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Personally if the extra money is available, i would go with the msd.
its up to you, read and research, but ive never had any problems with mine, and i have a full msd setup. it is a little pricy however. 289-302, i understand the "desire" but really, i agree with 2+2 on that one. it will save you a good deal of money, unless you find a cheap 302.
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1971 Mustang Coupe
-In process of being rebuilt-
--302 : c6--
If you are going to do it make it worth your while. To me a daily driver is expected to last 50,000 miles or more, be smooth running and a pleasure to drive.
I suggest finding an 302 HO from a fox body after 1990. The lower the mileage the better ofcourse. Do enough internet research to do the swap in your sleep. Buy the whole motor, less the fuel injection equipment. Keep the serpentine drive, alt, pulley and balancer. Ditch the pan, oil pick up. Header to taste.
Use your pan (289 front sump) and oil pick up. Plug the block dipstick hole. Drill the HO waterpump cover for the old 289 dipstick. You will see a spot on the HO cover that looks like it was meant to be.
Trick Flow has a mount that moves the serpentine adjuster pulley and can eleimate the A/C and P/S or just the A/C.
You will need a 50 ounce balance flywheel that mates to your tranny. I just completed this swap with a used motor and don't mind helping. When I did mine I replaced the timing chain and rear main seal. The only gaskets that weren't replaced were the head gaskets.
Keep in mind that the serpentine drive waterpumps are reverse rotation so if you decide NOT to keep the serpentine setup, you will have to use a waterpump for a non-serpentine drive motor. An easy way to tell is to look at the water ports on the back of the pump. Round ports indicate reverse rotation, D-shaped ports indicate standard rotation. The early timing covers will accept both style pumps. You are also going to want to make sure the water inlet is on the correct side. Pre-'70 pumps are passenger side inlet, standard rotation, and are 5.420 inches from the back of the pump casting to the face of the hub and the later pumps are driver side inlet and measure 5.700 inches front to back, which would cause a problem with pulley alignment, and can be either reverse rotation or standard rotation.
One thing you will want to do is re-use your 66 water pump and timing cover on the new engine. Early 289 had the radiator hose on the passenger side wher as the later used the driver. That way you will have less drama hooking everything up. I agree with the petronix ignition but don't 100% with the headers. Headers require maintenance, they quite often leak and need new gaskets or tightening. If your looking for turn key reliability with no hassle the stock manifolds are a good way to go. You could also try looking into the fox body era (87-93) shorty headers. They are not huge for power but either is what your describing as your goal as an engine swap. good luck!
I do. I have seen a lot of them get trashed when they malfunctioned. Pertronix is at least as reliable, and a fraction of the cost.
I have never used anything MSD escept for their TFI coil and cap and rotor on my 95 F150. Other than that I don't have a whole lot of experience with their stuff.
I do know a few people that run thier boxes etc. I see them on alot of cars at the cruise in type car shows and at the track.
coolness factor is cool and all, but the longer rod length is FTW (which is why ford used the 289 hi-po rods in the boss 302's). you'll never ever ever notice the decrease in cubic inches but you probably will notice the 289 revs up a little quicker. not to mention you can rev them up higher than a 302 without them exploding.
did i mention EVERYONE and their mom has a 302? that plays into it as well IMO.
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