Getting valve float and fuel starvation at those speeds.


Burned a hole in top of Edsel piston.Stock one not the Police piston.


Distributor was not doing the job.


Solution was H-M (Harman Collins) two coil one.


Buy the annual!