289-302 Swap?
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19
289-302 Swap?
After doing a lot or research I am thinking of buying a reman 302 for my 66. (I am just wanting a reliable engine for daily driving and a more little power.) I have a few questions for the experts:
1. What are the best setups for an intake and 4bl carb?
2. What ignition system?
3. What can I transfer from ky 289 over to the 302? (i.e. water pump, valve covers, etc)
4. Would headers add much more power to a stock engine?
5. Will the flywheels interchange? (Auto tranny)
The 289 is the stock 66 engine. The 302 I am looking at is 1983. One reason for going with that is that a friend of mine took a 302 from an 83 pickup and used it. Only had to change the motor mounts.
Thanks in advance for the suggestions
1. What are the best setups for an intake and 4bl carb?
2. What ignition system?
3. What can I transfer from ky 289 over to the 302? (i.e. water pump, valve covers, etc)
4. Would headers add much more power to a stock engine?
5. Will the flywheels interchange? (Auto tranny)
The 289 is the stock 66 engine. The 302 I am looking at is 1983. One reason for going with that is that a friend of mine took a 302 from an 83 pickup and used it. Only had to change the motor mounts.
Thanks in advance for the suggestions
Last edited by Sharp66; Aug 26, 2009 at 11:55 AM. Reason: More information.
6th Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,212
From: Hills of California
1) no one knows because it has to be matched to the cam
2) I really like my MSD system...been on there 6 years and I finally had to replace the cap and rotor the other day.
3) they are the same engine
4) they will add more power to a modified engine producing Hp above 250 shaft.
5) autos dont have flywheels....and don't use the same one over new flexplates are cheep. Unless you think the teeth on it are as good as new
-Gun
2) I really like my MSD system...been on there 6 years and I finally had to replace the cap and rotor the other day.
3) they are the same engine
4) they will add more power to a modified engine producing Hp above 250 shaft.
5) autos dont have flywheels....and don't use the same one over new flexplates are cheep. Unless you think the teeth on it are as good as new
-Gun
6th Gear Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,417
From: Cork, Ireland
After doing a lot or research I am thinking of buying a reman 302 for my 66. (I am just wanting a reliable engine for daily driving and a more little power.) I have a few questions for the experts:
1. What are the best setups for an intake and 4bl carb?
very common intake is either weiand 8124 intake, or edelbrock performer
very common carb would be holley 570 street avenger, edelbrock 600cfm (you can get them remanufactured), or the cheap summit 600cfm (which essentially is a holley oddball)
2. What ignition system?
how much money? is the current distributor still good?
3. What can I transfer from ky 289 over to the 302? (i.e. water pump, valve covers, etc)
basically everything apart from balancer and waterpump depending on the year I would assume.
what year is the 289, what year the 302?
4. Would headers add much more power to a stock engine?
yes
5. Will the flywheels interchange? (Auto tranny)
i can't see why not. flywheel and transmission should bolt right up. unless the 289 is from early 65 which use have 5-bolt pattern. from late 65 on all 289/302 are 6-bolt bellhousing
Thanks in advance for the suggestions
1. What are the best setups for an intake and 4bl carb?
very common intake is either weiand 8124 intake, or edelbrock performer
very common carb would be holley 570 street avenger, edelbrock 600cfm (you can get them remanufactured), or the cheap summit 600cfm (which essentially is a holley oddball)
2. What ignition system?
how much money? is the current distributor still good?
3. What can I transfer from ky 289 over to the 302? (i.e. water pump, valve covers, etc)
basically everything apart from balancer and waterpump depending on the year I would assume.
what year is the 289, what year the 302?
4. Would headers add much more power to a stock engine?
yes
5. Will the flywheels interchange? (Auto tranny)
i can't see why not. flywheel and transmission should bolt right up. unless the 289 is from early 65 which use have 5-bolt pattern. from late 65 on all 289/302 are 6-bolt bellhousing
Thanks in advance for the suggestions
most important question is probably: what do you want to upgrade and what do you want to spend
4th Gear Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,090
From: Az
^^I agree with all that except with the ignition. MSD seemed like complicating things unnecessarily so, I went with pertronix. Haven't touched it in about 5 years. EDit: Kali beat me there. I like the pertronix because it's simple reliable and keeps the stock look.
Last edited by Stepman; Aug 26, 2009 at 11:48 AM.
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 26
From: Pennsylvania
Ok my 2 cents too..
Intake I would suggest a Weiand stealth. with the an old original style Autolite 4100 shoe box carb. they arent as finicky as a Holley, although you will get alot votes for the holley, if you do dont over carb it. 650 is more than enough for most.
Im with the petronix team on dizzy.
your gonna need a 50 oz imbalance flex plate with 157 tooth. your stocker on the 289 is 28 oz 157 tooth. it will bolt up but will cause vibration problems.
you will also need a 50 oz harmonic balance wheel with 3 hole pulley set up then all your stock stuff will bolt up. you will have to drill out some of your stock brackets cause the 289 bolts were smaller like where the brackets bolt to the heads.
Im probably overlooking some little stuff but that should get you going the right direction.
Intake I would suggest a Weiand stealth. with the an old original style Autolite 4100 shoe box carb. they arent as finicky as a Holley, although you will get alot votes for the holley, if you do dont over carb it. 650 is more than enough for most.
Im with the petronix team on dizzy.
your gonna need a 50 oz imbalance flex plate with 157 tooth. your stocker on the 289 is 28 oz 157 tooth. it will bolt up but will cause vibration problems.
you will also need a 50 oz harmonic balance wheel with 3 hole pulley set up then all your stock stuff will bolt up. you will have to drill out some of your stock brackets cause the 289 bolts were smaller like where the brackets bolt to the heads.
Im probably overlooking some little stuff but that should get you going the right direction.
6th Gear Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,232
From: PA
Since the 289 and 302 are almost identical, I mean it can be very difficult to tell which is which, I don't understand what you mean by "reliable". The 1/8" stroke to 302 cid is good for, at most, 11 hp. A good porting job will give your 289 a much bigger power increase than that.
6th Gear Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,232
From: PA
6th Gear Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,896
From: Elk Grove, CA
I have to say, I've had my MSD distributor since I built the motor (25k mi and 5 or so years ago) and it still works like new. Nor have I heard of many MSD failures. Occasionally a box will crap out, but I haven't heard of that very often.
However, I did have an Ignitor for only a few years that had a nasty sporadic misfure but required a shop to put it on an analyzer before they finally figured out that the module was the problem. I've heard several similar complaints, and many stories of them dying completely (no spark at all). I'll still sell them, but if I had to run a conversion setup again, I'd probably run a Crane unit (if you can still find one).
I'm not saying an MSD setup is cost-effective, but in my experience they have a better track record.
However, I did have an Ignitor for only a few years that had a nasty sporadic misfure but required a shop to put it on an analyzer before they finally figured out that the module was the problem. I've heard several similar complaints, and many stories of them dying completely (no spark at all). I'll still sell them, but if I had to run a conversion setup again, I'd probably run a Crane unit (if you can still find one).
I'm not saying an MSD setup is cost-effective, but in my experience they have a better track record.