I've got a '66 coupe with a 289 2 barrel stock carb. Didn't have a tac in it, so i installed one. What's a good shift point? Or for that matter what rpm shouldn't I push it past?

 

depends how quick you wanna kill it

if its a stock original engine, its 42 years old. i'd be shifting between 2500 and 3000 with a max around 4-4500 (maybe 5000 if it sounds real healthy)

if its a rebuild, you might get some more out of it, but it will tell you when its had enough by "nosing over" or starting to drop power over a certain rev point. Its a 2 barrel carb so not a performance engine.

you'll get lots of different opinions on this one!

 

9000 rpm!!!!!! no dont do that unless your an idiot, i agree with aussie on this one although id go up to 3500

 

It's been rebuilt with real light mods. Headers, dual exhuast, etc. Dude at a mustang performance shop told me i should be able to push it to around 4500. I just want a second (or third) opinion. Going to be putting in a aluminum intake manifold + 4 barrel probably in the next week though.

 

do you know what rear gearing you have?
you'll probably get a bigger lift in performance from changing that first

 

The stockcam dies off shortly after 5k rpm. Personally, I wouldn't trust it any farther than that, if that much.

 

Aussie:
No idea on the rear gearing. The guy at the shop did say something about getting new gears though.

So, in the next month or two I was hoping to get in the intake manifold +4 barrel carb (basically getting for free from a friend), h4 headlight conversion, new weather stripping (the rubber is hard as a rock), and gears. Sound like a decent plan? Any other suggestions? I don't want to get crazy with it, but I would like to get to the point of killinga couple of my friends rides (g35, 350z, and acura tl type s to name a few)I just bought it in December and want to get rolling on it. New to the forums, but this place is awesome. Thanks in advance

 

i think 4500 sounds reasonable. no more
but your bum-meter should tell you anyway when to shift ;-)

 

It'll take a little more than your projected plan to take down a 350Z in that fossil. Sorry...

 

Lol I have had a rebuilt 289 with gt 40 heads,.30 over crank turned .10 fora while now.
Best guess it may have 30k miles on it now.
That suckers has 7kso many times thats where it stops pulling,and it still runs great.
Going in another stang soon.
i have been told that is a black majic lil motor by a few guys tho