[1795]

Brent has been able to pull about 450 HP from a 289. Mine with aftermarket iron heads was able to pull 424 HP at 6500 rpms, and still had 420 HP at 7,000. I have heard of one engine builder claiming 585 HP at 8,000 rpm in a 289 that was using iron heads to be vintage race legal. Not quite sure what he is doing to obtain those numbers. One thing that he is doing is using a Dart iron block. The engine builder that I brought mine too for a refreshing was amazed that I was getting the power that I was with a block from 1965. His opinion was that I was exceeding the strength of the block and that sooner or later it would break.

I never heard of the original 289 cobras obtaining HP in the 400 range, as Ed said it was more in the 375-390 HP range. I am going to be switching to a Dart iron block to ensure engine longevity, it is better suited to road racing applications given the more stout design, better oiling and cooling, and the casting is new, as opposed to 55 years old. The downside is that the Dart block is about 35 lbs heavier than the original block.

Jim