Well guys, I think I found my motor laying in my stepfathers yard. 289 HIPO with 11-1 pistons and a cam among other goodies. Problem is, it's sitting on a set of 56 f100 Frame rails right now, but it had water in the pan when we checked it out last spring. I'm going to pull it out and strip it down in a few weeks, hopefully it only has a bad head gasket, but I thought I'd check to see if anyone knows for sure that it should be the same block as a standard 289. I looked up the specs on the motor, and stock it had 271 hp. Should be interesting to see if the additional parts upped it by much. Hopefully the block is good and I can use what is there. Guess I'll find out when I strip it though. Thought I'd share. Shaun
HiPo Not 4 bolt mains and not any real HP from the stock engine. Valve size is the same as regular 289s. Ports suck. Best thing is to tear it apart and see what it looks like inside. Then sell it to someone looing for one. Then use the money to built a better engine.
I agree with rickyracer on selling it. That is a very valuable find, but not because of the performance, but because of what a Mustang restorer will pay for a K code motor. If you are sure it is a real HiPo, you can sell it and have a ton of money to build or buy a 302 or newer 5.0 the way you want - and I bet you still have money left over. Ebay has their 50 cent listing day today. I'd get some pictures of it complete, just the way it is, and put a nice high price on it and get it listed today for cheap. That's my But, if you want a unique motor that will only go up in value, keep it. Either way that is a great find. All my years of junkyarding, I have only found 1, and that was 15 years ago.
Here is an excellent overview of the 289 HiPo - great page: http://www.hipomustang.com/images/hipoeng/
if it's as lousy as you all say, why does every book put it in a higher hp and torque rating than many of the other small blocks of the time. The majority of the books rate it second to the Boss 302, but that is only what the books say. I have no experience to base any opinions on. If the block is good, I'm using it, if not, I'm takig what I can out of it and using it on another block. The previous owner put some money into this, not worth getting rid of if the parts are good IMO. Thanks guys, I'm going to look deeper into this engine now
I don't see anybody saying it is lousy? It was a nice little mill -in its day. My thought is, why not sell it BECAUSE it is quite valuable to a Mustang restorer. If you want power, get a modern roller block and build it up. You will have a much smoother, quieter, and more powerful engine, and cash left in your pocket to spend on the transmission and rear end to boot. But nobody said it was lousy. Here is a recent ebay 289 HiPo that is in pieces, that the reserve was not met on - $3050 - and the seller said THAT was not enough for it. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7955584592&category=33615 Its value is in what it is - not in what it does.
A properly restored '66 Fastback 2+2 or Shelby GT 350, that needs a genuine 289 HiPO to complete the restoration, will have an owner that will pay a ransom for that motor. He will pay enough for you to build a great little 302 (period correct for the Mavs) that will make some serious horsepower.
shaunh82,check out www.vintage-mustang.com another board i am a member of.(click on "new vintage mustang forum".that motor will bring you a king's ransom.the k code is one of the most sought after.gauranteed to bring in more than enough to build the motor you want. chuck.
Shaun,, it is yours to do what you wish. They ran pretty good but nothing compared to what modern stuff runs. If that motor is complete and good to rebuild it is worth quite a bit of money. I have run across just a few in my time, drove one, was a blast back in the day. Dan
hi-po motors had some neat things that were great at the time, but take the money and build a 302. they had a higher nodular iron crank with good 3/8 bolt rods (the same as boss 302 rods) and a very stout damper. the #1 front cap was beefier, but that became standard on the 302 blocks. heads had built in guide slots in the pushrod holes (which held the hardened pushrods lower than guide plates would & made them prone to pushrods bending).and 49 cc chambers to give 10:1 with flattop pistons. distributor had dual points. carb was slightly larger than 225 hp engines. had aluminum water pump & alternator had large pulley to change speed. cam was decent for its day, was solid lifter and would see 6000 rpm with power easily. you can build a 302 thats stronger, bottom line.
I misinterpretd what was said before I guess, sorry. I don't think this motor is stock, we have reciepts for 11.1-1 pistons, and some cam, among other things, so it's most likely not worth nearly as much as an original. I also have a few roller blocks kicking around, but I wanted to use something a little different, and I think the Cleveland is out of the question (we have 4, one 4v ) the 351 windsor 4v is going in a rat rod, the small blocks all need to be torn down and gone through. Guess I should just start ripping and shreding to see what's there, I have a 90 5.0 HO sitting in parts on my workbench, that block needs to be machined or at least cleaned up. Thanks guys Shaun
HiPo Ok, first if is a real HiPo, and the block casing numbers don't lie, the block is a little stiffer then the regular ones. If the bottom end is HiPo, the rods are the same as Boss 302s and very strong. The block and rods are you're best parts. The heads have the same valves as regular 289/302 and the ports are the same also. The real HP numbers come from the solid lifter cam and the Holley carb. The heads have screw in studs and case in spring cups. Shelby made the heads work by going to bigger valves and porting out the heads. The Boss 302 is VERY underrated, (insurance). Actually she makes around 375 HP. The HiPo also suffers from a "stock" oiling setup. Lots of potential, just have to do it right. Remember in the 60s not much was none about making good HP and then making the engine survive.
well, the block is cracked, so, I guess if someone wants it bad enough, I'll let it go, can be repaired, but the machine shop said it would be more cost effective to buy another block unless it was a restoration.
