Okay to start with I am proud to say I recently purchased my first mustang project. It's a 67 coupe in great condition to start working on (very little rust, body in great shape with interior intact but in need of cleaning/ upholstering.) It also came with a c4 trans.I have always enjoyed mustangs and my father-inlaw is a long time Mustang enthusiast and had a long career in body work (which is very handy on a project like this one.)

Sorry for the long post but I wanted you guys to get to know me and my situation.

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT SKIM: HERE'S MY QUESTION.

I have a 289 donor motor which I have put serious thought into using for my restoration project. I have read several articles on refreshing and modernizing a 289 but I have little experience with them. I would like it to have a good bit of horsepower in the small package without going overboard.
What do you guys recommend I do?

Here are a few of my thoughts:

replacing the stock manifold with headers (brand?)
replacing the intake with one to hold a 4v carb?
(i have a eldebrock 1413 800cfm sitting around, which is overkill but would it work without trouble and would you guys use it?.)
Any other mods not really wanting to replace the heads but up to any input.

Thanks and sorry again for the long post

 

never go over 650cfm on a 289, itll actually be less efficient for you

 

I like...

Edelbrock Air Gap intake,
600 or LESS CFM Carb, any brand
Warm Cam, (Roller cam a plus with todays oil)
Mid length headers

and even though you have an aversion to new heads, aftermarket heads will go a long way to help any SBF, and new heads would round out the above package very nicely.

 

Hooker Super Competition headers, look for a used Elderbrok F4B Intake, and unless you do cams & High compression pistons I wouldnt go over 650 cfm like 1967coupeon101 said. And even then you might have to jet it down. Heads you can port & polish, gasket match, screw in studs w/ roller tip rockers. If you do the block dont go bore over .30 because the walls are thin in a 289 and you could get overheating problems. Now my 65 Falcon I had I actually ran a Ford 2-4 hi-rise they were 485 hollies. it ran like a raped ape but then Pony Carbs did a tune job on them for me.

 

A good dual plane manifold like an F4b or a weiand stealth. A mild cam, tri-Y headers but nothing cheap. Stay under 650 on the carb and go Holley or Edelbrock, what ever you like better. If it runs good now I would leave the heads on there and leave porting or aluminum heads for a project down the road.

 

Whatever you do don't put that big carb on it, it would be better off with a stock 2bbl.

I vote for some better heads too.

I like JBA headers. I have their mid-length ones on my car.

 

Performer, F4B or Weiand Stealth, max 570 cfm carb, mild cam with OE heads.

Performer RPM or Air Gap, ~600 cfm, a little more cam with something like AFR 165 heads.

A hydraulic roller cam is somewhat more expensive but is otherwise always to your advantage, so these suggestions are for HR cams (equivalent flat-tappet cams would probably have a few degrees more duration). I'd figure up to 210° intake duration at 0.050" lift to be mild and 215° or a bit more to be moderate for a 289. The same cams would behave "smaller" in a 331 or 347, so don't get too carried away with opinions based on these larger engines.

You'll be much happier with the part throttle response and throttle control with a 600 or smaller carb (which is entirely enough carb for 7000 rpm). Unless you're running up toward 9000 rpm, an 800 carb doesn't belong.


(BTW, your first post isn't at all long)


Norm

 

A fellow on another forum, who I know slightly, built IIRC, a 67 289 with a Performer RPM intake, Edelbrock 600, C9OZ-C hydraulic cam, and his original horrible iron heads which he port-matched to his exhaust (and ground off the smog bumps while he was in there) - his first attempt at such modification. Engine turned 321 hp on the the dyno when assembled.

 

Let's not get the cart in front of the horse here. How will you use and drive this car? Are you looking for a very streetable car with low end torque or are you willing to change gears and build for maximum horsepower? Do you want a lopey or a smooth idle? Will you be doing a complete rebuild or is the engine in solid shape and you are wanting to warm up the performance?

It is necessary to understand these things before we can give meaningful suggestions. If such information is not specified in your post, people tend to tell you how they would modify for their own use and taste.

 

yeah i figured the 800 was way too much. I have always heard that it is better to match than go over on cfm.

Thanks for input so far. I have looked at weiand stealth intakes but haven't decided on carbs; holley street avengers have my eye though.

what i have no idea on is the headers that will fit/work the best. I have heard horror stories of headers that were suppose to fit classic mustangs but run into problems with the steering box etc...

Oh and yes MB I did forget to mention the car will not be a daily driver. I am building it as a resto mod and secondary weekend vehicle. My dream is to have the best performance street wise without doing a complete rehaul of the motor(which is in good shape, runs smooth and spins freely.) BAsically modernizing and boosting up with bolt on mods. I hope this helps.

thanks again for the input so far. the main reason for this thread was to help me decide on mods by pulling upon you guys experience (good and bad) and overall knowledge of mustangs.