Introductions

[medic31a]

I live in the central California area and my name is Jeff. My wife and I purchased a 1962 continental almost two years ago. We purchased the car aout in the area of Palm Springs Ca. The car came a fairly large box of old work orders and sales receipts showing work that had been performed on the car over the years. Well maintained up unitl the origanl owner passed away and all efforts stopped. We have work orders from when JC Pennys was still selling tires and the DMV gave you an off white 5 x 7 every year for registration. Anyway, it has been a great amount of fun. We completed a complete tear down and re-build of the motor at the first of the year and replaced a few bands on the tranny. New exhaust was added and she runs great. The motor was full of loose sand and sludge from living out in the desert for so long. She has faded paint and worn out seats. Two out of four windows go up and down and the other two are for lack of a better word stuck. Body is straight and has a few dings but nothing to major.

I have been in EMS for close to ten years and been a paramedic the entire time. I currently operate a private ambulance company in the northern part of Kern County CA. I see lots of cars. We provide stand by services at two race tracks. ONe is the Auto Club Famoso raceway, really a drag strip that been around for several decades and the other Buttonwillow Raceway, a road course that see classic British racers, high end performance cars, and our friends on two wheels. Both closed and open wheel run this course. I enjoy all types of cars and love to learn what I can about them from their owners.

Before the Lincoln I was re-building VW Ghia's for close to three years. Completed three in the course of that time. The 430 is still new to me and the Lincoln is a great new adventure for me.

I look forward to seeing this site grow and hope to be a part of it. I thank you for your time.

[reijerlincoln]

Hi jeff,

Welcome to this forum. Good to hear the rebuild worked out well (I thought your rebuild came to halt due to a problem with faulty parts, but it seems that was someone else).

Cheers,
Reijer

[medic31a]

There were plenty of issues along the way. We have been working thru them as they come up but nothing to major. Can you point me in the right direction when it comes to a Zinc additive.

[reijerlincoln]

Well, the mechanic who rebuilt my MEL 462 insisted I use a multi-grade mineral oil from Quaker State which contains zinc and is intended for diesel engines. Choosing a motor oil which contains zinc is the logical choice as opposed to adding a zinc additive to an oil that lacks it. This is what I conclude from books and articles aimed at hobbyists and written by people who are not trying to sell you something: adding additives to a quality motor oil only disturbs the carefully blended mixture of additives that took millions of R&D money.

[medic31a]

I have been reading also. The re-build was completed with an exchange of the pistons to a flat top style. Everything was updated and replaced. So my thought was that since everything was new an oil like the royal purple would be good. It is a daily driver so I am hoping I have chosen wisely. Going to do the oil change and some minor adjustments on saturday so we will see what happens. I will keep you posted.

[KULTULZ]

The re-build was completed with an exchange of the pistons to a flat top style. Everything was updated and replaced. So my thought was that since everything was new an oil like the royal purple would be good.

The new low-ZINC engine oils are intended exclusively for late roller applications. ZINC is now not as of a major factor (as is LEAD in fuel) as most friction between cam lobe and tappet is eliminated. EPA has now banned the production of earlier engine oils as they may effect newer catalyst applications. Even present diesel oils are now low-ZINC. You must use an additive for older flat tappet applications.

As for your choice of generic replacement pistons, you have negated the unique MEL Combustion Chamber design on your engine. There is TECH INFO here covering this subject.

MEL COMBUSTION CHAMBER DESIGN

MEL Combustion Chamber Early.jpg (9.91 KiB) Viewed 9102 times

[medic31a]

It was poor education on my part at the time. I have little choice at this time but to learn to live with it for now. What have I lost as far as horse power and performance?

[medic31a]

And alot was due to money. Never thought of the "air pump" motor that I would end up with. I now very dissapointed with myself for not doing more study before the re-build.

[KULTULZ]

It was poor education on my part at the time. I have little choice at this time but to learn to live with it for now. What have I lost as far as horse power and performance?

One would have to take two identical builds (w & w/o proper piston design) and have them dynoed to see the difference(s). I can only assume you will loose some top end power.

Reijer actually sourced correct OEM shaped pistons for his 462 from EGGE. I don't know if they have changed the 430 generic design. The only other alternative(s) is NOS or forged aluminum.

The problem here is that the MEL is a very unique engine design and very few (including machine shops) actually understand it.

GENERIC BUICK BLANC FLAT TOP

MEL 430 Generic Replacement Pistons_1.jpg (17.55 KiB) Viewed 9081 times

[reijerlincoln]

More info here: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=67