Selecting a new drive train for my 65

Dopie · 10-26-2001, 01:28 PM

Folks,
My 65 289 engine is getting a little long in the tooth, so I think its time to upgrade to a roller engine and 4 speed auto. This is not a race car, but would like to build about 250-280 hp.
My thoughts are that going to an injected engine is too much work and cost, so I think I would like use a 5.0 engine with mated transmission, however remove the injection and replace with carburation.

Will my 289, small cavity, heads bolt on to a 5.0 injected engine? Does this make sense or should I use other heads? Again my objective is to not get involved with computers and fuel lines.

Transmission? I obviously need to stay away from electronic transmissions.

I am targeting a 87 5.0 with automatic transmission (overdrive ?), because I think it's carburated and utilizes a manual transmission. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Do you have any combinations in mind that I should consider?

thanks

Dopie

Dopie · 10-26-2001, 01:36 PM

The car is a 65 Mustang Coupe. Also, I forgot to mention that I wanted to use a roller engine.

Thanks

Again

Rev · 10-26-2001, 01:49 PM

Dopie, why not just buy a Ford crate engine with roller cam and GT40-x heads. Put a Performer RPM or a Weiand Stealth manifold and a Road Demon carb. Shorty headers or long tubes and you should have the engine that you want. Get a built AOD, and your project should be what you want. Probably a Currie 8" Traction-lock (choose your ratio) would be needed and would be adequate for your application (IMHO).

Rev

------------------
'66 Coupe, 306, 300 HP, C-4, 13.97 e.t., 100.3 mph
1/4 mi.

Mercury · 10-27-2001, 03:22 PM

Any plus you may gain from using the small chamber 289 cylinder heads (Higher COmpression) is offset by the Port and Combustion chamber design. Even ported and polished they dont flow all that well.

Unless your a wizard at Porting and intake and exhaust velocities and pressures.

You'd be alot better off using GT-40 heads come on crate engines and Explorers and other such.

------------------
64 1/2 "D" code Red Mustang Coupe. 289, C4, Mallory duel point. Ported & Polished 65 heads shaved .01 with 351 valves, 11:1 comp, 1.7:1 rockers, blue wolverine lumpy cam, modified 4100 Hipo 4 barrel. GT Apperance pkg. And to many others to list

2000 Perf Red Mustang GT. 5spd. BBK Underdrive pulleys, Flotech off-road H pipe. Hurst T-Handle, 40 series Flowmasters, Steeda Tri-Ax. Ordered 4:10's.

64 1/2 red 6cyl coupe. Future resto.

66fastback · 10-29-2001, 10:29 AM

actually.....you can get about 250 hp out of the stock heads easy...any more than that requires either witchcraft or aftermarket cylinder heads. Although using the early heads bumps compression nicely and therefore gives a nice power increase, you also run into problems with pinging.

My advice (as the owner of a 5.0 powered 66 Mustang) is keep the 5.0 longblock stock, add an Edelbrock or Weiand dual plane intake, 4 barrel Holley carb (600 cfm) and make sure the exhaust is free flowing....good 1 5/8" headers and dual exhaust.

BE CERTAIN to match the distributor gear to the steel camshaft. This means buying a steel distributor gear ($40)....otherwise you will be tearing the engine apart in a couple of weeks to replace the cam and distributor. I would probably just run the stock cam since you want an automatic....good for torque. Keep it simple and you will be happy. This recipe will idle smooth, and pull hard, but best of all is cheap.

If you want more power in the future, then buy the aftermarket heads and matching cam...you will pick up 50 hp in the swap.

ooooh yeah....on the tranny, last year for carbed 5.0 Mustangs was 1985....but I'm not sure how much the computer was involved in the shifts during the early years of EFI.
------------------
66 GT Fastback,fuel injected 5.0, 5-speed, cable clutch, JBA's and duals, 3.40 gears and handling mods...just call me "Doc"

[This message has been edited by 66fastback (edited 10-29-2001).]

zach0 · 10-29-2001, 04:24 PM

http://www.indymustang.stangnet.com/

Try it. they even have 289 engines rebuilt if you want to stay with the same size

mustangman65_79 · 10-30-2001, 05:25 AM

If u do use a used engine out of another mustang, try to find something before '85, I belive most after '85 are fuel injected. I could be wrong, and if I am, some one please tell me. I was looking at a '84 mustang 5.0 for my '79, no comp, w/ carb.

------------------
66' Mustang 2bbl 289 coupe, stock.
79' Mustang soon to be a 302-selling-
89' Bronco 351w
AIRMEN FIRST CLASS
KASPAR T. HOWE

David Fulford · 10-30-2001, 11:16 AM

I have the exact setup most people are recomending and am very pleased with it.(ford crate motor, holley 600, weiand intake) It's plenty for the street. One thing though, the ford crate motors do not come with a steel cam. They come with the ford racing cast iron cams and do not need a steel distributor gear. I have the ford crate with iron gt-40 heads and purchased a steel gear. It is still sitting in the package in my garage. The cams that are in those motors are in the Summit catalogs in the 5.0/4.6 mustang section in the back. They are cast iron. Good luck with it.

------------------
1969 fast back; yellow; weld wheels; 302 roller with GT-40 heads; 3:55 gears; 5spd T-5; MSD 6AL; E-303; flows; Hedman headers; Holley 600;

tireburner163 · 10-30-2001, 11:21 PM

1986 was the first year for fuel injection. 1985 stangs with 5-speeds and AOD's have CFI. 1979 to 1984 all had carbs.

P.S. until AODE (the E for eletronic) was introduced in 1994 the AOD's shifts were not controlled by the computer

------------------
THE SLO PONY
1992 Ford Mustand LX. 2.3 liter four-banger, auto. Future mods: V-8 swap.

Fly it loud, Fly it proud!!!

If it ain't broke, you ain't tryin hard enough

10-26-2001, 01:28 PM	#1
Dopie Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Cypress, Ca Posts: 8	Selecting a new drive train for my 65 Folks, My 65 289 engine is getting a little long in the tooth, so I think its time to upgrade to a roller engine and 4 speed auto. This is not a race car, but would like to build about 250-280 hp. My thoughts are that going to an injected engine is too much work and cost, so I think I would like use a 5.0 engine with mated transmission, however remove the injection and replace with carburation. Will my 289, small cavity, heads bolt on to a 5.0 injected engine? Does this make sense or should I use other heads? Again my objective is to not get involved with computers and fuel lines. Transmission? I obviously need to stay away from electronic transmissions. I am targeting a 87 5.0 with automatic transmission (overdrive ?), because I think it's carburated and utilizes a manual transmission. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Do you have any combinations in mind that I should consider? thanks Dopie

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10-26-2001, 01:36 PM	#2
Dopie Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Cypress, Ca Posts: 8	The car is a 65 Mustang Coupe. Also, I forgot to mention that I wanted to use a roller engine. Thanks Again

10-26-2001, 01:49 PM	#3
Rev Registered Member Join Date: Nov 1998 Location: Houston, Tx. Posts: 3,887	Dopie, why not just buy a Ford crate engine with roller cam and GT40-x heads. Put a Performer RPM or a Weiand Stealth manifold and a Road Demon carb. Shorty headers or long tubes and you should have the engine that you want. Get a built AOD, and your project should be what you want. Probably a Currie 8" Traction-lock (choose your ratio) would be needed and would be adequate for your application (IMHO). Rev ------------------ '66 Coupe, 306, 300 HP, C-4, 13.97 e.t., 100.3 mph 1/4 mi.

10-27-2001, 03:22 PM	#4
Mercury The Redneck James Bond Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Fayetteville NC Posts: 1,707	Any plus you may gain from using the small chamber 289 cylinder heads (Higher COmpression) is offset by the Port and Combustion chamber design. Even ported and polished they dont flow all that well. Unless your a wizard at Porting and intake and exhaust velocities and pressures. You'd be alot better off using GT-40 heads come on crate engines and Explorers and other such. ------------------ 64 1/2 "D" code Red Mustang Coupe. 289, C4, Mallory duel point. Ported & Polished 65 heads shaved .01 with 351 valves, 11:1 comp, 1.7:1 rockers, blue wolverine lumpy cam, modified 4100 Hipo 4 barrel. GT Apperance pkg. And to many others to list 2000 Perf Red Mustang GT. 5spd. BBK Underdrive pulleys, Flotech off-road H pipe. Hurst T-Handle, 40 series Flowmasters, Steeda Tri-Ax. Ordered 4:10's. 64 1/2 red 6cyl coupe. Future resto.

10-29-2001, 10:29 AM	#5
66fastback Registered Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 208	actually.....you can get about 250 hp out of the stock heads easy...any more than that requires either witchcraft or aftermarket cylinder heads. Although using the early heads bumps compression nicely and therefore gives a nice power increase, you also run into problems with pinging. My advice (as the owner of a 5.0 powered 66 Mustang) is keep the 5.0 longblock stock, add an Edelbrock or Weiand dual plane intake, 4 barrel Holley carb (600 cfm) and make sure the exhaust is free flowing....good 1 5/8" headers and dual exhaust. BE CERTAIN to match the distributor gear to the steel camshaft. This means buying a steel distributor gear ($40)....otherwise you will be tearing the engine apart in a couple of weeks to replace the cam and distributor. I would probably just run the stock cam since you want an automatic....good for torque. Keep it simple and you will be happy. This recipe will idle smooth, and pull hard, but best of all is cheap. If you want more power in the future, then buy the aftermarket heads and matching cam...you will pick up 50 hp in the swap. ooooh yeah....on the tranny, last year for carbed 5.0 Mustangs was 1985....but I'm not sure how much the computer was involved in the shifts during the early years of EFI. ------------------ 66 GT Fastback,fuel injected 5.0, 5-speed, cable clutch, JBA's and duals, 3.40 gears and handling mods...just call me "Doc" [This message has been edited by 66fastback (edited 10-29-2001).]

10-29-2001, 04:24 PM	#6
zach0 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Hampton, Virginia Posts: 227	http://www.indymustang.stangnet.com/ Try it. they even have 289 engines rebuilt if you want to stay with the same size

10-30-2001, 05:25 AM	#7
mustangman65_79 My poor 79 RIP Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Suisun City, Posts: 2,320	If u do use a used engine out of another mustang, try to find something before '85, I belive most after '85 are fuel injected. I could be wrong, and if I am, some one please tell me. I was looking at a '84 mustang 5.0 for my '79, no comp, w/ carb. ------------------ 66' Mustang 2bbl 289 coupe, stock. 79' Mustang soon to be a 302-selling- 89' Bronco 351w AIRMEN FIRST CLASS KASPAR T. HOWE

10-30-2001, 11:16 AM	#8
David Fulford Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 193	I have the exact setup most people are recomending and am very pleased with it.(ford crate motor, holley 600, weiand intake) It's plenty for the street. One thing though, the ford crate motors do not come with a steel cam. They come with the ford racing cast iron cams and do not need a steel distributor gear. I have the ford crate with iron gt-40 heads and purchased a steel gear. It is still sitting in the package in my garage. The cams that are in those motors are in the Summit catalogs in the 5.0/4.6 mustang section in the back. They are cast iron. Good luck with it. ------------------ 1969 fast back; yellow; weld wheels; 302 roller with GT-40 heads; 3:55 gears; 5spd T-5; MSD 6AL; E-303; flows; Hedman headers; Holley 600;

10-30-2001, 11:21 PM	#9
tireburner163 It's a lot like a race car Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Meridian, MS Posts: 4,130	1986 was the first year for fuel injection. 1985 stangs with 5-speeds and AOD's have CFI. 1979 to 1984 all had carbs. P.S. until AODE (the E for eletronic) was introduced in 1994 the AOD's shifts were not controlled by the computer ------------------ THE SLO PONY 1992 Ford Mustand LX. 2.3 liter four-banger, auto. Future mods: V-8 swap. Fly it loud, Fly it proud!!! If it ain't broke, you ain't tryin hard enough