History of MEL Road Tests & 66 Continental Computed Buildup

[WerbyFord]

Back on the old MEL forum I had posted the below.
It is the best summary I could find of MEL car road tests, quarter mile and dyno, weight, etc.
The MEL made a good showing in some very heavy cars.
Below that summary are some WerbyFord Gonkulator computer calculations of how a 66 Continental might be brought into the 14's with streetable MEL power.

This is just repeat info from the old MEL forum but may have been lost over there when that forum crashed.
Enjoy and comment please!


Summary of Brooklands 47-59 Merc and 61-69 Lincoln: Excellent Books on MEL.

Source: Jun 58 Motor Trend
Car: 58 Monterey 4d
Engine: 383/330 – 162 RWHP
0-60mph: 9.5
Et/mph: 17.70 at 83
Curb Wt Measured: 4300 {pg 77)

Source: Jun 58 Motor Trend
Car: 58 Park Lane 4d hdtp
Engine: 430/360 – 173 RWHP
0-60mph: 10.0
Et/mph: 18.0 at 80.5
Curb Wt Measured: 4680 (pg 77)

Source: Sep 58 Motor Trend
Car: 58 Monterey 4d
Engine: 430/400 – 195 RWHP
0-60mph: 7.9
Et/mph: 16.60 at 88.7
Curb Wt Measured: 4300 (same car as Jun 58 383/330 test)

Source: Apr 59 Speed Age
Car: 59 Park Lane 4d
Engine: 430/345
0-60mph: 7.8 (Text says speedometer reading. My guess is about 10% optimistic)
Et/mph: 16.80 at 91 (wow, but again was this a speedometer reading?)
Curb Wt Measured I think: 4671 (pg 87)

Source: Apr 59 Motor Life
Car: 59 Montclair 4d hdtp
Engine: 383/322
0-60mph: 10.9
Et/mph:
Curb Wt Measured: 4640 (pg 91)

Source: Mar 61 Car Life
Car: 61 Cont 4dr
Engine: 430/300
0-60mph: 11.2
Et/mph: 18.20 at 74
Curb Wt Measured: 5220 (pg 6)

Source: Mar 61 Mechanics Ill.
Car: 61 Cont 4dr
Engine: 430/300
0-60mph: 11.2
Et/mph:
Curb Wt My Guess: 5220

Source: Apr61 Motor Trend
Car: 61 Cont 4dr
Engine: 430/300
0-60mph: 12.9
Et/mph:
Curb Wt My Guess: 5220

Source: Jul 61 Motor Life
Car: 61 Cont 4dr
Engine: 430/300
0-60mph: 13.5
Et/mph: 20.50 at 72
Curb Wt My Guess: 5220

Source: May 62 Motor Trend
Car: 62 Cont 4dr
Engine: 430/300
0-60mph: 12.4
Et/mph: 19.70 at 75
Curb Wt My Guess: 5220

Source: Jul 63 Motor Trend
Car: 63 Cont 4dr
Engine: 430/320
0-60mph: 10.9
Et/mph: 18.50 at 78
Curb Wt Measured: 5125 (pg 41 & 46)

Source: Apr 64 Motor Trend
Car: 64 Cont Convert
Engine: 430/300
0-60mph: 12.1
Et/mph: 18.40 at 71
Curb Wt Measured: 5700 (WOW, pg 65)

Source: Jul 64 Car Life
Car: 64 Cont 4dr
Engine: 430/320
0-60mph: 11.8
Et/mph: 18.10 at 78
Curb Wt Measured: 5310 (pg 67,69)

Source: Mar 5 65 Autosport
Car: 65 Cont 4d
Engine: 430/320
0-60mph: 10.5
Et/mph:
Curb Wt Measured:

Source: Apr 65 Motor Trend
Car: 65 Cont Conv
Engine: 430/320
0-60mph: 12.9
Et/mph: 18.70 at 79 (I think trap speed was 74. misread as 79 but no proof…)
Curb Wt Measured: 5720 (WOW, pg 80,81,82,83)

Source: May 65 Mechanics Ill.
Car: 65 Cont 4dr
Engine: 430/320
0-60mph: 11.1
Et/mph:
Curb Wt Maybe Measured: 5275 (pg 85)

Source: Jul 65 Car & Driver
Car: 65 Cont 4dr
Engine: 430/320
0-60mph: 11.3
Et/mph:
Curb Wt Maybe Measured: 5280 (pg 95)

Source: Feb 66 Motor Trend
Car: 66 Cont 2dr
Engine: 462/340
0-60mph: 10.8
Et/mph: 18.10 at 80
Curb Wt Measured I think: 5380

Source: May 66 Motorcade
Car: 66 Cont 2dr
Engine: 462/340
0-60mph: 10.5 (10 to 11)
Et/mph:
Curb Wt My Guess: 5380


Start with the big 66 Continental (5380 lb curb) from Feb 66 Motor Trend, 0-60mph=10.8, et/mph=18.10 at 80mph (5th wheel I think).

Let’s take it down into the 14s (on the computer at least!) and still have a streetable car with leather and A/C – changes will be invisible to the outside, except the muffs will be a bit louder.

1. Motor Trend Test, 2 aboard:
a. 0-60mph: 10.8
b. Quarter (5th wheel?) 18.10 at 80
2. WerbyFord Gonkulator computer of same:
a. 0-60mph: 10.7
b. Quarter (5th wheel) 18.11 at 80.1
c. Computed gross power:
i. Torq 451 at 2700
ii. Power 315 at 4300
3. Changes: 1 aboard, open 3x14” air cleaner, 2.5” Magnaflows,c6 shift kit:
a. 0-60mph: 9.4
b. Quarter (chrondek e.t.) 16.90 at 84.5
4. Changes: Dial stock cam from 2.5 degrees retarded (Stock) to 4.0 degrees advanced
a. 0-60mph: 9.1
b. Quarter (chrondek e.t.) 16.69 at 85.6
c. Computed gross Power:
i. Torq 474 at 2600
ii. Power 322 at 4100
5. Changes: Block intake heat riser, add 3.25 trac lock, fix the spongy rear so it hooks like your average stock Galaxie:
a. 0-60mph: 7.9
b. Quarter (chrondek e.t.) 15.84 at 86.1
6. Changes: Engine: Port heads to add 5% flow, and use Isky 256 cam grind for FE Ford (but grind it on an MEL blank and use 4 deg advance)
a. 0-60mph: 7.5
b. Quarter (chrondek e.t.) 15.52 at 87.9
c. Computed gross power:
i. Torq 503 at 2600
ii. Power 340 at 4100 (finally an honest 340hp)
7. Changes: Engine: Aluminum 429cj intake with that elusive adapter kit, roller cam John described with 230-230 duration and .513-.513 lift, 10.5 CR with .010 deck quench clearance, 780 downleg Holley, 1-7/8 Headers John describes:
a. 0-60mph: 6.9
b. Quarter (chrondek e.t.) 14.97 at 93.0 (wow, we made it!)
c. Computed gross power:
i. Torq 515 at 3700
ii. Power 436 at 5100

Hey, we made it, a functional, not-stripped Continental nudging into the 14s. Still has the spare, gas, A/C, leather, etc. Could this really be done? My “Gonkulator” computer has followed many builds accurately – but so little info is out there on the MEL, would it really respond this way? Just have to try it – but at least there is hope, that is a mighty strong engine near the end steps.

Comments or data or any info welcome, I am looking for some measurements on any of the stock MEL intakes, “A” and “B” height and port sizes for example.
But this is my best computation on how to get an MEL powered Continental to run.

[kraven]

cool info. thanks for posting this!

[Big T 462]

Cool, maybe I won't have to buy that 460 Ford afterall.