Bought a 66 today, too late to turn and run

sparx · 08-25-2009, 08:23 PM

I got a 66 289 auto today. Should be able to be transported here on Thursday. Car was gold originally and now is white, needs a paint and some seat covers maybe carpeting. Unfortunately the dash was cut to allow a modern radio to install. Needs tires. Car is mostly complete, not missing much at all.

It has a bad head gasket but does run and sound good. Body is rust and accident free. The car is also "hack" free too, except for radio install. Heater core leaks and is removed from system.

I am not sure what will be best, to only have the heads rebuilt, or the entire engine rebuilt or get a rebuilt engine all together.

The engine is not the original the seller stated it is a 73 289. I need info on what books are the best to purchase.

I can paint and I can perform interior upgrades without much issue. Also can do suspension; engine internals and transmissions are not my strength.

That's it for the moment.

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Canary94GT · 08-25-2009, 08:50 PM

What I would do, is plan on rebuilding the whole thing, but take the heads off and see from there how the bottom end looks.

At 120,000 miles on my inline-6, my machinist said my head needed to be rebuilt but the bottom end is rock solid and should last probably another 100,000 miles.

Congratulations on your purchase

sparx · 08-25-2009, 08:56 PM

Thanks for that, hopefully by that time I will know what to look for. I think a compression test would be in order, after that I am not certain.

I want to order a shop manual asap, need to know what is the best one to get that is (was) used at the Dealerships.

sparx

Canary94GT · 08-25-2009, 09:56 PM

Here are the official shop manuals used in the dealerships: http://www.fordmanuals.com/estore/sc...idCategory=100

They are downloadable (don't have to wait for shipping) or available on CD.

You can also get printed copies from places like Mustangs Unlimited for like $45

I have the downloaded copy, but there are times that I wish I had the printed copy since my computer is upstairs.

sparx · 08-25-2009, 10:08 PM

Thanks, I prefer the books myself, hard to drag the car into the office.

jim

Waffles · 08-25-2009, 10:33 PM

a 1973 289? lol... I'm not a scientist but I'm pretttty sure they didn't exist in 73.

sparx · 08-25-2009, 10:37 PM

You could be right, he was saying it is a 1973 289, maybe he meant it was swapped in '73. I can ask again when I pick up the car.

BA Mustang · 08-25-2009, 11:15 PM

Or he is mistaking a 302 for a 289.

sparx · 08-25-2009, 11:18 PM

Yes that could be too.
I checked and the 289 was made in 67 and that was it.

What can I look for to determine what it is?
sparx

4reboy · 08-25-2009, 11:23 PM

it could very well be a 302 block that had the old 289 crank put it, which would make it a 289.

Congrats on the purchase, hopefully you'll have lots of good times!