As part of an all or nothing package deal I got 9 sets of 289 cylinder heads that have been in a horse barn. Most of them look like they would clean up OK as cores. I also got a 289 short block. Other than a bunch of barn dust accumulation it looks like it might be OK, I haven't cleaned it up yet. I am thinking I'll pick a set out of the pile and try to start piecing together an engine for a future hot rod build, but what to do with the other 8 sets? Are 289 heads worth anything or should I just chuck the lot in the scrap pile? I don't know anything about SBFs and have no idea what to look for.
I didn't get a picture of just the 289 but here are the 4 Model As. I rolled the dice hoping to get at least one good block and one good crank for my AA. Two of them were turning just as we were handling them to move them around and look pretty clean inside but the other two look pretty rough.
To the right restorer, who is building a numbers matching Mustang or Cobra, they are probably worth something. Finding said individual may be troublesome. The best thing to do is clean them up, identify what you have (chamber volume, casting numbers and dates, etc.) and put the information up on the ol' interwebs. Someone may offer you a few bucks for them, which would still be better than a kick in the nuts.
Hard to tell without opening them up, but good news is that engines rarely wear out when sitting in a barn. Many banger cores have -.050” cranks and +.125” bores, but every now and then a standard engine shows up. Good luck! I’m no expert at that modern iron, but don’t recall SB Ford motors having full skirt blocks, maybe Y or FE…?
I Gotta complete running 289 on Craig list here in the 'Burgh listed for $400, and can't get even a fart on it, where you're at, maybe you might move them, but by the time you clean and magnaflux for cracks, who knows?
I think you're right and it's a FE. I don't know this late model stuff. All the heads that I saw were marked 289 and came out of the same pile so I assumed. Doesn't look like I got heads for it. Probably just some clapped out truck motor but I'll check the casting number tomorrow.
Are you SURE they are 289 heads and NOT 302 or 5.0 heads ?! With chambers being 52-55cc smart FoMoCo guys are slapping them on newer 5.0 engines and picking up some compression. A little home porting, especially the exhaust, lets them flow pretty good. 6sally6
All the ones I happened to look at had 289 cast in em. That's a sample size of like... 6. Could be some others but I didn't notice if there were.
Low value is as they sit. Any potential buyer is taking a chance they are rebuildable on a budget. You could have them cleaned and mag tested, or go a bit further and have them inspected by a reputable machine shop. This is at best break even, due to the cost and risk of some being too worn to economically rebuild. Everyone is going to compare used cores plus rebuild cost to aftermarket heads. If they need surfacing, guides, valves, springs, keepers and retainers, plus a valve job, it can be MORE than a fresh set, depending on costs. I don't know when they stopped making 289 heads VS 302 or even later small block heads, or the demand, but it's got to be low. You might find a Ford rebuilder that needs them, and might be able to work out a trade, parts for work.
Just sayin' I had bought a used and abused lg journal 327. My neighbor, a retired dirt tracket, knew a guy that would do guides, a 3 angle and exh seats. So $700 later I got a $500 set of heads. My Bad.
1965 289 heads are desirable. They will have a machined slot where the pushrods come through and do not have rail rockers. If any set has 302 4V cast into them they are also desirable.
Bingo; these are the heads I would use if I was to use iron heads. Unless you have 289 hipo or the 351 heads in the pile they aren’t worth tripping over.
Found a few different places that help ID heads. Shouldn't take much time to go through and figure out what you really have. https://www.vintage-mustang.com/threads/how-tell-289-hipo-heads.632090/
Early 351 heads will also have an L shaped water port and 8 intake manifold threaded bolt holes. Edit: after studying the photo, the heads appear to all have rail rockers. With 289 cast into them, that would date them to mid 1966 and 1967. Ford went to the 302 in 68.
If any of those heads have cast in spring pockets, they're from a k-code 271hp 289...that's the jackpot. Otherwise will likely be a tough sale.
The casting number on the FE is D4TE, which makes it a 330/359/361/389/391 truck motor. I guess if it can be put back together it's worth a benjamin to someone...
I bet it is a standard pickup 390. I don't see any of the FT indicators on that block (no ribs, standard sized crank snout, etc). Although Ford casting numbers of that era are approximations at best so who knows until you actually start measuring some stuff.
Did OK on the banger lottery. 1 and 2 turn and look pretty good, but I haven't started pulling caps yet. 3 is missing a main cap but also looks OK.
68 was a transition year for the displacement increase, and also a strike year, so things are a little jumbled. The 1968 base 2 barrel Mustang v8 remained the 289 but the 4 barrel option was a 302, as were the base Galaxie two barrel engines. By 1969 everything was 302.
The Jalopy Journal
