I just picked up a free 1958 Edsel Pacer a year ago that was going to the crusher if I didn't take it. It's complete. Been sitting for a few decades. Engine was seized. I tried pouring diesel and atf through the spark plug holes and let it soak for a couple weeks. Couple weeks later and the cylinders were still full and the engine still seized. I sucked the fluid back out and poured household vinegar in there instead. The next day it broke loose. I drained the vinegar back out and poured engine oil in there and rotated it so the cylinder walls were well lubed. Hooked a battery up and the starter spun it over perfectly. All the exterior lights worked, interior lights, even the clock. Blower motor worked too. Surprising considering it sat outside in a pasture for a few decades with the doors open. My plan is to return it to the road eventually.
@@misfittoys8883 as long as you don't leave the vinegar in it for more than 24 hours the odds of any damage being caused is greatly reduced. I have used vinegar many times with great success.
Later this year I turn seventy five meaning when these cars were still on the road driving, and I was fourteen years of age, I had plans for a car to drive. Not too sure how long a comment you are willing to read but apologize in advance for just that, a long comment. I had a neighbor who was taken off the road in nineteen sixty for age and driving on the wrong side of the road more than often. I did take care of him a lot of the time bringing him food, helping with laundry....etc. He had bought this model edsel new in fifty eight and only put a thousand miles on it. Those miles were rough on the front fenders and so when I asked him what he wanted for it, he smiled and said, you helped me kid. Not one of my own kids give a damn so here is the title and a thousand dollars to fix it up as a good rig again! I was flabbergasted!! I drove it to my place as it ran flawlessly so proud of it. One thing though was that edsel grill was a girl shut down. Now back then, every wrecking yard had cheap parts for any older rigs like this and this wasn't old, just not to well loved. The one I got was jet black with a white interior. One other priceless feature was it had a three on the tree! Plus electric wipers and so with all of that, I pulled that front clip off and had a fifty seven ford four door heap as anything with a six cylinder wasn't cool. Thing was, it was really close in that black color as not all black is equal. No they do not just bolt right on but hey, fourteen and some time to make it my own. I also got rid of those flat mufflers and put straight pipes on it from every old rig I could find with stuff I could make work. I had plans of a four speed but hey, I can not see complaining as it was a standard and so left that alone plus I did not put those bucket seats out of a sixty two ford car I found and bought for a future project. My little black edsel got a lot of attention and one day a fellow who took pictures at our local car show took pictures of it and put in a magazine. It was a small picture on the front in a little corner picture so never kept that magazine.... a really bad mistake. I got drafted in sixty six, late as I was seventeen with a history of tickets and for fighting every kid around.... judge determined that I was wasting my talent to fight. It was that or go to jail. Kinda wish I had taken the offer of going to jail as scars will prove. Yet still proud to be a vet and miss the brothers
Medical bills like I said. My son was sick and I needed money so sold it to a guy in Copalis Washington. I heard he passed it on to his son. I can always replace a car @@walter2990
i don't care what other people say.. but i love edsels ! they were ahead of their time.. notice the LTD also has a grill which is shield shaped in the middle of the front...ford LTDs are nice...so are edsels !
One of my favorite uncles has an original 58 Edsel; he bought it years ago at an estate auction one of his aunts had; she let him buy it for only a couple hundred dollars,, because she knew he liked it, & that he was her favorite nephew. He spent months getting it fully & completely restored. He loves driving it everyday daily.
Finding a 1958 Edsel two-door with the Teletouch transmission is a rarity, which would explain interest in this vehicle albeit in rough condition. It is my understanding that a standard gear selector was available as a reduced-cost option for the automatic transmission on the Edsel Ranger, Pacer and station wagon models, whereas the Corsair and Citation models came standard with Teletouch. As rare this car is it would be cool if a collector would buy it and restore it instead of some backyard mechanic getting a hold of it who would end up destroying it in the end.
True enough. Only time will tell what fate befalls this car, but as long as I have it, it will not go to the crusher. Maybe if I hold it long enough, it will get super valuable!!
As far as this vehicle increasing its value while you own it, I don't think you are going to get there by pressure-washing the instrument cluster and using brute force to unfreeze the engine.
It was an underbored version of the 430 MEL engine, so you could re-create one by sleeving down a 430. The combustion chambers in this engine are in the bores, rather than in the heads. The hard part will be finding pistons for it.
The 410 was a powerhouse of an engine but the rare 430 with the dual quad setup that was available in the 58 Lincoln, Edsel, and Mercury, (L.E.M. engine series) was the first American production car to produce 400 HP.
I have a 1958 Edsel two door hard top with 361 fe engine that I have had for years looks like I may have to get out and work on, I've always liked the these cars 🚗
My dad had one of these 58's in 1964. Good riding car, but when you parked it, the valve covers would leak oil onto the exhaust manifold. Then when you restarted it, you'd get a blast of blue smoke coming out around the front horsecollar grille! It was mostly rusted out by 1966 and he had it towed away. It had like eight idiot lights across the bottom of the dash. Including a green one to indicate cold engine. Then coolant hot light, generator bad light, low oil pressure light, and I can't imagine what the other four lights were for. The inside door lock plates were identical to the 58 Mercury ones. It had that odd split front seat back, even on the 4-door models. The dash clock had an odd bang! rewinding mechanism that would go off every 20 minutes. It was like a 10 amp solenoid that would engage and spin the clock spring half a turn. Startled me every time. I was like 9 years old at the time. The maroon rug had faded to almost yellow, but it responded to a wash in the washing machine with some red RIT dye.
2 door being rare- certainly, but the teletouch was in the vast majority of 58 Edsels. Manual transmissions were rare in 58 and overdrive option on the manual trans was super rare!
Went and looked at a 58 Ranger a few years ago that had the manual transmission and overdrive. Came from California so the headlight pods were not rusted at all. Unfortunately, as soon as it was brought from califonia it was parked outside and sunk into the ground and now all the floorpans are toast. Guy wanted too much for it in that condition in my opinion
I find watching these kind of videos quite emotional . What s lovely old car . Her beauty shines through all the dirt and rust . I am in the UK but I love Edsels . They typify the days of the American dream .
I bought a '55 Ford 2 door with a 410 in it. Top speed was awesome, but on the drag strip it just smoked the tires. I won't make the joke about having to jack the front tires out of the pavement every morning. The rake was natural as the 410 was a few pounds heavier than the six that Ford had put in the car when new.
You can pull the heads and hit the pistons with a hammer with a chunk of 4x4 post. The valves being stuck can be fixed with pb blaster and a hammer. This can be made to run but like you said is it really worth it.
Rat rod material, like I've posted earlier I see this car up dated sitting on a mid 2000s Ford police car chassis and pretty much leave the rest of it like it is except of course where structural integrity is required.
if you restore this car and wanna be definitively efficient, you should put grease everywhere. grease et the only thing very efficient against rust. put grease between metal and carpet, inside door, behind metallic bumper, under the vehicle, behind the repairs you can make (everywhere inside the body - hidden erea - instead of using paint), hollow areas (necessarily hidden, so no need to be aesthetic). For rear wings unreachable with a paintbrush, use an extender and pour old oil everywhere each year.Handyman Experience - 35 years. From france
Know you don’t want to part out. But, are the plastic courtesy light lens covers in the front in good shape? Hard to find. All it takes is unscrewing the one Phillips head screws to get them off. If yes, would you sell them?
Thanks - it is a nice find. My nephew and me rescued my dad’s 58 4 door citation, and it’s back on the road. Still lots of “reliability” and detailing work to go. These are big head turners and thumbs up getters. Someone will want it. Do you know about J&J Repair & Restoration Restoration in North Dakota? Jeff Walker inherited “The Edsel King” title from his dad LeRoy. May be interesting to talk to him about your find. He has helped me a lot with ours. He and his Dad, now passed away, have an amazing history with these Edsels. jandjrepairandrestoration.com/
Thanks - it is a nice find. My nephew and me rescued my dad’s 58 4 door citation, and it’s back on the road. Still lots of “reliability” and detailing work to go. These are big head turners and thumbs up getters. Someone will want it. Do you know about J&J Repair & Restoration Restoration in North Dakota? Jeff Walker inherited “The Edsel King” title from his dad LeRoy. May be interesting to talk to him about your find. He has helped me a lot with ours. He and his Dad, now passed away, have an amazing history with these Edsels. jandjrepairandrestoration.com/
Beautiful car and definitely a rare find I hope this car gets another chance to live or atleast be used to get another on the road they unfortunately don’t make anything like this anymore and I’m really sad that there slowly disappearing forever
I know it's rough but overall it's in decent condition considering how long it sat, I'm positive somebody is interested in this car. I always enjoy seeing not Steve 😁 thanks for sharing all this awesome content and I wish you and your family a wonderful New Year 🎆✌️🇺🇲
Another way to tell the difference between the Ranger/Pacer and the Corsair/Citation is to look at the back window. The former series has a more "open" design whereas the latter has a more "shrouded" look.
Plus the Corsair/Citation is a bigger car. It was based on the Mercury. The Ranger/Pacer was based on the Ford, that, while huge by today's standards, is the "small" Edsel
Good video! Gives me a kick in rear to go and try and get my 58 Pacer unstuck. I’ll post a video on it soon! Most of my videos (and my logo) are around my 59 Corsair right now. Need to get more Edsel content on the internet!
Considering the ugly cookie cutter SUV's and four door station wagon trucks with wagon wheels and thin tires on them coming off the assembly lines of today, the Edsels are a beautiful looking car these days.
When I saw that car next to a pond, and the watermarks on the front tires, I figured that the floors and trunk would just be gone! The Edsel factory must have put some good time and money into good metal, paint and surface protection. There was an Edsel in my town when I was a kid that had a ford sedan front end - my dad said he probably crunched the front end and got a ford clip from the junk yard. I wonder if a Merc front would fit on this?
MEL motors have a similar design to Chevy 348/309 W motors: the block surfaces are not milled 90 degrees to the cylinder bores. The combustion chamber is in the block not the head. They started off as truck motors. Good low end torque but low rpm service.
One thing I'd like to see attempted on a stuck engine, after the ATF/acetone or whatever mixture you like, pump hot coolant through the engine. I saw on another channel Zip Ties and Bias Plies where he hooked the cooling system of a running engine to a cold engine in order to bring the cold engine up to heat and make it easier to start.
I was unaware Ford produced a V8 with in the cylinder combustion chambers. As soon as you pointed out the 'chamafered' bore, I knew what it was. Chevy had the cyl combustion chambers in their W-motors. They used a shallow deck angle to get the chamber space.
Had a friend who had a Edsel, a (I think, don't remember for sure) wagon, 58 or 59. It was family car that was sitting in the Arizona desert for a few decades. We lived in southern California and drove his little Toyota 80's pickup out there, hooked up a townbar and pulled that beast back home. It was at least 6 feet longer and a ton heavier than our pull vehicle and was a handful. We got it running in half a day, driving the next. The brakes was the longest amount of time to get it road worthy. He was going to part it out, but everyone and their mother wanted it complete, so went to some collector out there. Other than those terrible grills, they were decent cars, what a huge blunder that grill was. Enjoyed your video, new sub...
I like the styling of that car. Sure would make a cool cruiser. Too bad she's so rough. Not too rough for someone with money and connections, but too rough for us everyday working men. Happy New year to you, and thanks for another great video.
I never understood how Edsel failed. They was a nice car. Would make a good patena ride..maybe a body swap onto modern running gear. Make a fun sat night cruiser. Thanks for video. New sub. Looking from Greece.
Well Sir i don't know much about these cars being an Aussie i do love the big v8 engines but not into its look each has their tastes love the American Fairlanes and the mustangs' good luck with it all thanks for sharing
Great save! Yes, sometimes it takes a hundred more dollars to beat the scrap man at the auction. I enjoyed watching someone else struggle with the notion that a seized engine will break free. It had issues before it sat all those years but it may have some good internals for someone else. Put it in the field off the ground as a parts car candidate and maybe someone watching this will make a decent offer for the whole car. They are cool looking.
Sir, I am amazed by your video. Very nice presentation and evaluation regarding the car condition and future luck. Cars worse than this cat came to life nicely. Yours has a lot chances Thank you
That car CAN be a really nice car again. However, that is NOT an inexpensive proposition. Unless it's cracked, the engine is rebuildable. It MUST be fully disassembled and rebuilt. Same for the trans. Did you notice that nice Ford nine inch rear axle? DON'T break or bend any castings or trim pieces. There are a lot of intricate details in the exterior castings. As designed, the Edsel was a really good, high quality car. Ford DID have some labor issues going on at the time this car was built, and at least some quality issues when new could be attributed to that. The body would need to come off of the frame. At the very least, I'd have the frame dipped to clean it and strip the rust, so that it could be repaired properly. Body should be done, too. Like I said, that car is a big expensive project.
Agreed. The expense it would take to restore it is totally out of my range. At the very least, I kept it from going to the crusher (for now). It is somewhat cleaned out and up away from the ground to minimize further rusting. Hopefully someone comes along that wants to take on a project of this magnitude.
Much of the quality issues of the early ones was due to Robert S. McNamara. Yes, THAT Robert S. McNamara. He was against the car, so he ordered production to be sped up hoping that the cars would be full of defects, which, on a new make, is the kiss of death. Unfortunately, it worked as planned, and after a few 1960s were built in the fall of 59, the Edsel was no more.
Dear Sir. 👍👌👏 First of all I like to thank you very, very much! Since 2017 I literally watch tons of videos, especially with car content. You're only the second (or third?) guy who seems to be able and willing to (pressure) wash a vehicle in the only correct way there is = always starting at the highest point and wash it from top to bottom. 2) I really like these big old Edsels very much. Dean, a friend of Scott N. (channel Coldwarmotors), owns a running and driving Edsel since two years (it's his dream car). But somehow his black car with red interior looks smaller than yours. Maybe I don't remember correctly. But if, it could have to do with what you explained so well (size difference). Maybe Dean is interested in buying or exchanging your car. He has a yard full of cars. Thanks a lot for making teaching explaining recording editing uploading and sharing. Best regards luck and health in particular.
Car needs to stay intact. At least resurrected, running and driving. I am not so pessimistic about the situation with the engine. Still possible to save it.
A few months ago I bought a 61 Lincoln in similar or worse shape. Body twice as bad but engine slightly better. It was parked in 1977 in a damp shed in upstate New York. Then outside for five years. It has the same block as you Edsel though mine is a 430. The rocker arms on mine are 10x as filthy as yours. I did get it running but the front trans seal blew out quarts of tranny fluid. I have pulled the engine to fix the transmission and then I pulled the oil pan which had 3/4 inch of petrified sludge. At this point it is just something to do. Not enough money and time to really get it back on the road.
I actually should have said not enough money because I am retired and have plenty of time. Lol. I have had several of these MEL engines apart in the last thirty years. They are tough engines for sure.@@misfittoys8883
Do not recall what brand, but I got it off ebay several years ago to pull hubs off a Mercedes Unimog. Use the search words "hydraulic three jaw puller". It is made in China. I bet Harbor Freight probably sells them too.
Based on the fun I had watching this video, I'm a new subscriber! The póor old girl must have been a real looker back in the day! I'm glad you saved it from the crusher!
After giving it considerable thought, I have decided to forgive myself!! Honestly, older vehicles without a bunch of electronics in the interior are not as fragile as you might think. Had an 83 Bronco a long time ago that got the interion pressure washed in the spring when I would pull the top off, and in the fall before putting top back on. Did it for several years and never phased it a bit
@@misfittoys8883 Jesus, just pressure washing an engine can cause trouble. I've been a wrencher for 40 years now and you name it, I've done it, but bringing water into the interior of any vehicle is something that wouldn't even enter my mind🤯
If you are trying to save really stuck on frozen brake drums, And of course you don't want to damage/ warp / bend them. Why don't you just drill a couple of quarter inch size holes in them and soak them in some of your best penatrating oil , you can always weld the holes later if you want, or just leave them, for the next time they get stuck.
@@misfittoys8883 It's always great to have useful tools, such as a hydraulic three jaw puller , but the idea isn't just to disassemble the brakes, but to try and salvage as many good useful parts as possible . Because as many of us know, Replacement parts these days are not only expensive, but they are often made from inferior material with inferior craftsmanship compared to original.
My friend it is my belief that getting that engine going would be something that would help your channel grow because that's what people if something like that the challenge of getting that engine freed up and running again that's what they want to see just food for thought if all you got any it really is time if you've done it on your spare time I'm just doing that after I know myself even though the engine may be rearing obsolete the challenge of getting it going is the thing I want to see that's for me I figure other people feel the same thank you
You are absolutely correct. Having said that, I go back to what I said in vid about having much more limited resources than other youtube channels. Wish it wasn't that way, but it is.
Citation had a big V8 in it. A lot of racers wanted the motor. What was bad for the big V8 was the fact that the automatic transmission couldn’t take the torque. A friend had an automatic one brand new and went thru 4 transmissions then got rid of the car.
@misfittoys8883 Rats! I'm afraid it's too far for this old man. I would love to have the car. I grew up in your area. And on the Illinois side too. You have a very nice channel and I am Subbing and watching.
This is correct about the difference in the two series, although to find information on it is near impossible. But if you look at the dimensions listed for the Lincoln-based Edsel Corsair line, compared to the Ford-based Edsel Pacer line, the width is different by about 2". The length can be easily accepted because one make the frame longer and then adding more sheet metal to the front fender or longer rear section. But width requires entirely new tooling for everything. Even the bumpers have to changed, floor pans, any trim, glass, seats etc, etc. lt is unbelievable to me that Ford would design two Edsel lines, looking alike but not sharing one bit of common sheet metal to sell to the public. lt is surprising to think that the accountants could even think they were going to make money, even if times were good -- a fascinating story.
You're interesting and I have subscribed. Besides the detergent, put a snatch block on the car, reduce the load on the winch by 50%. You could have picked up the front and rear ends of the car with a roller jack and lined up the car better. The brakes would have come off easier if you removed the brake cylinder bolts or broken them off. If someone had plenty of time and money, the car could be patched and made presentable with another power plant.
Wow, a treadle vac. having just rebuilt one let me tell you It's a nightmare. a regular power break booster has about 10 parts a treadle vac has no less than 74 parts.
In its day when it was nice and shiny, I bet that was a beautiful cruiser. Before I became disabled, I had restored cars that were way worse than that one.
Shure can. But I have other projects that I would rather put my limited time and resources into. At least I saved it from going to the crusher. And it is sitting up off the ground to mitigate further rust untill the right person comes along that can bring it back to glory
1 mile west of Donnellson, Iowa sits AT LEAST 3 Edsels....unknown models I think they are all 1959, but could be 1958....the trees have grown up over the years I have seen them....north side of the highway...I doubt anything in that 'junkyard' is for sale.
At the time of this message being written, this video has almost 5k views and less than 300 likes.. what the hell people, why be so stingy w the likes?.. yall know yall are enjoying the content. Help a feller out and show him some love & hit that like button!!!
As a kid, I remember our neighbor stopped by my father's garage to show him his new Edsel with the selector buttons in the center of the steering wheel. Strange.
Some how Derrek from Vice Grip Garage and Mortske Repair and Sleeperdude are able to get these unstuck, But Like Elton John on the Pionner practice Makes Perfect.
34:48 i really wish they would've just made the dash out of steel like other cars of that vintage. it holds up better than all that cheap padding and plastic!
Yes. That has worked for me in the past but this transmission has a bellhousing that totally surrounds the flywheel. No place to get in there to access the teeth to pry
There was a 4 door version of this car across the river from me several years back. It was a driver but didn’t have brakes according to the for sale sign. I wanted to buy it to stick the body on my 85 f250 460 truck frame. I needed another project like I need another hole in my head though so I didn’t buy it.
I just picked up a free 1958 Edsel Pacer a year ago that was going to the crusher if I didn't take it. It's complete. Been sitting for a few decades. Engine was seized. I tried pouring diesel and atf through the spark plug holes and let it soak for a couple weeks. Couple weeks later and the cylinders were still full and the engine still seized. I sucked the fluid back out and poured household vinegar in there instead. The next day it broke loose. I drained the vinegar back out and poured engine oil in there and rotated it so the cylinder walls were well lubed. Hooked a battery up and the starter spun it over perfectly. All the exterior lights worked, interior lights, even the clock. Blower motor worked too. Surprising considering it sat outside in a pasture for a few decades with the doors open. My plan is to return it to the road eventually.
I have used vinegar in engines with some luck as well. Problem is, it can do just as much damage as good it seems
Awesome thank u for saving that edsel
@@misfittoys8883 as long as you don't leave the vinegar in it for more than 24 hours the odds of any damage being caused is greatly reduced. I have used vinegar many times with great success.
Later this year I turn seventy five meaning when these cars were still on the road driving, and I was fourteen years of age, I had plans for a car to drive. Not too sure how long a comment you are willing to read but apologize in advance for just that, a long comment. I had a neighbor who was taken off the road in nineteen sixty for age and driving on the wrong side of the road more than often. I did take care of him a lot of the time bringing him food, helping with laundry....etc. He had bought this model edsel new in fifty eight and only put a thousand miles on it. Those miles were rough on the front fenders and so when I asked him what he wanted for it, he smiled and said, you helped me kid. Not one of my own kids give a damn so here is the title and a thousand dollars to fix it up as a good rig again! I was flabbergasted!! I drove it to my place as it ran flawlessly so proud of it. One thing though was that edsel grill was a girl shut down. Now back then, every wrecking yard had cheap parts for any older rigs like this and this wasn't old, just not to well loved. The one I got was jet black with a white interior. One other priceless feature was it had a three on the tree! Plus electric wipers and so with all of that, I pulled that front clip off and had a fifty seven ford four door heap as anything with a six cylinder wasn't cool. Thing was, it was really close in that black color as not all black is equal. No they do not just bolt right on but hey, fourteen and some time to make it my own. I also got rid of those flat mufflers and put straight pipes on it from every old rig I could find with stuff I could make work. I had plans of a four speed but hey, I can not see complaining as it was a standard and so left that alone plus I did not put those bucket seats out of a sixty two ford car I found and bought for a future project. My little black edsel got a lot of attention and one day a fellow who took pictures at our local car show took pictures of it and put in a magazine. It was a small picture on the front in a little corner picture so never kept that magazine.... a really bad mistake. I got drafted in sixty six, late as I was seventeen with a history of tickets and for fighting every kid around.... judge determined that I was wasting my talent to fight. It was that or go to jail. Kinda wish I had taken the offer of going to jail as scars will prove. Yet still proud to be a vet and miss the brothers
Vintage vehicle stories/memories are always worth the time.
Thanks for writing it all out.
Thank you for your service and your story.
So you can't leave us hanging..., what ever happened to your prize Edsel??
Medical bills like I said. My son was sick and I needed money so sold it to a guy in Copalis Washington. I heard he passed it on to his son. I can always replace a car @@walter2990
Why do people use being a vétéran as a form of im better than you😂😂 doesn't mean anything exept you were forced to go to war😂stfu
i don't care what other people say.. but i love edsels ! they were ahead of their time.. notice the LTD also has a grill which is shield shaped in the middle of the front...ford LTDs are nice...so are edsels !
One of my favorite uncles has an original 58 Edsel; he bought it years ago at an estate auction one of his aunts had; she let him buy it for only a couple hundred dollars,, because she knew he liked it, & that he was her favorite nephew. He spent months getting it fully & completely restored. He loves driving it everyday daily.
Finding a 1958 Edsel two-door with the Teletouch transmission is a rarity, which would explain interest in this vehicle albeit in rough condition. It is my understanding that a standard gear selector was available as a reduced-cost option for the automatic transmission on the Edsel Ranger, Pacer and station wagon models, whereas the Corsair and Citation models came standard with Teletouch. As rare this car is it would be cool if a collector would buy it and restore it instead of some backyard mechanic getting a hold of it who would end up destroying it in the end.
True enough. Only time will tell what fate befalls this car, but as long as I have it, it will not go to the crusher. Maybe if I hold it long enough, it will get super valuable!!
As far as this vehicle increasing its value while you own it, I don't think you are going to get there by pressure-washing the instrument cluster and using brute force to unfreeze the engine.
Engine is toast.
You might be suprised how well dash areas hold up to water on vehicles with no delicate electronics.
But your point is valid.
This guy is the définition of a backyard mechanic😂😂
@@misfittoys8883no. Its not 😂😂
One of my dream cars is an Edsel station wagon of any year, any model, any trim.
Thank you for saving this piece of history.
Wagon would be my second choice after a convertible
Needs a 4 door. Parts car
If I remember correctly I think Martha Stewart keeps an Edsel Bermuda wagon at her estate in Connecticut.!
I had an Edsel E475 engine in a 1928 Ford hot rod. Quite a rare engine - one year, one model. It was fun watching people try to guess what it was.
It was an underbored version of the 430 MEL engine, so you could re-create one by sleeving down a 430. The combustion chambers in this engine are in the bores, rather than in the heads. The hard part will be finding pistons for it.
The 410 was a powerhouse of an engine but the rare 430 with the dual quad setup that was available in the 58 Lincoln, Edsel, and Mercury, (L.E.M. engine series) was the first American production car to produce 400 HP.
Imagine finding one of those!
Beautiful Citation, teletouch, and 2 door too boot. The stuff dreams are made of.
I have a 1958 Edsel two door hard top with 361 fe engine that I have had for years looks like I may have to get out and work on, I've always liked the these cars 🚗
My dad had one of these 58's in 1964. Good riding car, but when you parked it, the valve covers would leak oil onto the exhaust manifold. Then when you restarted it, you'd get a blast of blue smoke coming out around the front horsecollar grille!
It was mostly rusted out by 1966 and he had it towed away.
It had like eight idiot lights across the bottom of the dash. Including a green one to indicate cold engine. Then coolant hot light, generator bad light, low oil pressure light, and I can't imagine what the other four lights were for.
The inside door lock plates were identical to the 58 Mercury ones.
It had that odd split front seat back, even on the 4-door models.
The dash clock had an odd bang! rewinding mechanism that would go off every 20 minutes. It was like a 10 amp solenoid that would engage and spin the clock spring half a turn. Startled me every time. I was like 9 years old at the time.
The maroon rug had faded to almost yellow, but it responded to a wash in the washing machine with some red RIT dye.
It's a 2 door and has Tele Touch transmission. Kind of rare. That makes it much more desirable for restoration even if a bit rough.
2 door being rare- certainly, but the teletouch was in the vast majority of 58 Edsels. Manual transmissions were rare in 58 and overdrive option on the manual trans was super rare!
@@misfittoys8883I just found a rare 58 ranger with the manual trans unfortunately at a junkyard.
Went and looked at a 58 Ranger a few years ago that had the manual transmission and overdrive. Came from California so the headlight pods were not rusted at all. Unfortunately, as soon as it was brought from califonia it was parked outside and sunk into the ground and now all the floorpans are toast. Guy wanted too much for it in that condition in my opinion
Always enjoyed your commenrary on the B-J Auctions and your TH-cam channel. Glad you are doing better, Steve!
I find watching these kind of videos quite emotional . What s lovely old car . Her beauty shines through all the dirt and rust . I am in the UK but I love Edsels . They typify the days of the American dream .
You have to restore this beautiful car. Sooooooo rare. Cheers.
Nah. It's a parts car.
I bought a '55 Ford 2 door with a 410 in it. Top speed was awesome, but on the drag strip it just smoked the tires. I won't make the joke about having to jack the front tires out of the pavement every morning. The rake was natural as the 410 was a few pounds heavier than the six that Ford had put in the car when new.
Yay another piece of history is getting saved ❤ the number of old cars are getting smaller as time go's by
You can pull the heads and hit the pistons with a hammer with a chunk of 4x4 post. The valves being stuck can be fixed with pb blaster and a hammer. This can be made to run but like you said is it really worth it.
Currently, to me, it is not worth it.(obviously, or I would have persued it further!)
Obviously i agreed with you while talking about how it COULD be done. not it should be done. lol
Excellent point!!
Rat rod material, like I've posted earlier I see this car up dated sitting on a mid 2000s Ford police car chassis and pretty much leave the rest of it like it is except of course where structural integrity is required.
I love edsels. I would be interested in this car.
Shoot me an email if you are serious!
drmisfit1969@gmail.com
if you restore this car and wanna be definitively efficient, you should put grease everywhere. grease et the only thing very efficient against rust. put grease between metal and carpet, inside door, behind metallic bumper, under the vehicle, behind the repairs you can make (everywhere inside the body - hidden erea - instead of using paint), hollow areas (necessarily hidden, so no need to be aesthetic). For rear wings unreachable with a paintbrush, use an extender and pour old oil everywhere each year.Handyman Experience - 35 years. From france
Love the video and the car. Hopefully someone can buy it and save it as a long term project. More Edsel videos please!
The car is loved and liked by many. It should be saved in some form, perhaps a driver to cruises.
Know you don’t want to part out. But, are the plastic courtesy light lens covers in the front in good shape? Hard to find. All it takes is unscrewing the one Phillips head screws to get them off. If yes, would you sell them?
Sorry, not ready to part it out just yet
Thanks - it is a nice find. My nephew and me rescued my dad’s 58 4 door citation, and it’s back on the road. Still lots of “reliability” and detailing work to go.
These are big head turners and thumbs up getters. Someone will want it.
Do you know about J&J Repair & Restoration Restoration in North Dakota? Jeff Walker inherited “The Edsel King” title from his dad LeRoy. May be interesting to talk to him about your find. He has helped me a lot with ours. He and his Dad, now passed away, have an amazing history with these Edsels.
jandjrepairandrestoration.com/
Thanks - it is a nice find. My nephew and me rescued my dad’s 58 4 door citation, and it’s back on the road. Still lots of “reliability” and detailing work to go.
These are big head turners and thumbs up getters. Someone will want it.
Do you know about J&J Repair & Restoration Restoration in North Dakota? Jeff Walker inherited “The Edsel King” title from his dad LeRoy. May be interesting to talk to him about your find. He has helped me a lot with ours. He and his Dad, now passed away, have an amazing history with these Edsels.
jandjrepairandrestoration.com/
Beautiful car and definitely a rare find I hope this car gets another chance to live or atleast be used to get another on the road they unfortunately don’t make anything like this anymore and I’m really sad that there slowly disappearing forever
That's the first time I've seen an Edsel described as beautiful. 😮
I know it's rough but overall it's in decent condition considering how long it sat, I'm positive somebody is interested in this car. I always enjoy seeing not Steve 😁 thanks for sharing all this awesome content and I wish you and your family a wonderful New Year 🎆✌️🇺🇲
Maybe I will throw it on marketplace just to see what happens
Set her on a crown Vic police çar chassis and she'd ride and run better than she ever did.
Another way to tell the difference between the Ranger/Pacer and the Corsair/Citation is to look at the back window. The former series has a more "open" design whereas the latter has a more "shrouded" look.
Plus the Corsair/Citation is a bigger car. It was based on the Mercury. The Ranger/Pacer was based on the Ford, that, while huge by today's standards, is the "small" Edsel
Good video! Gives me a kick in rear to go and try and get my 58 Pacer unstuck. I’ll post a video on it soon!
Most of my videos (and my logo) are around my 59 Corsair right now. Need to get more Edsel content on the internet!
Definitely. Edsels are iconic for more than one reason
Considering the ugly cookie cutter SUV's and four door station wagon trucks with wagon wheels and thin tires on them coming off the assembly lines of today, the Edsels are a beautiful looking car these days.
When I saw that car next to a pond, and the watermarks on the front tires, I figured that the floors and trunk would just be gone! The Edsel factory must have put some good time and money into good metal, paint and surface protection. There was an Edsel in my town when I was a kid that had a ford sedan front end - my dad said he probably crunched the front end and got a ford clip from the junk yard. I wonder if a Merc front would fit on this?
Interesting! ..So glad i don't mess with old cars . . . but I used to.
You should give it a try. There is nothing rewarding about bringing a rolling computer to the shop.
Them Edsels can be made into pretty tough looking ‘50s era muscle cars.
MEL motors have a similar design to Chevy 348/309 W motors: the block surfaces are not milled 90 degrees to the cylinder bores. The combustion chamber is in the block not the head. They started off as truck motors. Good low end torque but low rpm service.
And camming it for revs destroyed the low end torque.
One thing I'd like to see attempted on a stuck engine, after the ATF/acetone or whatever mixture you like, pump hot coolant through the engine. I saw on another channel Zip Ties and Bias Plies where he hooked the cooling system of a running engine to a cold engine in order to bring the cold engine up to heat and make it easier to start.
Nice vid to watch from here in the UK. Cheers
Thanks for watching
I was unaware Ford produced a V8 with in the cylinder combustion chambers. As soon as you pointed out the 'chamafered' bore, I knew what it was.
Chevy had the cyl combustion chambers in their W-motors. They used a shallow deck angle to get the chamber space.
Guess we both learned something from the ol Edsel!
I thumbed up your video just because you saved the car!!
Had a friend who had a Edsel, a (I think, don't remember for sure) wagon, 58 or 59. It was family car that was sitting in the Arizona desert for a few decades. We lived in southern California and drove his little Toyota 80's pickup out there, hooked up a townbar and pulled that beast back home. It was at least 6 feet longer and a ton heavier than our pull vehicle and was a handful.
We got it running in half a day, driving the next. The brakes was the longest amount of time to get it road worthy.
He was going to part it out, but everyone and their mother wanted it complete, so went to some collector out there.
Other than those terrible grills, they were decent cars, what a huge blunder that grill was. Enjoyed your video, new sub...
Dude, the grill is the best part. So bizzarre, I cant help bit love it!!
Little bit crusty but you'll be able to get it on the road, thanks for sharing, Wishing you and your loved ones, Healthy and Prosperous New Year
This car is one of those"pick your battles wisely" kind of situations.
I like the styling of that car. Sure would make a cool cruiser. Too bad she's so rough. Not too rough for someone with money and connections, but too rough for us everyday working men. Happy New year to you, and thanks for another great video.
The kind of person that could afford to restore this car could afford to buy one in much better shape to start with
Sell it to budget buildz..or vice grip garage im sure they could make a hella video restoring and getting it running again 😅
I never understood how Edsel failed. They was a nice car. Would make a good patena ride..maybe a body swap onto modern running gear. Make a fun sat night cruiser. Thanks for video. New sub. Looking from Greece.
How did they fail? They were the ugliest cars ever made dude! 😂😂
@@spaceghost8995 Not exactly true. The Gremlin is very ugly.
@@1776_Garage The Edsel got better in 1960. Love the 58 and 59 also, but the grille is weird even though I love the cars.
@@FordHoard They are ok. My favorite car is the Torino
@1776_Garage Those are nice! I've mostly been a Ford guy, but I'm loving my 79 Camaro I bought. Need to do a video on it soon.
Well Sir i don't know much about these cars being an Aussie i do love the big v8 engines but not into its look each has their tastes love the American Fairlanes and the mustangs' good luck with it all thanks for sharing
lots of luck.i would love to see it restored.thank you
Great save! Yes, sometimes it takes a hundred more dollars to beat the scrap man at the auction. I enjoyed watching someone else struggle with the notion that a seized engine will break free. It had issues before it sat all those years but it may have some good internals for someone else. Put it in the field off the ground as a parts car candidate and maybe someone watching this will make a decent offer for the whole car. They are cool looking.
HibI need rear taillights for 58 corsair if for sale please reply
The bent pushrod makes me believe it had problems other than the stuck pistons as well
Sir, I am amazed by your video. Very nice presentation and evaluation regarding the car condition and future luck. Cars worse than this cat came to life nicely. Yours has a lot chances Thank you
Agreed. Just needs the right person to make it a personal priority
That car CAN be a really nice car again. However, that is NOT an inexpensive proposition. Unless it's cracked, the engine is rebuildable. It MUST be fully disassembled and rebuilt. Same for the trans. Did you notice that nice Ford nine inch rear axle? DON'T break or bend any castings or trim pieces. There are a lot of intricate details in the exterior castings. As designed, the Edsel was a really good, high quality car. Ford DID have some labor issues going on at the time this car was built, and at least some quality issues when new could be attributed to that.
The body would need to come off of the frame. At the very least, I'd have the frame dipped to clean it and strip the rust, so that it could be repaired properly. Body should be done, too. Like I said, that car is a big expensive project.
Agreed. The expense it would take to restore it is totally out of my range. At the very least, I kept it from going to the crusher (for now). It is somewhat cleaned out and up away from the ground to minimize further rusting. Hopefully someone comes along that wants to take on a project of this magnitude.
Much of the quality issues of the early ones was due to Robert S. McNamara. Yes, THAT Robert S. McNamara. He was against the car, so he ordered production to be sped up hoping that the cars would be full of defects, which, on a new make, is the kiss of death. Unfortunately, it worked as planned, and after a few 1960s were built in the fall of 59, the Edsel was no more.
Awsome done saving that edsel. In my opinion a beautyful modell
Dear Sir.
👍👌👏 First of all I like to thank you very, very much! Since 2017 I literally watch tons of videos, especially with car content. You're only the second (or third?) guy who seems to be able and willing to (pressure) wash a vehicle in the only correct way there is = always starting at the highest point and wash it from top to bottom. 2) I really like these big old Edsels very much. Dean, a friend of Scott N. (channel Coldwarmotors), owns a running and driving Edsel since two years (it's his dream car). But somehow his black car with red interior looks smaller than yours. Maybe I don't remember correctly. But if, it could have to do with what you explained so well (size difference). Maybe Dean is interested in buying or exchanging your car. He has a yard full of cars.
Thanks a lot for making teaching explaining recording editing uploading and sharing.
Best regards luck and health in particular.
Car needs to stay intact. At least resurrected, running and driving. I am not so pessimistic about the situation with the engine. Still possible to save it.
No doubt the engine has some potential, but not with my current limited resources
The engine can be saved as I've done many times
A few months ago I bought a 61 Lincoln in similar or worse shape. Body twice as bad but engine slightly better. It was parked in 1977 in a damp shed in upstate New York. Then outside for five years. It has the same block as you Edsel though mine is a 430. The rocker arms on mine are 10x as filthy as yours. I did get it running but the front trans seal blew out quarts of tranny fluid. I have pulled the engine to fix the transmission and then I pulled the oil pan which had 3/4 inch of petrified sludge. At this point it is just something to do. Not enough money and time to really get it back on the road.
"not enough time and money"- I fully understand that statement
I actually should have said not enough money because I am retired and have plenty of time. Lol. I have had several of these MEL engines apart in the last thirty years. They are tough engines for sure.@@misfittoys8883
If you have time, could you please let me know what brand of brake puller that is that you were using! Thanks!
Do not recall what brand, but I got it off ebay several years ago to pull hubs off a Mercedes Unimog. Use the search words "hydraulic three jaw puller". It is made in China. I bet Harbor Freight probably sells them too.
@@misfittoys8883 thank you, I will try both suggestions!
been waiting for ever for a video like this
You mean a video of utter failure?
no , i mean Edsel videos, someone trying to work on them, i have a pacer so i look for tips.@@misfittoys8883
Based on the fun I had watching this video, I'm a new subscriber! The póor old girl must have been a real looker back in the day! I'm glad you saved it from the crusher!
Hello from Southern Ukraine 🖐️😉🤝👍
Greetings right back at you!!
I like the soap idea, can't get hollered at for a clean bed. That ole girls gonna need a lot of love.
Shame as the body was remarkably solid for a 65 year old car that sat in the dirt.
Kitty tax paid with vid of the floof.
Dude, once you hit the dashboard with that pressure washer.......you lost me😢
After giving it considerable thought, I have decided to forgive myself!!
Honestly, older vehicles without a bunch of electronics in the interior are not as fragile as you might think. Had an 83 Bronco a long time ago that got the interion pressure washed in the spring when I would pull the top off, and in the fall before putting top back on. Did it for several years and never phased it a bit
@@misfittoys8883 Jesus, just pressure washing an engine can cause trouble. I've been a wrencher for 40 years now and you name it, I've done it, but bringing water into the interior of any vehicle is something that wouldn't even enter my mind🤯
I love the Edsel, so nice lines
Nothing else out there like a 58 Edsel!!
That front grill reminds me of the dash vents on a 2023 Volvo c40:)
If you are trying to save really stuck on frozen brake drums,
And of course you don't want to damage/ warp / bend them.
Why don't you just drill a couple of quarter inch size holes in them and soak them in some of your best penatrating oil , you can always weld the holes later if you want, or just leave them, for the next time they get stuck.
Interesting idea, but ultimately the puller was much more time effective
@@misfittoys8883
It's always great to have useful tools, such as a hydraulic three jaw puller , but the idea isn't just to disassemble the brakes, but to try and salvage as many good useful parts as possible .
Because as many of us know,
Replacement parts these days are not only expensive, but they are often made from inferior material with inferior craftsmanship compared to original.
Good lord😂😂ive heard it all now😂😂😂
Man, she needs a little work and some more road time. Not a rotisserie resto, by far, but cool enough to make her roll and ride again.
Just needs the right person to take it on
My friend it is my belief that getting that engine going would be something that would help your channel grow because that's what people if something like that the challenge of getting that engine freed up and running again that's what they want to see just food for thought if all you got any it really is time if you've done it on your spare time I'm just doing that after I know myself even though the engine may be rearing obsolete the challenge of getting it going is the thing I want to see that's for me I figure other people feel the same thank you
You are absolutely correct.
Having said that, I go back to what I said in vid about having much more limited resources than other youtube channels.
Wish it wasn't that way, but it is.
Great content 👍, always enjoy watching you 😊. Thanks 🙏 for sharing.
Thanks for watching bobtucker!!
What kind of wheel puller is that? Is it pneumatic or like a jack?
Hydraulic. Kind of like a bottle jack
Hope you had a great Christmas and new years mate
Thanks for watching. Hope you had happy holidays as well
Citation had a big V8 in it. A lot of racers wanted the motor. What was bad for the big V8 was the fact that the automatic transmission couldn’t take the torque. A friend had an automatic one brand new and went thru 4 transmissions then got rid of the car.
Where are you located? I would love to have it here in Arkansas
Southern Iowa
@misfittoys8883 Rats! I'm afraid it's too far for this old man. I would love to have the car. I grew up in your area. And on the Illinois side too. You have a very nice channel and I am Subbing and watching.
Thank you Sir !!
Couple of nice shooter bucks! We grow em big in Iowa!!!
Especially southern Iowa
Love seeing your videos man. Keep ‘em comin
I shurely will.
That car is sooo ugly it's. Beautiful!!!
Exactly!!
In Canada, Ford Canada had 4 divisions, Ford, Meteor, Mercury, Edsel, the Meteor was a cross between a Ford and a Mercury.
Hold a piece of dry ice against the valve head - particularly after the head has sat in the full sun till it's hot - a project for the summer
This is correct about the difference in the two series, although to find information on it is near impossible. But if you look at the dimensions listed for the Lincoln-based Edsel Corsair line, compared to the Ford-based Edsel Pacer line, the width is different by about 2". The length can be easily accepted because one make the frame longer and then adding more sheet metal to the front fender or longer rear section. But width requires entirely new tooling for everything. Even the bumpers have to changed, floor pans, any trim, glass, seats etc, etc. lt is unbelievable to me that Ford would design two Edsel lines, looking alike but not sharing one bit of common sheet metal to sell to the public. lt is surprising to think that the accountants could even think they were going to make money, even if times were good -- a fascinating story.
Excellent point. Ford placed a LOT of faith in the success of the Edsel line
Mercury body on the upper models, Ford body on the lower models. 1958 only. 59 and 60 were Fords.
I gave up trying to rebuild it myself and sent it out and it was actually done for a reasonable price...
The part of the cylinder your talking about is the combustion chamber MEL engines has no combustion in the heads.
Yes. I did not verbalize it very well in video
You're interesting and I have subscribed. Besides the detergent, put a snatch block on the car, reduce the load on the winch by 50%. You could have picked up the front and rear ends of the car with a roller jack and lined up the car better. The brakes would have come off easier if you removed the brake cylinder bolts or broken them off. If someone had plenty of time and money, the car could be patched and made presentable with another power plant.
Cool car my father bought a brand new 1958 Edsel wagon three seater 3 on the tree v8 maybe 292? Very heavy car teal and white color
@@tomheald5155I believe the three seat wagon was the rarest Edsel in 1958
299 USD TV is valued at 1862 USD today. cumulative inflation : 523.07%
Do you have the 1958 Edsel ? Would be interested in some parts..
I have since sold it
Wow, a treadle vac. having just rebuilt one let me tell you It's a nightmare. a regular power break booster has about 10 parts a treadle vac has no less than 74 parts.
If I did go to the trouble of making this car a driver, I would swap the tradle vac out for a hydroboost setup
Never really seen one, or paid attention to one more likely but i think its a pretty cool looking ride! Id drive a decent one daily!
Spraying water on the instrument cluster is a great idea. I do it every week to my car.
Hey that car looks so cool with those mags you gotta polish ot up and make a rat rod!!
Was that car bought from an old farm right on State highway 21 in Wisconsin?
Nope. Southern Iowa
Lot's of good parts or a Strat if some one wants to fix it.....well done.
In its day when it was nice and shiny, I bet that was a beautiful cruiser. Before I became disabled, I had restored cars that were way worse than that one.
This car can be restored. If it isn't it will be such a waste
Shure can. But I have other projects that I would rather put my limited time and resources into. At least I saved it from going to the crusher. And it is sitting up off the ground to mitigate further rust untill the right person comes along that can bring it back to glory
1 mile west of Donnellson, Iowa sits AT LEAST 3 Edsels....unknown models I think they are all 1959, but could be 1958....the trees have grown up over the years I have seen them....north side of the highway...I doubt anything in that 'junkyard' is for sale.
It's got a tough guy look with those vintage mags and tires
Keep it original, numbers matching, it makes the car worth more, get the e475 running!
At the time of this message being written, this video has almost 5k views and less than 300 likes.. what the hell people, why be so stingy w the likes?.. yall know yall are enjoying the content. Help a feller out and show him some love & hit that like button!!!
PREACH IT!!
As a kid, I remember our neighbor stopped by my father's garage to show him his new Edsel with the selector buttons in the center of the steering wheel. Strange.
Late 50's and early 60's were full of strangeness in the american auto industry
Thank u for saving the old cars. Don’t part it out ! I want it so bad
To straighten a vehicle on a trailer-spash cooking oil down and pull it with a come along where you want!😊
Why wouldn't you straighten the steering wheel s?
With all 4 wheels locked up and having winch hooked off to one side of car, the steering wont do much anyway
A testimony to the folly of US automotive design but an important part of design during this period.
Some how Derrek from Vice Grip Garage and Mortske Repair and Sleeperdude are able to get these unstuck, But Like Elton John on the Pionner practice Makes Perfect.
34:48 i really wish they would've just made the dash out of steel like other cars of that vintage. it holds up better than all that cheap padding and plastic!
No doubt, but this was the top of the line Edsel for 58
Have you ever tried the flywheel and a pry bar trick
Yes.
That has worked for me in the past but this transmission has a bellhousing that totally surrounds the flywheel. No place to get in there to access the teeth to pry
There was a 4 door version of this car across the river from me several years back. It was a driver but didn’t have brakes according to the for sale sign. I wanted to buy it to stick the body on my 85 f250 460 truck frame. I needed another project like I need another hole in my head though so I didn’t buy it.
Wish I had some of that wisdom!
I'm interested in buying if it's available
drmisfit1969@gmail.com
Oh man! I bid this up to $500 online. I wanted to go to this auction but had a wedding to attend the same weekend!
DAMN YOU!!