[DAVID GAGNARD]

Pete:

65,289 block should be 6 bolt like the later models......from 65 year model to the end of the production line of the 302/351-W,all were "standard" 6 bolt......the 289 production for 1963/64 models were the 5 bolt model....the bellhousings are not interchangeable....

I would have a machine shop check the block and #2 journal cap, slight blueing means it got hot,how much, anyone's guess.....

The 302/351-W block production used the same casting till the 1975 year model,at that point the casting was changed up some,mostly in the bottom end and the blocks were a tad lighter...I would guess most any 302 block made can withstand 400 or so hp.......
My race engine was a 1969 model standard production block with unkown amount of mileage on it when I got it junkyard,served me well for 7 racing seasons,turning 7,000 rpms,engine made 472hp...blew the engine,my fault, nothing to do with the block,actually the block could have been re-used with 2 sleeves,but since I had a couple of extra blocks on hand, I junked it and built another engine on another block....

David