I have a complete 1965 289motor and a complete 1969 351w motor. Both need rebuilds and I want to make a SOLID 350hp to the wheels. What would be a better/cheaper/reliable motor for my daily 1965 coupe?

 

351. You're talking about making over 400hp at the crank, it'll be WAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY cheaper to get that out of a drivable 351 than a drivable 289

 

351w, for sure. Don't forget to make sure the tranny is up to snuff and that the bell housing bolts up.

 

what do you mean by making sure that the bell housing bolts up?

 

I'm pretty sure he's saying you'll need to make sure that you have the right bellhousing on your tranny for whichever engine you use, because I don't think the bellhousing off the 289 will work for the 351, but I may be wrong. Please, correct me if I'm wrong. Go with the 351, can get more power and more drivability with less work, plus those 351s are pretty gnarly, my buddy has a pretty well built 351 in his 74 bronco, and damn.

 

351. Can you say ~20% more torque available overmost of the rev range that you'll normally use? Or that 350 hp @ 5500 rpm is more useful than 350 @ 6500?

There are reasons for choosing the smaller engine, but those typically involve building up for competition classes/categories that have restrictions on displacement or bans on swaps. I assume that this is not the case here.

Norm

 

I am in the same boat. Accept I have 2 - 289 motors, and 1 - 351W. I decided to pursue a 331 stroker with a 289, but the more I read, the more the 351W seems to be way to go. My only issue with the 351W is the clearance issues in a 65-66.I think that has been handled now without having to notch the shock towers, so I say go for the displacement. You can never go wrong there.

 

The 351 will bolt to a 289 bell as long as it is not a "5 bolt" bell usedthrough 64 (I think 64)

The power will come cheaper and easier with a 351

A 351 will be tight in a pre 67 car, especially around the headers. All routine maintance will be ok except that changing header gaskets will be a bitch. If you do the 351, buy copper header gaskets.... you wont be sorry!!

In think that both of them are great engines.... List my vote as "no decision"...... I guess I am not much help....

 

I wouldn't put a stroker crank in a 289 block. The cylinder wall skirts are shorter than a 302 block.

 

^ yes.

and IIRC the bellhousing bolt pattern change was in 65/66 but yeah that would need to be verified.