289 hi po - tune it or stick a crate in

smash · #1 (**permalink**) 03-17-2004, 02:50 PM

Hi there - first post=newbie (feel free to bring your own nails and cross, lol!)

I'm looking at a cob with '64 (5 bolt) 289 hi po mill. Ideally I'm looking to pull the power up to around 350bhp.

What's the best route for this, should i even think about a s/charger? The alternative is replacing the engine but as it's a 5 bolt bell housing I'm wondering how straightforward that'll be.

I'm in the UK which means a) I pay through the nose for USA performance parts from UK suppliers b)I don't really need more power than that - have you seen the width of our roads? c)Yes, I have bad teeth!

Thanx

smash
www.mash-ups.co.uk

jayem · #2 (**permalink**) 03-17-2004, 03:12 PM

option 1: aluminum heads with 202 intake valves, roller rockers, and a cam with about 550 lift, 650 cfm carb. 300 hp at wheels.

option 2: bolt on a used super charger, run about 8 lbs boost
325 hp at wheels.

Junket · #3 (**permalink**) 03-17-2004, 03:25 PM

Smash I belive that the bolt patern on the trans for the early belhousing is only for the early ones might check it out first.
Could be wrong maybe some one will chime in.
Ken

Ron61 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-17-2004, 03:40 PM

I have a 1965 Comet with a 289 and it has a 6 bolt bell housing. I think Junket is correct abuot the early ones being 5 bolt. Around here 289 blocks are hard to find, so I just had mine completely rebuilt as the only ones I could find were the 5 bolt ones.

Ron

smash · #5 (**permalink**) 03-17-2004, 04:51 PM

Thanx guys. Jayem - is there any supercharger that will fit under the hood of a 427 rep without mods? Been snooping round Paxtons site and it looks like it'd be very tight!

smash · #6 (**permalink**) 04-06-2004, 01:28 PM

OK - like the idea of alum heads BUT what I'm reading elsewhere about the Hipo engine makes me think I'll have to put screw in rocker arms on (as per the original heads) - I kinda wanted 'bolt-on' performance rather than getting into machine shops and all. Is this right?

jayem · #7 (**permalink**) 04-06-2004, 04:22 PM

My Procharger supercharger goes 1.5 inches into my fender skirt. I tried different bracket set-ups but this is a good as it gets.

smash · #8 (**permalink**) 04-10-2004, 07:06 PM

Decided to go the rpm manifold and head route with most likely Magnum Pro rockers and push rods.

Final question - will the stock mustang clutch cope ok with this? If not then are there any alternatives that won't hit the bank too hard?

Thanks for help

TerribleTed13 · #9 (**permalink**) 04-10-2004, 07:30 PM

smash,
How are you going to drive the car any different than you have been? Drag racing,autocross or just normal abuse,I mean use.

While your in the engine that deep,what about a cam and lifters?? That would really complete the engine package.

Then tweek the ignition/rate of timing advance.

You will really notice the difference.

smash · #10 (**permalink**) 04-11-2004, 01:55 AM

Hi ted - yeah sorry, I meant normal street abuse (is there any other kind?!

)

Bruce Robles · #11 (**permalink**) 04-12-2004, 09:26 AM

Smash
You can bolt a trans from a 5 bolt Bellhousing to a 6 bolt Bellhousing and visa-vera. I had an original GT-350R that came with a 5 bolt engine. As the amount of races grew we built an extra engine that was a 6 bolt block. Everything was the same but the Bellhousing, same headers, same clutch linkage ect.
Our later engines were in the 375-390hp. range and the best clutch we ever used was a Genuine Ford Hi-Po Clutch, Period! Tried alot of different aftermarket crap, Hayes, for one, and none of them preformed any better than the Ford.
Most of them had heavier springs in the pressure plate that only made it harder to disgengage the clutch especially after many many laps on the track. The extra spring tension required that the clutch equalizer arm (bell crank) be beefed up and gusseted more, (ours was already beefed up) which cause interference with the headers and made it a pain to install. It had to be massaged a bunch so it would work.
Most aftermarket clutches are re-built factory jobs with a fancy paint job, that's all. Don't fall for all this hype and spend good money where you don't need it.

Good Luck
By the way, I have a Hi-Po 289 Long Block with 4 bolt mains and original cast iron race heads, interested?

Bruce Robles

southernfriedcj · #12 (**permalink**) 04-15-2004, 06:29 PM

Bruce, were you running a T10 or a Toploader?

Jim

Bruce Robles · #13 (**permalink**) 04-19-2004, 07:37 PM

southernfriedcj;

Sorry it took so long to reply, our GT 350R, our 289 Cobra and my '66 GT 350 Street car all had T-10's