with all thats been said, let me just ask what you guys think is a decent amount of horse power to drive around with, im not looking for 1/4 mile or 0-60times, my bike does it fast enough. but i want something with enough power to let it open up and enjoy it from time to time. i know its blasphemy but i used to have an 88 camaro with a tuned LT1 in it(i couldnt find an affordable non rust bucket 60's stang in ct), and was looking for something like that sort of power and torque. i know everybody has a different opinion on whats a good amount of power but i havent had an old mustang before and just wondered what most of you are running around with. sorry its confusing.

 

Good aftermarket heads, Air Gap, warm cam, headers, should (WILL) blow doors on your old Camaro...

That is my informed opinion anyway.

 

Interesting. That's actually pretty mild compared to the C9OZ-C (218°@.050/.460") I mentioned, or its predecessor, the 289HP C3OZ-C (228°@.050/.477").

 

+1

Basic bottom end rebuild with a decent h/c/i will make plenty of power for something to drive on the street and go when you hit the throttle.

 

Your Camaro was probably making around 275 to the wheels if you were going through a manual and had a decent tune in it... BUT... The Camaro was heavier....

That being said, LT1's are torque monsters.. They make +300wtq at 1000rpm's and it stays that way all the way to redline. They FEEL VERY FAST, usually they feel a lot faster than they actually are. (Ive owned 2 LT1 Camaros, 2 3rd Gens and 1 LS1)

If you put down a good 250whp in your mustang, it would probably be just as fast, if not faster than your old Camaro. Weight is everything (or at least almost everything.

 

Sure, 300HP is not too tough with a 289 AS LONG AS you're willing to spin it up to high RPM. That said, if you're wanting a fun to drive car, build it for low and midrange torque, not horsepower. Torque is what you feel while horsepower is what wins races. If you want both, you need to think about more displacement.

 

for not much more than spending the money to get 300 hp check this out
http://www.fordmuscle.com/forums/dyn...-up-289-a.html
http://www.fordmuscle.com/forums/dyn...-up-289-a.html

 

Found this article as well on the Fordmuscle.com site as well.

https://www.fordmuscle.com/forums/al...302-route.html

 

There have been a couple of threads about this recently, so I will keep it short.

A 289 is not going to produce a bunch of torque due to the short stroke of the crank. Power is a function of torque and rpm. That being said, a 289 or 302 or any other short stroke engine can make decent power, but it requires spinning the motor at higher rpms. This is not usually conducive to street driving which is why strokers are so popular. The added torque they produce gives power in the streetable rpms.

Regardless, you can build out a nice 289 or 302 that will turn high rpms and make power, but that may not be what you are after. Running an engine at 4000-6000 rpm to build power during a cruise is not what some people want to do.

If you are racing the car, then 300hp at the rear wheels from a 289 is very doable. If you are going to cruise the car, you should be more concerned about what the torque and horsepower is at 1500-3500rpm than what the peak power is because this is the range you will probably be driving in. Personally, my street/strip '69 engine never sees below 2500, but that is the exception more than the rule and I break lots of stuff .

 

perfect examples. 300hp is easily achievable with a 289