So excited to have picked up a 65 coupe. I am excited about the opportunity to restore a piece of history while also making it my own. This was a good price for partially restored car that will need a lot of work but I'd like to get the engine shake down finished first. I have good skill, a nice garage with 2 post lift, and willingness to learn. I would like to come up with a plan based on the parts I do have so I can decide what to spend money on first to get the car running the way I want an then move on.

What I know and so many questions:
Engine:
rebuilt 289
302 smog heads (according to PO but I'd have no idea what I'm looking at there)
The engine is a rebuilt 289 with 302 smog heads. I assume the bumps in the heads have been worked down but how would I know? Not familiar with this at all.
Not sure if it has a stock cam in it now but I am assuming yes.
Also, if it was rebuilt, is it safe to assume it was bored over .030" and new pistons put in? Pulling head and measuring bore would be the only way to know for sure I guess.
Engine was put together and running by PO and he said it had a slight tick and sounded like it was coming from the front and top of engine.
He said the 302 smog heads were not right for that car so he bought a set of 289 stock heads with mild cam. He gave me all that with the lifters in order,intake, carb, heads, and additional mild cam between .45 and .50 lift but can't remember exactly what lift, and timing gear and chain off of a factory 289. Said he would have used that set of heads instead of the 302 smog heads because the chambers are too big on the 302 heads and messed with compression.

Intakes: I have three,
I have a 84 1984 Ford Mustang 5.0L Hipo Intake Manifold E4ZE-9425-GA High Performance,
I have a summit racing 226030 Intake Manifold, Stage 1, Dual Plane, Aluminum, Natural, Square Bore, Ford, Small Block 260-302,
And I have what looks to be a stock intake off the 289 with original carb. This is all probably part of the purchase the PO made that had the 289 heads and mild street cam.

Carb: brand new slayer series 600cfm carb still in the box. SL-600-vsf electric choke

Trans: T5 Conversion. That's all I know right now but I was told it worked and clutch is good.

Rear gears: likely whatever came in a v6 car so maybe a 2.80 open? That's our guess. So I plan to buy 3.80 posi in very short order.

The engine and drivetrain is all i'm concerned with right now. I have enough other parts he gave me to get it running for sure but I don't whether to scratch all these heads and buy some high performance heads and rear gears or try to use what i have.
My desire is to build a car that will do a good burnout every now and then, have a 298 with a mild cam lope because I love how they sound, and be able to drive to work once a week and have fun on the weekends.
Thanks!


my first classic pony car. 65 coupe

 

its not clear in the post if the engine runs. If it runs then even if its not right its okay for now. I would recommend driving it as often as you can and within a month or so the car will simply guide you down the correct path for spending money.

If it doesnt run then why not?

-Gun