That Fresh LeMon Scent--1959 Edsel

[squirrel]

way too much money for this project! The lobes and tappets look really nice. They'll last 5k miles, I think.

[TheSilverBuick]

I see, and quite the oil pickup tube setup!

[squirrel]

yeah, it's like they decided to put the oil system in after they designed the rest of the engine. Strange.

[DanStokes]

way too much money for this project! The lobes and tappets look really nice. They'll last 5k miles, I think.

Just a thought. I'm sure you're right, though.

Interesting to remember that in 1959 automatic transmissions were only standard in premium luxury cars so lots of cars were built with 3 speed manuals with the OD being a fairly cheap upgrade. We had several manual trans LeSabres in the customer fleet though in '63 when I started the boss only ordered autos for the cars he kept in stock. Manuals would be a special order and they did sell a few.

A tidbit - the Ford 3 speed manuals were tough and were fitted in many vehicles including Jeeps and Studebakers. Don't know if you know this, Jim, but the Jeep top cover floor shift bolts right on the top of that box - pull that top cover and replace it with the Jeep assembly. That way the linkage doesn't get tangled up (anyone who has driven a column-shifted manual in anger knows what I'm talking about). My first car, a '53 Studebaker, was thus fitted and it worked great. I think when mine was converted the Jeep trans' were pretty common so they just grabbed the plain side cover along with the top cover shifter but no doubt you could make a flat side cover easily enough.

Dan

[squirrel]

The trans that was in the car was a BW T85, the one that's going in is a Ford side loader. Neither one of these is the same as the later top loader you're referring too...

but yeah, you can do neat things with the later transmissions. they don't fit Y block bellhousings very easily, unfortunately.

[RideTech_Ryan]

I always thought the Edsel was a cool looking car. I love the lines and the front ends on them.

[TheSilverBuick]

The cover page post reminded me, I wanted to ask, does it have a hood?

[squirrel]

There is a hood, but it's off a black car, and it's kind of rusty and bent, and there are no hinges or latch...so it pretty much doesn't have a hood.

[TheSilverBuick]

Sooooo in other words................ perfect for the event? And some "customizing"

[DanStokes]

Great to see your coverage on the front page. Jim gettin' more famous - for a FORD!!!!

Back in the day some journalist said that the Edsel looked like an Oldsmobile sucking a lemon - perfect for a LeMon event!

Dan

[squirrel]

hey, neat! thanks for the tip

Yeah, the Edsel has always been the definition of "lemon" for me.

[Deaf Bob]

My dad always said that Edsels looked like a woman... and was like them as well.. tempremental..

[squirrel]

I got a bunch of parts in the mail today, so I put the engine back together.

[Whelk]

Sorry for the noob question, but what is that tool on the piston bolts?

[squirrel]

That's a neat old tool that I don't know the name of...sold by Blue Point long ago...the patent calls it a connecting rod tool.

Someone gave me some old tools that a relative had, I figured out what it was, and been using it ever since. Probably 20 years.