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Lincoln MEL (1958–1965) specs: 430 ci (7.0L) 8-cylinder, 4.30 x 3.70 in (109.2 x 94 mm) bore and stroke. Rated 300-375 hp, 1958–1965.
The Lincoln MEL (1958–1965) is oversquare — the 4.3" bore exceeds the 3.7" stroke by 16.2% — a layout that favors airflow and RPM over leverage at the crank. The 3.7" stroke puts mean piston speed at 4,000 ft/min around 6,500 RPM, which is where a production bottom end is generally considered at its limit. Each of the 8 cylinders displaces 53.8 ci (881 cc).
It is one of 3 engines in the MEL family, the smallest at 430 ci. 8 factory variants share these dimensions, rated from 300 to 375 hp across 1958–1965.
| Displacement | 430 ci / 7 L |
|---|---|
| Bore | 4.3" |
| Stroke | 3.7" |
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Configuration | V8 |
| Compression ratio | 10–10.5:1 (published figures vary) |
| Bore/stroke ratio | 1.162 |
| Block material | cast iron |
|---|---|
| Head material | cast iron |
| Valvetrain | OHV |
| Fuel type | gas |
| Advertised HP | 300–375 hp |
| Years | 1958–1965 |
| Year | Version | HP @ rpm | Torque @ rpm | Comp. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | gross | 350 @ 4400 * | 490 lb-ft @ 2800 * | 10:1 * |
| 1964 | gross | 320 @ 4600 * | 465 lb-ft @ 2600 * | — |
Factory specification sheet. * Not yet cross-verified.
| Bore/stroke character | 1.162 — oversquare — bore exceeds stroke, which favours higher RPM and larger valves |
|---|---|
| Mean piston speed at 6,000 RPM | 3,700 ft/min — in the range typical of performance street engines |
| Displacement per cylinder | 53.8 ci |
Each link opens the calculator with this engine's specs already filled in.
These records share identical bore, stroke, displacement and compression. They differ by model year and factory power rating.
| Year | Advertised HP | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 1958 | 375 hp | — |
| 1959 | 350 hp | — |
| 1960 | 315 hp | — |
| 1961 | 300 hp | — |
| 1962 | 300 hp | — |
| 1963 | — | — |
| 1964 | 320 hp | — |
| 1965 | 320 hp | — |
1 factory vehicle, 1958–1965. Each year opens that model's engine table.