How much can you do to an all original car 2v 289 in regards to hp before you receive ding points in a show?
I've got plenty of time before this starts.......but I would like to hear a thump just for kicks or I'm going to have to get serious about a back up for a hot rod.

Right now I am thinking the car shouldn't be altered. .....AT ALL. a good 65 or 66 would work[8D]

 

You can always use factory ford performance items such as a cast iron 4bbl maninfold and autolite 4bbl carb. Also get a set of 4bbl 289 heads. Use a pertronix elec ign. They can't see what under the cap. That will increase your HP a little but not as much as modern technology performance aftermarket parts. Good luck!
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That depends on wheather your using MCA criteria or not. Most local club rules around here, allow 3 deviations from stock( not including small bolt ons) before moving to modified class. In some cases a "Daily Driver" class is more lenient.

 

Do the judges at these shows listen to the engine run?? You could put a lumpy cam in there and "get over on the man!!"

 

LOL "get over on the man" ........thanks guys. this car is unmolested with the exception of the console he installed. I'm taking that out and selling it. He also had a tilt wheel that I've sold and a GT tach with aluminum finished bezel.

I'm pretty sure that some mild sort of mod will go back when I freshen up the engine. Other than a 600 hp ad ons I may not venture too far away from how she came. BTW..J/K on the 600hp.

I may be better off with a hot rod shhhhTANG as a play car.

 

Well, first off, there are no 2V or 4V heads for 289. Both engines got the same heads. Even the hi-po heads, which have different casting numbers, use the same port castings. The only notable difference in those is the cast-in valve spring retaining lip.

Now, to the original post...what kind of shows are you in (meaning, how strict are the rules)? If you're going for concourse...you can't really do anything outside of the original equipment for the car. But some levels of show will let you do factory-option alterations to the car, ie 4V intake manifold/carb, hi-po exhaust manifolds, dual exhaust,etc.

There are othernonvisual improvements you can make as well. Pertronix upgrade is nice for reliability and is hard to spot, aside from the one extra wire coming for the distributor.A new cam would make a big difference. An at-home exhaust port-match would probably help just as much. New lower (higher numerically)rear end gears would probably be the biggest bang for your buck.

 

Beside the slotted pushrod guides and the screw in studs you are correct. I was thinking they had a smaller combustion chamber but maybe they didn't.
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good options Starfury. Kinda what I had in mind and I think you guys answered the underlying question as what the shows expect.

the car has always been a MCA member owned car. So I will stay with the direction of any class that I can win with an all original. I do believe I'll do the cam and freshen up the heads....and pertronix is already on the list. Since I won't be "excercising" the Stang....believe it or not I'll leave the original gear in it....it'll be just for the play with it syndrome. It'll never see a race...or a track.