rebuild? or new engine?

drummerboy8683 · Jan 17, 2006

I have a 66 289 coupe that smokes real bad when i run it and EXCESSIVELY burns oil and gas (i got about 11mpg and was adding about a quart of oil every 100 miles!!! ) needless to say, it needs engine work. i would like to upgrade to the hi-perf 289. would it be better to have the current (original) engine rebuilt and upgraded to the hi-perf? or would it be better to just buy a whole new engine and have it installed? i live in north FL, about how much should this cost? i got a ballpark estimate from a mechanic that hasn't seen my car and he said about $3000-3500. is this a reasonable price? I am not an experienced mechanic nor do i have the necessary tools to undertake a major task such as this. any feedback is appreciated. thanks!

A67StangMaster · Jan 18, 2006

if i was you i would take it to a realiable machin shop and tell them to rebuild the engine for you. it should cost you around 2000 to 3000 if you want preformance with it...

0to100to0 · Jan 18, 2006

isn't "hi-performance 289" an oxymoron?

matt

LMan · Jan 18, 2006

The 289 can be built to scream. Not the most budget-oriented avenue today, but it can be done with today's aftermarket heads and cam designs.

RE: the question, if you just want to get back on the road, a ring job might set you back only a couple hundred bucks. Lots of choices here.

5.0ina66 · Jan 18, 2006

0to100to0 said:
isn't "hi-performance 289" an oxymoron?

matt

Apparently you've never heard of Carroll Shelby? He got 400+hp out of his competition 289s. You could come pretty close to that with modern intake heads and a custom cam, and still be streetable.

I'd say if it's rebuildable, rebuild it! If not, get a 302 from a junkyard and rebuild it.

As for having no tools, hell, a 9/1, 7/16, and 1/2" wrench set is enough to pretty much dissasemble the whole car. You can pull/install an engine yourself with a rented engine hoist. 30 bolts, 10 wires and 2 vaccum lines...it DOES NOT get simpler. That was the first engine I've ever pulled too. Want complicated? Try pulling a V6 & trans out of a modern Nissan!

A67StangMaster · Jan 18, 2006

HAhaa thats soo ture, its harder to pull a engine out of newer cars then to pull one out of a classic i probley pulled my engine 10 times, I allways want more power.
All you need is one 25$ socket set and you will save your self like 1500 on labor, dont worry they will put everything back on just save everything. in ziploc bags

SoCalCruising · Jan 18, 2006

It sounds like you may be in a hurry and not want your ride down too long. So, one option is buying a Ford Racing crate motor - a 345hp 302. They go for about $3100. You'll have to swap over some parts from your 289, but you won't have to buy much - intake manifold, performance carb, water pump, and maybe a bit more. You'll probably have $4K in it, but you'll have a new motor making good power. These come with alum. heads. Something to consider.

drummerboy8683 · Jan 18, 2006

hey guys, thanks for your input. yeah, i have all the regular mechanic tools, i meant i dont have an engine hoist or stand and stuff like that.

0to100to0 · Jan 18, 2006

i knew i was asking for it.......

0to100to0 said:
isn't "hi-performance 289" an oxymoron?

matt

but why bother with a 289 unless you are trying to keep the car original? it takes too much money to build that thing up and it doesn't even make a good stroker candidate. If you are looking for cheap power, you can fit a large displacement stroker (like a 420W) for cheap. PAW sells a long block kit for a 420W for less thank 4K and it's totally streetable. or you could buy a 351, or a 347, or a 327....... i love all the choices, this is definatly the best hobby there is!

matt

Jester67 · Jan 18, 2006

0to100to0 said:
it doesn't even make a good stroker candidate.
matt

5.0ina66 · Jan 18, 2006

Jester67 said:

X2

Next you'll tell me iron heads cant make power

65ShelbyClone · Jan 18, 2006

0to100to0 said:
but why bother with a 289 unless you are trying to keep the car original? it takes too much money to build that thing up and it doesn't even make a good stroker candidate. If you are looking for cheap power, you can fit a large displacement stroker (like a 420W) for cheap. PAW sells a long block kit for a 420W for less thank 4K and it's totally streetable.

First of all, I'd be careful knocking the 289 like that. It might incite a riot around here. Its also as good a stroker candidate as a 302. Besides, you're telling drummerboy to put a fire-breathing engine into what is likely a worn-out factory car. He even said he's not an experienced mechanic, so its likely that he wouldn't be able to tune it or replace other parts that break from the power. That 420W comes with stock heads, BTW. Not exactly a performance stroker.

I personally would recommend either rebuilding the 289 and using a mild performance cam or getting a 302 longblock/mild cam. Also a better intake manifiold like a Weiand Stealth and a ~500-600CFM four barrel carburetor. I can't help with what labor prices are good or not since I do all the work.

0to100to0 · Jan 18, 2006

from what i understand, the 289 is limited in the amount of clearance for large cranks... i read that somewhere, i'll post it when i find it.

matt

5.0ina66 · Jan 18, 2006

0to100to0 said:
from what i understand, the 289 is limited in the amount of clearance for large cranks... i read that somewhere, i'll post it when i find it.

matt

Aw Jeez! Not this ***** again!

drummerboy8683 · Jan 18, 2006

of course i would love to have a major powerhouse type of engine, but my main concern with that is me getting into trouble with my lead foot!!! also, as of now, my car is basically stock everywhere else, which means 4 wheel non-power drum brakes, non power steering, and a creaky suspension! while all of these projects are in the future, i dont want to kill myself in the meantime cause i know that i would drive a powerful engine faster. thanks, kyle

65ShelbyClone · Jan 18, 2006

Do you want the car to be fast right now, or just running so you can drive it? If you just want it running and not burning oil, maybe look for a used engine.

0to100to0 · Jan 18, 2006

sorry guys

i know it makes people upset (defensive?) when people bash an engine that they have in their car (i.e. a 289) but i wasn't trying to "bash" anything.... i was simply trying to share some information....

the difference between the 302 and the 289 is not just stroke, in the 302 block, the bottom of the cylinders was extended to provide additional piston support at BDC....and I quote "This is why 289 blocks aren't always recommended for large stroker applications." Ford Windsor Small Block Performance

for the original poster, this is not to say that you cannot make a high performance 289, i made a performance 2.3 liter engine in a honda for goodness sakes!
however, you can probably put out the same power as a stock 420 (with stock heads to boot- the4.2 liter in my mom's mercedes doesn't do much in that car but it would in a mustang) You could make a hi-po 289, but that is your ceiling. if you put the motor in and then are done with it then that is one thing, but how often can guys like us leave well enough alone?

my advice would be to start with a 302 or 351 based stroker (which is not more expensive to build than a stock stroke engine) and then later, if you want, u have the ability to upgrade heads, intake, ignition, etc.

but that's just my opinion. (and that is what these forums are about)

Matt

oh yeah, and don't get me started on iron heads, i'll trade one horsepower for 6lbs off my front end.

Realmongo · Jan 18, 2006

When I lived by Jacksonville, FL, I had my engine rebuilt at Fox Engineering close to the intersection of I-10 and I-295. They took my 283 Chevy, bored it out, installed a 327 crank to stroke it and installed the appropriate pistons. Total cost for the shortblock was about $700.00 or so. They can take your 289 and give you back one bored out and stroked with a 302 crank in it.

5.0ina66 · Jan 18, 2006

0to100to0 said:
i know it makes people upset (defensive?) when people bash an engine that they have in their car (i.e. a 289) but i wasn't trying to "bash" anything.... i was simply trying to share some information....

the difference between the 302 and the 289 is not just stroke, in the 302 block, the bottom of the cylinders was extended to provide additional piston support at BDC....and I quote "This is why 289 blocks aren't always recommended for large stroker applications." Ford Windsor Small Block Performance

Matt

oh yeah, and don't get me started on iron heads, i'll trade one horsepower for 6lbs off my front end.

Opinions is opinions, facts is facts. The 289 cylinder walls being shorter is pure horseshat. I saw this debate, so when I went to a swap meet, I measured 4 or 5 different blocks. NO DIFFERENCE! If that's not good enough, I saw a respected engine builder who'd spent years measuring 50 different blocks....no difference, and he's got pics to prove it.

I for one am not upset or defensive. The only thing that irritated me here is shlitty info. As for iron heads, you save more than 6lbs with aluminum, and btw 6lbs is not significant enough to affect hp/wieght ratio or car balance in all but the most extreme situations.

0to100to0 · Jan 18, 2006

5.0ina66 said:
As for iron heads, you save more than 6lbs with aluminum, and btw 6lbs is not significant enough to affect hp/wieght ratio or car balance in all but the most extreme situations.

i know u save more than 6 lbs, u save more like 40 or 50lbs.... but you can pretty much equate a 6 pound weight loss to a 1 horsepower gain......

i hate to keep bringing this up, but i see information on it all over the place, i have been looking around my house and have found it in 3 books, and a lot of places on the internet :
"While the 289 block can be a stroker candidate, you shouldn't use it involving strokes longer than 3.10". This is because when Ford changed over to the 302, they extended the cyldiner bores to help icnrease piston stability. The 289 doesn't have this upgrade, so you don't want the piston moving too far out of the bore at BDC. Otherwise, use a 302/5.0L block, which will be more plentiful anyway." http://www.westsidemustang.com/stroking.htm

i just love these conversations where you are constantly looking for a hole in my argument...this is so fun!

matt

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