Ok, My father said the engine was originally a 6 cyl. He swapped it for a 1966 289 in the late sixties.
Here is a pic of it. Is this a 66 engine in my 65 stang?

[IMG]local://upfiles/41000/E248DE8BF63C4536AFA039BF91737964.jpg[/IMG]

 

also, compared to the rest of the car, the engine looks horrible. It runs smooth but is unsightly. Is there any easy way of cleaning her up a bit without yanking it out? I'd like to get it painted. Perhaps I'm being dumb even asking, but thought there might be a trick to making it look a bit better without yanking it out.

 

It's a 289, but wrong color valve covers for a 66. But, that can be changed easily. Pull the starter and get the block casting number to identify it. Also, here is a pretty good article on how to detail your engine compartment without pulling the engine, and using only rattle cans. Also, get rid of that top radiator flex hose.
http://links.vintage-mustang.com/FAQ...detailing.html

 

First off, it is hard to tell what year an engine is by looking at a photo. The easiest way to identify it is by looking at the casting number on the side of the block. The starter will need to be removed to locate this number. If it reads C6_ _, then it is a 66 model block. The C in the casting number stands for 60's decade (D=70's, E=80's...) and the 6 is the year. I guess if you locate a casting number on the intake manifold or cylinder heads will also be accurate if you are SURE no parts have been changed. Nearly all engine parts have casting numbers and the are usually four digits long (such as C6ZE and may have another letter such as C6ZE-R).

As far as the engine compartment, I agree with you, who wants a cruddy looking motor. THe FAQ of this forum has a section pertaining to engine compartment detailing.

 

Right on!

Thats the exact kind of Guerilla detailing I'm talking about lol.

 

OK, took a look at the code.
On the engine block just in front of the carb is 289 with a 5 under it.
The there is C5AE then a space then 9425D

So it is a 65 engine? thought it was 66

 

If you were looking just in front of your carb, then you were looking at the intake manifold. So you have identified that at least the intake manifold is a 65. Do you know for sure that the intake has hot been swapped? Also, if you have an early 66 engine, it is possible to have an intake left over from the year before. The only way you are going to know for sure, is to take off the starter and look at that number, that will tell you what the year of the block is.

 

It really doesn't matter if it is a 65 or a 66 engine. Same animal. The only difference is how it was painted from the factory. My 65 has gold valve covers and the 66 has corporate blue. Check your VIN and decode it. If yours is an early 66, then you could very well have a late 65 model year engine. That's why we say there are no matching numbers in the early Mustangs.

 

u could always get valve covers and air cleaner and stuff like that. wire lumes and odds and ends and things along those lines without spending a whole lot of money. the most expensive is valve covers. u can get some from dallas mustang that say 289 powered by ford. they are alluminum also.

 

If he changed out the engine, He did a good job. He even put on the emblems. Are they 5 lugs too? Maybe this car was already a 289. it is a 65. Check the vin number.