Sounds healthy! Of course, I’m biased; I think a rowdy small block Ford is just about the pinnacle. I recently built a similarly spec’d 289 for my “disallowed model” 60’s car, and I’ve been very curious about what it would actually make. But it sure gets it! Hey, PS, if you want to be a “nerd” like me, Scott Drake makes an oil filter sticker that would go right on those Motorcraft filters for a little bit of “old school” cool.
It’s been together for a few years but here’s a quick overview, stock block, forged NOS 289 crank, long H beam rods, 360 gram pistons 10.5 cr, RHS 200 cc heads. Heads have some work, it was dynoed with an air gap and a 750dp. I can’t say it’s nothing special but then it is. I get a kick out of the guys that tell me the heads are too big and they might be but they seem to work pretty well. The cam and intake make phenomenal torque for such a short stroke.
They’re similar to the OP build, but it’s a solid flat tablet. I’ve never given up the actual cam specs or rod length and probably won’t.
I was out 25 hp. Nice numbers, I’d be pleased with that! Probably could have picked up a bit more experimenting with carb spacers.
My camshaft is a hydraulic roller, probably should be a mechanical roller… which equates to just a wee bit more “area under the curve”. The cylinder heads are where the power lies on this motor… no doubt if I had gone with a stronger bottom end and block, more camshaft and a single plane this motor could have pushed the 550-575 boundary maybe…. The rotating assy, block and hydraulic lifters are the weak points now…. We didn’t take it further than 6750 because of that.
Mine wasn’t going to be the final build but I got inpatient and put together what I had. The final configuration was going to be boosted in an aftermarket block but I decided to refresh my mopar big blocks instead. I dropped just under 20k in three years on the three engines that was more than enough.
That’s impressive…one hell of a pump gas mill…and my “good to 400 hp” 8” is no match for what you got going on..especially with that 4 speed…call Quick Performance…great prices and service..hell ya might as well get it narrowed a bit while your at it…much easier on wheel fitment…
I agree with Quick Performance, I’ve used 9”, 12 bolts for customers and a 8.8 for my Fairlane from them. Top quality work and fast turnaround, I’m a walk in customer I live 90 miles from there front door.
Another option worth considering is Moser. https://www.moserengineering.com/ they are located in Portland Indiana so they are within driving distance. I have their axles in the Winters housing under my Comet, they made them in less than a day, I picked them up at their facility.
I need a housing and 31 spline axles as a start I guess. Seems one of my friends has a NIB Detroit Locker with my name on it at the best of prices…Seems the good luck continues. Also seems like a good time to put disc brakes on the rear now too. The parking brake might be a hassle but I’ll just work the problem when I have a better understanding of it. Now… who needs a fresh 8”. Drum to drum (completely brand new brakes), Detroit Locker, 4.11s, upgraded yoke. I can’t get past this torque curve… wowza
Somehow I missed this until now. Looks like you're on the right track with your build. Am trying to get my enthusiasm back after the C___D years and other life issues. I think things may look up once I get my inspection done (am in Austria, we have such things here) and start driving the car again. Will be watching this - I think I will be copying some of your ideas!
Well as you know those cars and Falcons take a narrow rear end..but ya got your 8” as a starting point..QP sells housings and axles..hell brake kits too
It’s nothing $ can’t fix. Just need to make a call give someone some dims and a credit card #… easy peasy
Have you ever had a Detroit Locker? I have and I would rather run a spool or a clutch type differential on the street.
Yes I have one in my 8” that was a birthday present to me on my 17th birthday back in 1990. I am quite familiar with the ratcheting diff and have never had an issue. Sometimes annoying yes but never so annoying I wanted to remove it to put a friction disc type in that requires special treatment such as friction modifiers…. WRT the one for the 9”… if it’s free it’s for me…
If ya remember ya got a locker out back it’s usually not a problem.. I’m thinking with your skills a Marketplace housing in any dimension is in your future..
well I am not sure I want to invest in the tooling needed to modify rearend housings. But I am perusing marketplace looking for something suitable. Right now trying to figure out what the pitfalls of using a 56.5” vs 58” housing are other than rim backspacing differences of 3/4”.
Well I’d try to stay as close as stock as possible..I’ve got a hopped up 8” under my car and with 6” wide rims and 215/65/15 M&H tires it just fits and the back space selection on wheels sucks anymore.. saw that 8” on MP already…
I saved quite a bit of money by using a 3.73 LD 8.8 from the explorer. I pulled it apart and removed all the weld on barbs not needed, sandblasted it and ran it through the parts washer. Then I had QP narrow in using 9” ends and axles, I installed carbon fiber clutch in the diff and replaced the crush sleeve with a spacer and installed a 1350 yoke. All in including the used axle assembly I had a grand in the assembly. This was 11 years ago.
The Jalopy Journal
