289 swap

I just ffound out my next door neighbor has a 289 from a 65 mustang the he would sell me. we are friends and he would let it come to me cheap. is the swap worth it or should i wait for a 302 to come along?

 

that will work just fine in my book

 

289 is way cooler... get it! and check under the valve covers

 

check under the valve covers?

 

hiding:you know what i mean... check the rocker arms before you buy it

 

he means is it a running motor check to see the condition ,,

 

ok thanks and he told me it has been sitting for a couple years and will need a rebuild and i was already expectting that on whatever engine i got

 

Make sure it is a 6 bolt bellhousing.
Otherwise you will have issues.
For the 1st half of 65 they used the old 5 bolt block.
They phased the 6 bolt block in later in 65.
Modern SBFs, including the 302, are all 6 bolt bell blocks.

 

I've heard there are adaptor plates to bolt later bellhousings on them.
Also, if it's a 5-bolt you can sell it and bring more money than you spent for it, since Mustang purists like to keep their cars "numbers-matching", I guess.

 

Ditch the 3 bolt harmonic balancer also as it is a pain to find the right combo or pullies if you need to change them. Was the 289 Special a 64 model? @v carb with solid lifters?
clint

 

You can drill a pulley to have 3- and 4-bolt holes, they share the same bolt circle diameter.

 

A 289 special had a 2v carb. and had hydraulic lifters in 64.

 

check the lifter vally to verify its a 289 lots of 302s had heads w 289 markings most are identical. still may have 302 guts

 

awesome you guys are brilliant and will my 200 convert with the same parts as the 302 swap?

 

sure will, the only difference is the tiny difference in stroke, which is almost too small to matter