What would you throw in the falcon?

The old man finally caved! I've been riding his ass about a project engine from birth on. Well I guess he's had a change of heart...


I have a straight axle falcon with a mild 289 ,fenderwell headers,the works. Its just about done although I wont have a licence for another month or two wich is fine as I'm in no hurry (bullshit)...I'll need to be able to drive the falcon on a daily basis so building the existing (but temporary 289) motor is out of the question.The plan is to build something that will be droped in at a later time thus giving me ample time to learn whats what and how to.

Now comes the question...What would you be building? What was the "hot setup" in the mid 60's? Brands dont mean much to me so be as creative as you wish

I would do an 289 ,nothing against that...But I spent more time at shows looking at the odd-ball setups and would like to do something off the beatin path

In the end I'm sure it will come down to what is available at what price...Still I like to have an open mind and dreaming dont hurt none

Thanks
JB

 

I would say an FE motor (i.e. 352, 390, 427, 428, etc). A couple reasons why:

1. FE were used in "gassers" in the 1950's & 1960's, so it is a period-correct engine that keeps with the straight-axle vibe.
2. The whole idea of going with a straight-axle / leaf spring set-up was to get rid of the factory shock towers and make room for a bigger engine, such as an FE
3. Since they were used in lot's of cars and trucks from '58 through the late 70's, FE are pretty cheap and easy to find.
4. They are different enough to fit your "odd engine" profile
5. It's a Ford engine for a Ford car
6. They make decent horsepower stock and are capable of making a whole lot more if you want to spend the time and money

 

Does the 289 run?

Why change for the sake of change,,,,you have a great engine and I understand the urge to go bigger ,,,,,,,but bigger cubic inches come at a price,,,,

If the 289 is not running,,,,,now is as good a time as any to pull it and hone the skills you will use to build that next engine in the Falcon or whatever presents itself in the future,,,

Just my .02 worth,,,HRP

 

I'd go with a Windsor. It will bolt right in to your existing motor mounts and transmission You can get lots of modern, state-of-the art internals for the engine, but all the old school 260-289 bolt on and dress-up stuff will fit.

 

I agree with slowford go for the FE.

 

If you just want to be "different," put in a Chrysler wedge (413, 426, 440, or one of the new 500"+ crate motors). They make gobs of power. Aside from that, I agree with slowford, the 427FE would be my first choice. With any of the big blocks, you'll be dealing with more weight than the little Ford, so you might consider moving everything back just a bit (distributor's up front). Of course, there's always the 430 Marauder (if you can find one) or a 500" Caddy.

 

I'd go with the 289
It will handle better with the lighter engine. The bigger engine will make it understear on the street.
There are lot of good parts for the 289/302 that can set your engine apart.

 

blown bbc. end of discussion

 

I look at the big picture here....... a much larger engine is going to be a bitch to set into the engine compartment. Then there is the issue of headers, are you at a skill level to fabricate a set from scratch ? Then there is the additional weight that comes with a larger engine which can make it nose heavy and handle like a pig. Then there is the cost that comes into play with building odd-rod motors.
Back in the day, all the Falcons that I saw on the street/strip had 289's in them. You can put a 302 / 351W in there without to many issues. Other than that your looking at using a sawsall and changing everything from the radiator support area to the firewall.
Personally, I'd find a tunnel ram intake and 2 390 cfm Holleys and put it on the 289 and have a blast.

 

FE all the way. I really want to build a 60 falcon with an FE. We have a new 1/4 mile track being built here and I want a sick car to spank on all the mullet mobiles when It gets done.

I found a 390 for $150 at the local junk yard. I'm going to get it and the C6 for $75 more this weekend.

MIke

 

351W stroked to 427ci.

Dimensionally, just slightly bigger than your 289, and it's 427 CUBIC INCHES!

 

yup 390 fe ..
truck engine and cheap
fake the displacement?
add the4bbl manifold and headers
and your a easy sorta /cheap conversionstill al ford but heavy ..
the289 can be swapped with a larger disp. of same block w/o altering much else...

yes mopar hemi the real answer to any swap plan!!!

 

I hafta agree on the 289. If you can rebuild it, even better. I am in the process of getting grandma's 64 Falcon with a 170 in it, and I'll probably pull that for a bigger engine later. I have an SBC I could use, but I'm thinking the 289 would be truer to the car with less hassle and better handling.

 

Nothing wrong with a 289.

You have to know that a 427 is going to cost big bucks.

Anything really hopped up is going to cost.



Personally, someday I hope to put a violent SBF in my Fairlane. Something really awful based on some of those race blocks you can find in the Summit catalog....Something like a nice stroker motor would fit the bill....something around $7000 or more..... Untill then, I'll be rockin the 289.....and having quite a bit of fun.

 

Tinglers gasser,,,,

 

300 inline6 with a big ass cam and a few extra carbs split headers

 

A FALCON?!
I would if I had the chance install the best engine Ford ever made. A 300 ford six. Off the beaten path for sure. It would take a heck of a hot 302 to even keep up and real chaep to build. I have one running 10.70s I built for a friend in a T bucket. (Search "Bob Gauley" ) it would almost be streetable. Our first engine was totally streetable and also made good power . Here is the skinny on how it is done.
Use 390 standard bore pistons. This raises the compression and they weigh EXACTLY to the gram the same (b.i.o.n) and the pins fit too. It will require a .050" overbore. Fit them as for marine use (.001" extra clearance) and reverse hung . Cam should be hydraulic and chosen to suit use. Four barel intake with a good size carb about the same as you would use on a 302. Chevy 300 hp valves fit the heads with only bowl work and a valve job. Length is the same .
It will make over 1 hp per cube with little trouble. It will have gobs and gobs of torque and it will look cool. Caution. When porting the head do not remove anything from the short side radius as it is close to water there. Other than that it is a walk in the park and a lot of fun. My Customer Bob Gualey says he would not change to an 8 now since he has so much fun with it a no matter where he goes everyone comes over to look at it. Even a famous funny car guy at Grand Bend told him a couple of weeks ago. "Sir you are my low buck hero." Last year Bob won the track championship points race for Shannonville Motorsports Park and was featured on their calander. The engine is about 8 years old now or maybe a bit more.
Anyway I know you are not talking about a racer but I threw that in just to get you thinking. It is only a 10.8 to 1 engine currently. With the 390 pistons it is just under 10 to 1 which is fine for pump fuel.
Don

 

I would also opt for an FE

Probably a 390... there are a ton of high performance goodies available and it would end up being mostly period correct. Plus it is not going to be like every other ford that someone has dumped a 289 or 302 into.

 

I like this idea, VERY Cool indeed. This is thinking outside the box.

 

I understand the desire for change over to a bigger motor, hell, thats what the plan has been on every car i've owned, but you really don't have to look very far from the Windsor/Cleveland family to get the kind of power your looking for. You could put a stroker kit (about the same price as a new stock rotating assembly but gives you a TON more c.u. in) in a 289 or 302, get a dual quad set up (preferably a cross ram) and stick some finned valve cover on the thing and you'd be making 400-450 hp no problem, and be looking period correct, AND be savig an assload of dough on building a block the mustang guys have been driving done the prices on for years.
Another idea would be to stick some cleveland heads on a 302, making a "BOSS" 302, and create WICKED power because the heads flow sooooo much better. The only real downside would be the lack of cool "traditional" intakes to use, but with a little looking i'm sure you could find something that'll work.

 

Yup! Check out fordsix.com
Search for frenchtownflier. He's a dragracer with tons of info and willing to help.
My choice would be a 240 with a 300 crank and 2x4BBL intake- torque will NEVER be a problem!

 

I was raised on hot Falcons and sbf power.
If I were in your shoes (and I'm not), I would go with big cubic inches in whatever manner your wallet would allow.
The cheap way would be to go with an FE and maybe add some aluminum heads and intake or go with a 460 altogether. The 460 can be had cheap enough and with mild alterations, make scary amounts of hp.
If your wallet will fund the 351 bored ans stroked to a 427, then bay all means go that route. Best of a light/small package (most uneducated folks don't know the difference between a 289/302 and a 351W), and big cubes.
I love Falcons.
r

 

Wait guys, this is a kid just getting his license, wanting to use a straight axle car for his daily driver. The bigblocks would be hell to work on once the engine bay was massaged to get one to even fit. The 289 is a great engine and surely their are unique parts that can make this thing stand out. I think he should do the gasser hillborn injector style intake with modern electronics, would make it reliable in all weather situations, well as long as you figure a good way to filter the aire and keep out rain. Perhpas with a T-Bolt hood. Swap the tran with a T-5 and he would have a very cool daily driver. for a lot less money. BTW what year Falcom is it?

 

"The bigblocks would be hell to work on once the engine bay was massaged to get one to even fit"

Not so, my friend.
When one removes the shock towers from a Falcon, you have enough room to put a Hemi in with extra left over.
Really, it's that big.
r

 

Sbf You Can Make A 351 Look Like A 289 But Tons More Powel For Less $$$$

 

If it was mine I'd do a 429. Definitely keep it Ford.

 

Well i suppose you are right with a straight axle the shock towers might have been removed.

My first car was one of those gargantuan 71 Mach 1 Mustangs with 351 Cleveland and I have to say the bay seemed tight to me, i have heard complaints about the larger engines in the early Mustang's to the point that they had to "Mesage" the shock towers to get them to fit and even one guy who cut portals in the fender wells to access plugs easier.

 

460's are fairly plentiful and cheap. Even stock, the torque they make is amazing.

 

Agreed, probably need to swap in a 170 6 banger for the first year or so. I had some pretty hot engines when I was 16 or 17 and I'll tell you I'm lucky to be alive...

To quote the county sheriff, "I was running 115 and couldnt keep your taillights in sight." This is when he found me later that night.

Build the car for the track and leave it on the track. But I'm not sure how many 16 year olds need a v8 right at the start. I'm not saying the youngins cant have hot rods but with the laws and courts the way they are today an kid can mess up his whole life with one stupid move. Or worse hurt himself or someone else innocently standing by.

 

Hey thanks for the help...I have alot to think about now

KY boy...I agree,that is why I want to build another motor and leave the existing one as is (mild) Until I feel I am able to handle the power or have another car to use as a daily.

I already thought about the 300 6 I think it would be rad in a different project. No bones to pic, just an opinion