Sirtwisted

This is the first car that I have owned that is worth the time and effort to restore and learn how to do anything passed general maintenance. The car is a 1966 Ford Mustang, Auto, V8 289, and the ONLY modifications to the car thus far is a Detroit Locker rear end with 3:73 gears and wider mag tires. This will be my first exploration into doing any type of engine work to the car and am just looking for a place to start learning. The previous owner put $4,500 into the body work and paint (and the rear end?) and $1,500 into the interior so everything looks brand new but the engine needs to be fully rebuilt. Recently my grandpa gave me a 351 Windsor out of a 86 ford pickup. This engine also needs rebuilding but it has everything it needs with it and I got it for free so why not!!! exactly what i was looking for. We are going to be taking it to his friends shop for the machine work and then doing the assembly ourselfs so that I can learn and save quite a bit of money. So far I am searching for some new aluminum heads for the 351W but I was hoping to get help on what to expect to have todo with the engine change and things that I could do to the 351 to speed it up. The biggest thing I was hoping for was to find a book that can start teaching me about the 351W. Again I am getting new heads although so far I'm at a lost of what to get and then I was curious about what type of Cam, headers, and exhaust system would preform best. I'm new to the world of cars as this is the first one worthy of doing anything with and would really appreciate any comments, suggestions, or knowledge on what I'm about to get myself into!! I'M EXCITED!! Thanks for all your help..

Pictures before being cleaned up-->
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...d/100_1649.jpg
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ted/Stang4.jpg
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ted/Stang1.jpg
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ted/Stang3.jpg
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ted/Stang2.jpg

WhiteWindsor

Probably the first thing that is needed is what kind of budget are you looking at. For nice go fast parts and supporting mods you will be spending sev thousand. You can do it cheaper if your budget doesn't allow it but it wont be with the best parts. If you decide to go with the 351 do not throw the 289 out especially if that is a numbers matching car. Store it. BTW nice mustang.

Sirtwisted

Why store the 289 out of newb curiousity.. As far as budget.. AFTER I do the rebuild on the 351W I will have only about 1000 to spend on the car initially so I'm definately hoping to buy things that would be smart to do while we are assembling the motor and next month is my 21st birthday so I could get some extra cash with that and then I get another 600 for the tax bill that passed the month after that.. Along with working obviously so I can slowly continue to buy bolt on parts. I guess what I'm looking for 300+ HP if at all possible. Whats the stock hp of a 351W from that year?

racin66coupe

well i have a 351w HO out of a 85/86 bronco ans thats 220hp so maybe 200hp?

psuhillbilly150

If the 289 block is the original motor with the car then if you or anyone who bought the car after you wanted to do a restore on the car.Then having the original block will definatly increase the value of the car since alot of people want to have original parts in aclassiccar. Watch the Barret Jackson auto auction on speedchannel sometime and you will see a huge difference in a back to original numbers matching resto job and a resto mod job.

Sirtwisted

ah ok it is the original motor! thanks for the tip!! So is anyone able to help with the 351W questions??