What is a safe redline? 289

[84convertablegt]

OK, basically stock 289. what is a safe redline for drag racing without worrying about hurting anything? i dont even know the ford specs for redline on this engine. i assume its around 5??? rpm's but am not sure. i havent gone over around 4500 so far because it doesnt seem to make a whole lot of power up there anyway.

 

[YellowMach69]

Well im not to sure ,But lets say its 5,000, But the car has many miles and wasent really drove hard, I woundt want to go near 5 ,000 because if there is alot of miles on it there is a good chance there a ridge on top of cylinders and if you rev engine you could do some damage to it, Not to mention dropping a valve keeper, and etc

 

[84convertablegt]

the engine and tranny have 80 miles on them. brand new!!!! the whole car is basically new, fully restored.

 

[YellowMach69]

well after a nice safe break in period ,It probably woundt hurt.Most horse power i would guess would be just around 5,000 or alittle less , more than that and your just over reving engine without actually producing more hp

 

[67MustangManiac]

After a 500 mile break-in, a safe RPM woulde be 5,248...give or take 82 RPM.

Maniac!

 

[gjz30075]

You get 10 seconds over the redline. You can take them all at once or one at a time.

 

[rbohm]

a 289, stock, i good condition is actually good for a maximum of 5500-6000 rpm. i wouldnt go over that unless you change valve springs, and cam.

 

[Edbert]

There are way too many variables in materials and construction tolerances to say for sure. I bought one of those generic 302 shortblocks (with incredibly mild cam) from the local parts store in 1984 and drove the crap outta it for many years. As has been mentioned there's not much power to be made over 5,000RPMs but that didn't stop me from finding out. I figure I had at least a couple of hours (cumulative of course) over 5K before I sold it. It was running fine when I did.

 

[coolblue65]

There are way too many variables in materials and construction tolerances to say for sure.

I agree, as an example I will spin my 289 up to just under 7000 RPMS at the track....so if you built it right 6k RPMS are no problem

 

[Great68]

I take mine to 6000.

 

[fastback brian]

If the valve train is correct and there is no big restrictions in the exhaust then you should make power past 5000 and maybe a 5800 rpm shift point. If it was well built the the bottom end should be ok to 6000 rpm shifts but the valve train will hold things up first if not built up.

 

[1320stang]

Launch at 6400 and shift and cross at 8000.

'65 block, '65 crank, aluminum rods, heavy TRW 12.7:1 pistons, solid roller cam, '69 351W heads, roller rockers, Offy 360 Tunnel Ram, dual Holley 660 center squirters, Jerico 4 speed, 5.67 rear gear, 9x30 slicks, ladder bars and coil overs, 3000# car, 11.08@119

 

[YellowMach69]

i had a mild crane cam and it was rated at 2500-5500 range,though you can rev more,but why if cam specs prefer that range with stock springs

 

[HistoricMustang]

Your redline will actually be when the car stops pulling and that will occur in the 6000 RPM range unless you have a $20,000 motor and in that case have seen some rev up in the 8500 RPM range.

I shift at 6200 - 6500 but have turned as high as 7200 in 5th gear with no problems. Mine is a stock Ford crank, rods and forged pistons.

Your valve train will give you problems before the bottom end.

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com

 

[66ford289]

I have a 289 that has a stock valvetrain with the exceptions of the springs, which are said to be good for a 6250 rev and the cam which is in the 2500-5500 power range (.498 of lift on both). How high will it go before I run into trouble?

 

[Edbert]

I have a 289 that has a stock valvetrain with the exceptions of the springs, which are said to be good for a 6250 rev and the cam which is in the 2500-5500 power range (.498 of lift on both). How high will it go before I run into trouble?

As long as your revs are reached via acceleration and not a missed shift you basically should not have to worry about it. The engine will run out of "go" before it reaches that 6,250 mark. That assumes there are no defects in materials or construction of your engine of course.

 

[ravenblack67]

Put it on a dyno and make your redline the peak of the curve

 

[mustangdave]

A stock 289 makes peak power around 4500 so there is no use to go any higher; you are just losing e.t. That said, even a stock engine should go to 6,000 r.p.m. with no problem.

 

[Great68]

Put it on a dyno and make your redline the peak of the curve

Wouldn't you want to rev a bit OVER the peak of the curve, so when you shift you are still in the powerband?

 

[mustangdave]

If you don't fall right back into the main torque curve then you need to look at gearing in the trans. and rear. Tire size could also affect this. For example: I had an '86 Mustang with a 5.0 and some mods that I would powershift at 5800 r.p.m. and be in the next gear at 5300 r.p.m. Everybody thought I had an automatic and was shocked to see the Hurst shifter in the pits.It's a combo put together for what you want to do and how hard you are willing to drive it(that combo lasted about twenty passes).