Turnkey 289

[Rich A]

Can anyone recommend a company that sells turnkey 289 engines?

[xlr8or]

Two of the best are sponsors on this site. Gessford and Kieth Craft.

[Rich A]

I looked through their website but neither one of them mention they sell 289 turnkeys. I'll have to give them a call.

[289FIA]

Don't forget another advertiser on this site:

Southern Automotive http://www.southernautomotiveengines.com/

Bill Parham's a true Ford expert… a 289 should be a relatively easy order.

289FIA

[Rickd]

Rich, most of the SB motors they build are commonly 302 based (slight over bore to 306, or the 331 and 347 strokers). The 302 is basically a 289 'stroked' to 302. If you want a vintage 289 block either of those 3 companies can most likely get one for you and then build it any way you want. Quite a few guys have put vintage 289 blocks, built as 331 strokers, into FIA cobras. I know Keith Craft has done this for a couple of ERA owners.
Lot of power, light weight, supposedly really nice sound. That is what I'm looking at for my new ERA FIA - a 331 stroker built by???????

[Dangerous Doug]

I stumbled across these guys offering a quad-weber 347 for $7k.

http://www.tandlengines.com/

I cannot vouch for them, but they seem to be a favorite on the FFR forum.

Go to Ebay and type in "347 Ford" and hit search. They'll pop up. Worth checking out.

[Rich A]

Rickd,
That's what I'm looking for is a vintage block 289 turnkey engine.
I emailed Keith Craft and Levy Racing.
I have a few more companies to check with before I make my decision.
Thanks

[Rickd]

Doug, T&L looks pretty interesting. They quoted me a 347 (but I do want a 331), including clutch, bellhousing and flywheel, for something like $5500, including forged pistons. They are using Dart Pro I heads, and I'm not really familiar with how they perform compared to AFR's. The Dart's come in 3 sizes of intake, 170, 200, and 225 (I believe), similar to the AFR's. They said if I wanted they would get an 'upgrade price' for AFR's. You still haven't decided? Rick

[Dangerous Doug]

I haven't decided on which builder to go with. I'm looking at T&L, KC, CHP, et cetera. I may buy this summer, or next Feb (I can only spend so much $ on Cobra stuff each six months w/o setting off the spousal financial alarm).

The one thing that I have decided is to not go with a custom builder, and this is primarily a cost issue, for me. Shops that are churning out the "same engines" get the benefits of an assembly line process, and in some cases (I think T&L is an example of this) use the assembly line to keep people employed and busy during off times. Custom shops don't have that benefit, and tend to be expensive. In some cases, some custom shops act like boutiques, and upcharge for the sheer pleasure of doing business with them, which was my experience of shopping locally. ($7.6k for a long block assembly, no dyno, no warranty... no deal!)

DD

[Rickd]

Doug, here is another engine builder to add to your list, and they are located in California. I came across them on a Mustang forum after I did a google search on the famous topic of "331 vs 347 stroker". Joe Sherman Racing is the engine builder, and he is 100% in favor of the 347 stroker. He builds "street" verisons that are in the 425 hp and 425 Ft Lb of torque range, and he builds racing only versions that are in the 650 HP range. His opinion is that the present day 347's, built correctly, are the way to go - more torque, the rod angle is insignificant as the difference is .39% (as in less than 1/2 of 1%), and he has 'reportedly' never had an issue with wrist pin interference with the rings. Check him out! Visit his shop!!! And let me know what you think!! Thanks, Rick

[Rickd]

Doug, FYI, Joe Sherman Racing is located at 2302 West. Second St., Santa Ana, California. That is Southern California - I'm not sure where you're located (Scotts Valley?). Good luck. Rick

[Dinobyte]

http://www.cobraautomotive.com/horsepower.htm

I looked at these guys before I decided on Southern. Had I gone SB and vintage at that, I would have used their services.

[Rickd]

Cobraautomotive is apparently an excellent facility. They have restored quite a few original cobras and Shelby mustangs for vintage racers. Also have done a lot of work on high quality replicas. They appear to be quite pricey, in the Rousch category of around $10,000 for a moderately powered 289 stroker. RD