hello everyone, I just found your site. Anyways I just bought a 65 continental and have torn down the engine. Why are there two small thermostats under the waterpump? Can you go without them. Can you even buy them. Also my car has only 21800 orig miles , but has sat for near 30 years, bearings look very good, but has anyone re used them before? Wher can I buy a complete new set of bearings? Thanks for any advice

Welcome sergent. You might want to warm up reading this first.
http://www.ford-mel-engine.com/viewtopic.php?f=75&t=184

Many people just leave the 2 small thermostats out, especially when they're rusted and mal functioning. You can check them in a hot water tub. As for the bearings, just go for a TRW or Clevite list. These brands are widely sold by many distributors. Probably not many will list them, but might be able to order them for you.
Good luck and have fun.

Interestingly enough, Mahl Clevite do not sell oversize bearings for the mains anymore.... just stock size. All the stuff out there now in oversize is offshore, but apparently okay if it is from a reputable supplier. FalconGlobal sell most of the 430 parts such as bearings, pushrods, gasket sets etc.

Welcome sergent. Remove & do not replace the two little block thermostat. While you're down there, make sure to replace the timing set with a new set from Cloyes. Here's why: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=262

I'd love to see some photos!

cheers,
Reijer

Thanks for the input! Ill get some pics soon. Everything just went to the machine shop for cleaning. I got lucky, seems all It really needs is a hone and a crank polish, and freshen it up. I will also see if I can find a front transmission seal while its out in the open.

Hope you didn't deliver to a cheapo rapido shop. Even if the crank needs a polish, the rods most likely need to be redone. If the guys talk you into s.th. else, then you also should know that reusing the same old rod bolts is critical because they have reached their max. flex and will probably lack their elasticity. Ford rod bolts are known for fatal issiues. The problem is that if you install new rod bolts as you should, then you'll have severe alignment problems between the rod and its cap. So redoing the rods is almost always mandatory.
Good luck and let us view a few pics once you got time to post them.