I've tried searching but can't seem to find much on building up a 289 motor. I've seen some posts and articles on how good these little motors can be when retro fitted with roller cams etc. but where I get lost is what intake and carb to use. I like the idea of having a 350 to 400 hp motor and think its attainable with good heads cam etc but realistic numbers are lower I'm sure. The idea is to use the comp cams magnum 284 retro kit and possibly some afr165 heads if budget allows. Otherwise it'll most likely be gt40's with a valve job. So what I need to know is what to do on the air/fuel side to make it all work. Thanks! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
65 GT350s were over 300 HP in 1965 so I see NO reason why you can not meet your goal!! I have been playing with 289s for way too many years and made many mistakes.I suggest you go with the AFR 165s,by the time you buy and mess with the GT40s you could have bought new AFRs!!I would use a dual plane intake [I prefer the Edelbrock RPM Air Gap] and a 650 to 750cfm vacuum secondary carb,I know the naysayers will say go smaller,but I know first hand what works,I ran TWO 600 cfm,vacuum secondary carbs on a tunnel ram on the street for years as my daily driver!! ROY.
Very nice!! I was looking at the air gap intake already but am clueless when it comes to carbed motors. As for the carb itself I hear that edlebrock's don't need much tuning if any out of the box. Is this what you have found? Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Little Fords like CFM Mine - 289 Bored and stroked to 306 Edelbrock Performer RPM heads and Cam A for real Buddy Bar LeMans Ford 2x4 set up with 2 600 Holleys Shift point is 6500
The Edelbrock F4B is a great manifold. Pretty much the same as the Edelbrock Performer RPM Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
If you want to read about them check out some of these:http://www.mre-books.com/engine/smallblock.html Also hang out here and do some serious reading: www.sbftech.com Check out posts by 289 Nate Here is a sample page to read:http://www.mre-books.com/interchange/interchange2.html Pay particular attention to the last paragraph and why you should use a 302 block to build a 289.
Change cranks and it is a 302. Stroke it again and you might be able to go as high as 347. IMHO, AFR heads look wonderful on paper. Go with a machinist you can trust and get a full kit for what you want. I'm playing with a 351W, but only because it literally fell into my lap.
My 289 needed bored out. So I bought a 347 stroker kit. Been loving it ever since. I build mine on a budget. You can so this too. I used a 600 elderbrock carb, seems to do the job. A performer RPM intake. I'm switching to a Parker intake this year. pm me if you want details.
GT 40 heads will be fine,and cheap. put a cam with .500 lift, 240* duration intake and exhaust. a torquer or similar intake, 3310 holley. Get one of the cheap Procomp all in one distributors, set the timing at 38* total at 2500 to 3 grand. good headers are a must. a light flywheel, and low gears for the little motor that can.(and has, ) beat many chevys
fuzzy knight, i like the breather system on your georgeaous looking 289. I have been trying to figure which way to go with my 408 stroked 351 cleveland in my 39 ford deluxe coupe. we used to do that kind of breathers on our "57 Ford stock car back in the day, still the best setup. Thanks ,Henry
If you have to do ANY machine work to the Gt40's, you're probably better off financially with buying new. If you can't afford aluminum, World Products makes a very good set of steel heads.. If you have the 289 in your possession, use it, but roller blocks are much better than the 289's and can be found relatively cheap.. We had a stock roller block in the 9's!
I do have a complete 289 in my possession and is why I am looking to stay with it. I have had 302,s in my mustangs in the past so I'm fairly familiar with the motor. We just took the one out of my buddy's 89 gt and dropped a carbed version in his 36 coupe with the stock bottom end. Runs like a bastard stil! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I also have failed to mention that this will eventually find a home in a model a coupe. So I'm hoping the power to weight ratio will be quite good if the motor is in my target hp range Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
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