• Mustang Forums
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
  • Classic Mustang Specific Tech

289 hipo heads vs. 302 heads

  • Thread starter Thread starter Makdaddymac
  • Start date Start date Jun 13, 2006
M

Makdaddymac

New Member
May 28, 2005
323
1
0
orlando
Jun 13, 2006
#1
  • Jun 13, 2006
  • #1
simple would ther be any advantage of taking some oldschool 289 factory "hipo" heads in replace of my 91's 302 stockies.I have somone caliming the 289 heads have bigger ports or some ****, but i cant find any info.....
 
R

Ronstang

New Member
Apr 4, 2004
1,294
0
0
Houston Texas
Jun 13, 2006
#2
  • Jun 13, 2006
  • #2
The 289 heads only have one advantage and that is a smaller combustion chamber size. Other than that the 91 heads are better.
 

DukeGnarley

Member
Apr 2, 2003
597
2
19
Auburn/Ellensburg, Wa
Jun 13, 2006
#3
  • Jun 13, 2006
  • #3
getting ahold of hipo heads will be a problem, and they probably aren't much if any better than the ones you've got already.
 
H

headgrinder

Member
Apr 29, 2005
33
0
6
san rafael ca.
Jun 14, 2006
#4
  • Jun 14, 2006
  • #4
289 vs 302

The 289 hi po heads are the same as stock 289 except they have screw in studs. valve size port size all the same.
 

rbohm

Founding Member
Apr 12, 2002
6,698
550
204
tucson,az
Jun 14, 2006
#5
  • Jun 14, 2006
  • #5
headgrinder said:
The 289 hi po heads are the same as stock 289 except they have screw in studs. valve size port size all the same.
Click to expand...

the hipo heads also have cast in spring pockets as well.

between the 91 302 heads, and the early hipo 289 heads, you are going to have an increase in compression ratio with the hipo heads, but you will lose the high swirl combustion chambers from the 302 heads. the likely net change in hp going from one to the other will be very close to zero.
 
P

Protowrxs

Member
Jul 20, 2005
93
0
6
Oklahoma
Jun 14, 2006
#6
  • Jun 14, 2006
  • #6
Sell the HiPo heads to a HiPo owner owner needing originals and use that money for some AFR's or something similar. Good HiPo heads (original true versions) are worth quite a bit.

I have a pair of original date sequence HiPo heads that have the exhaust opened up and they worked well back in the day but any aftermarket heads are much better performance wise, especially aluminum to save the weight.

My 2 cents..

-Stephen
 
D

D.Hearne

New Member
Sep 29, 2000
11,730
6
0
south louisiana
Jun 14, 2006
#7
  • Jun 14, 2006
  • #7
rbohm said:
but you will lose the high swirl combustion chambers from the 302 heads..
Click to expand...
High swirl on E7TE's? No, only on the E6SE's and some of the GT40 heads is that true.
 
R

rob1984

New Member
Aug 1, 2006
9
0
0
Aug 17, 2006
#8
  • Aug 17, 2006
  • #8
i heard that the air tube ports cause restriction in flow they can be ground out though.
 

LMan

Founding Member
Aug 10, 2002
1,246
0
0
Mom's basement
Aug 18, 2006
#9
  • Aug 18, 2006
  • #9
Protowrxs said:
Sell the HiPo heads to a HiPo owner owner needing originals and use that money for some AFR's or something similar. Good HiPo heads (original true versions) are worth quite a bit.
Click to expand...


Excellent advice.
 

Max Power

Active Member
Jul 31, 2003
1,774
1
36
St Paul
Aug 18, 2006
#10
  • Aug 18, 2006
  • #10
Swapping around factory castings is like swapping around deck chairs on the titanic. If you want better heads, go aftermarket.
 

Rusty67

20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 3, 2002
3,749
37
109
LA, CA
Aug 18, 2006
#11
  • Aug 18, 2006
  • #11
Don't the highpo heads also have cast in guide plates ? I've got a friend who used to circle track race back in the 70s-80s. He used those heads. He still holds the speed record for his class at I think its Saugus speedway. Those heads can rev high as all hell, I know that for sure. He use to run them over 7200 during the race all day, consistantly using nothing but factory parts. Are they a good head ? Yes. They have a lot of potential. Do you want to put the work into it to make them perform ? That is your decision.
 

Hack

15 Year Member
Mar 23, 2004
1,945
13
69
Minneapolis
Aug 18, 2006
#12
  • Aug 18, 2006
  • #12
The newer heads are better, unless you're going to run 60s gas in your car. The new stuff runs on 87 octane all day.

GT40s are another big step up from the E7s that you have now. According to the info I have, GT40s were worth 30 hp over the E7s on a 90s 302. Of course your results will vary depending on the rest of your engine components.
 

LMan

Founding Member
Aug 10, 2002
1,246
0
0
Mom's basement
Aug 18, 2006
#13
  • Aug 18, 2006
  • #13
Rusty67 said:
Don't the highpo heads also have cast in guide plates ?
Click to expand...


They have the 'small' holes for non-rail rockers, IIRC
 

67GTCOUPE

Founding Member
Dec 20, 2000
653
0
0
Land of Ice and Snow
Aug 18, 2006
#14
  • Aug 18, 2006
  • #14
Any new aftermarket aluminum head will KILL those old heads.

So, DO NOT waste money redoing old school iron heads........unless it is a numbers matching, I want to get money type of thing.....
 

Az Pete

10 Year Member
Mar 30, 2005
711
18
49
Panama City, Fl.
Aug 18, 2006
#15
  • Aug 18, 2006
  • #15
Would this apply to the '68 J coded heads also.
 
D

danny clemens

Member
May 4, 2005
728
0
16
Aug 18, 2006
#16
  • Aug 18, 2006
  • #16
By todays standard the 289 hi-po isn't all that powerful. It's just a very desireable low production car that we would all like to have. I agree with everybody else. If you have the hi-po heads sell them and buy aftermarkert heads. Even the early 351 W heads will out perform them.
 
6

'69Stang

Founding Member
Sep 28, 1999
1,130
2
38
Metro Detroit
Aug 21, 2006
#17
  • Aug 21, 2006
  • #17
Like someone said - "Get AFR 165's and sell the HiPo heads to someone who needs them for a restoration".
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

F
289 to 302 Engine
  • Fri Guy
  • Feb 13, 2025
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
Replies
4
Views
672
1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk- Feb 13, 2025
Fri Guy
F
6
Hey all,I’m putting together a 302 for my 1968 Mustang and wanted to post the combo + some questions to make sure I’m not missing crucial
  • 68_Disgustang
  • Feb 22, 2026
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
Replies
4
Views
887
1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk- Jun 20, 2026
gray owl
G
H
Forced Induction On3 Turbo Kit- Parts list NEEDED - 302 Stock Motor
  • Hirothecool1
  • Feb 27, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2
Replies
21
Views
1K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Mar 7, 2026
slow84lx
S
Progress Thread Progress Thread- From6to8's 95 GT/Saleen Supercharged 331 install
  • from6to8
  • Mar 22, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2
Replies
24
Views
914
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- May 6, 2026
from6to8
SN95 Desktop 363 Engine Combination - Looking for input
  • WhiteCobra95
  • Sep 8, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
11
Views
1K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Oct 6, 2025
Habu135
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
  • Classic Mustang Specific Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?