[frnkeore]

I'm the proud owner of a '58 Edsel 361, cast in Sept of '57. They were also in the '59 line up and were a 2 year only engine.

The stated bore size was always a mystery to me. It was called out at 4 3/64 (4.046875). But, you have to remember that it was 1958 and MANY things were still given in fractions. My assumption, is that Ford used the fractional bore size, thinking it would be better understood by the public. But all of Fords parts drawing are in decimals, usually 2 digits, like using .38, instead of 3/8 (.375). That goes back to 1932 and most likely model A's and T's before that (I don't have any of those drawings).

I had always thought that the bore on the '58 361 was 4.05, because if you run the math for the 4 3/64 x 3 1/2 engine, it comes to only 360.154 ci, where as the 4.05 x 3.5 is 360.71, not to mention that the '61 390 was 4.05 and I learned that bore first, as a mechanic in the '60's.

One other difference, on all '58 FE engines, is that there is NO front oil drain hole, into the timing area, like all other FE's from '59 on. I guess they found that the "Jiggler Pin" wasn't sufficient to oil the timing chain and gears. I have to drill one for mine.

Last, the '58 Edsel 361, had the highest CR of any Ford engine @ 10.5 CR, until the HP FE's came out later. The deck clearance, was only .008 with no valve relief and a .030 thick head gasket.

Here is the Edsel specs, from the service manual.