1959 Edsel


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By Jim Rowe - 11 Years Ago
I just purchased two Edsel's both are 1959's. Both cars are in transit.

The 4-door has a 292 with ford-o-matic 2 speed. Engine is stuck. I think it is rated 200HP.

The wagon has a E-400 4BBL. I think it is rated at 300HP with 400 pound feet of torque.

The 292 will be an easy rebuild. Are these heads posted 113's ?

Not so sure about the 361" E-400. I know it is an FE. But are parts still available?

Just looking for some advise on the 361" FE.

Jim
By gekko13 - 11 Years Ago
The FE engine is currently going through a renaissance. Ironically, this may be the best time ever to build an FE. Multiple manufacturers are reproducing virtually every single part and many improved ones as well. Of course, the Edsel specific OE pieces (ie., valve covers for example) are not being made but practically all the mechanicals are. For an FE fan, life is good.
By yblock - 11 Years Ago
361 edsel was 352 stroke with what was eventually the 390 bore size.sime time ago built a 361and the pistons wher edsel only.this bore and stroke became the truck 360. not sure if the pistons or the rods where diferent,but the 361 edsel had higher compresion,as pistons came to the top of the block. 360 truch engies came with 3904v pistons and barley had 8to 1 comp.i always wondered if the short stroke 332 had longer rods or comen pistons.Surley some posters will know. but do know the 361 edsel was fast especialy in a lighter older ford.
By Ted - 11 Years Ago
Jim Rowe (2/11/2014)
I just purchased two Edsel's both are 1959's.

The wagon has a E-400 4BBL. I think it is rated at 300HP with 400 pound feet of torque.

Not so sure about the 361" E-400. I know it is an FE. But are parts still available?

Just looking for some advise on the 361" FE.

Jim

Here’s a link to a page on the Edsel site ( http://www.edsel.com/pages/edsel58.htm#Engines ) giving some of the engine particulars for the 361 engines. I’ll add that this engine was the real engine supplied for the 1958 Police car option and not the by name only “Police Interceptor” 352. Most FE parts such as heads, intakes, pans, timing covers, etc. are interchangeable between the engines.

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The camshaft in the Edsel 361engines would be the pre ’62 series that does not use the cam thrust plate but instead uses a spring to keep the camshaft pushed back against the block. The block itself can be easily tapped at the front for a cam thrust plate so that a later model camshaft can be used. Finding the earlier camshafts in the desired grinds tends to be a problem now while the thrust plate method of retention fixes other problems related to the earlier camshaft retention system. Ford had it right on the Y-Block and essentially cut some corners on the initial engineering aspects on the FE. Came 1963, the cam thrust plate was installed on the FE’s.

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The later model 360 pickup pistons do have the same wrist pin location as the 390 engines which puts the 360 pistons roughly 0.100” in the hole if using the original Edsel 360 crankshaft and connecting rods. The 360HP 352 engine had a wrist pin height of 1.866” which would be roughly what the Edsel 360 engine would require. The 390 wrist pin height is 1.776” as a matter of reference.

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If intent on maintaining the Edsel stroke and rod combination, then custom pistons using modern ring technology is always a viable option. These would allow the compression ratio be tailored specific to your needs while also improving the efficiency of the engine over its original design. Beyond that, FE options abound on bore and stroke combinations while still maintaining that original outside appearance that would allow the engine to look stock.