289 Hi-Po? how do you tell???

66fastback · 06-07-1999, 04:41 AM

Not likely that it's a real hipo, I've heard this story lots of times. But until someone who really knows how to spot these engines comes along, here are a couple of things to check.

Hipo harmonic balancers are thicker than the standard 289/302 balancers. They look a lot like the new 5.0 balancers, and the regular 289/302 ones are only that thick about half way around.

If it were mine, I would pull off the valve covers and check the rocker studs. Regular 289/302's used press-in style studs, and I'm pretty sure hipo's used screw-in style.

While the covers are off, check for slack in the pushrods. 289/302's use hydraulic lifters, and all 16 pushrods should be snug. The hipo's used solid lifters ( mechanical ) and you would be able to notice the slack in the valve train, as they require a running clearance.

If it is a true hipo, I'd sell it for all those $$$ to a collector and build a regular production engine and have money left over. The hipo was a good block, but the bottom end was it's only advantage--and even it didn't have 4-bolt mains--so any advantages it had were small.

06-07-1999, 04:41 AM	#2
66fastback Registered Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 208	Not likely that it's a real hipo, I've heard this story lots of times. But until someone who really knows how to spot these engines comes along, here are a couple of things to check. Hipo harmonic balancers are thicker than the standard 289/302 balancers. They look a lot like the new 5.0 balancers, and the regular 289/302 ones are only that thick about half way around. If it were mine, I would pull off the valve covers and check the rocker studs. Regular 289/302's used press-in style studs, and I'm pretty sure hipo's used screw-in style. While the covers are off, check for slack in the pushrods. 289/302's use hydraulic lifters, and all 16 pushrods should be snug. The hipo's used solid lifters ( mechanical ) and you would be able to notice the slack in the valve train, as they require a running clearance. If it is a true hipo, I'd sell it for all those $$$ to a collector and build a regular production engine and have money left over. The hipo was a good block, but the bottom end was it's only advantage--and even it didn't have 4-bolt mains--so any advantages it had were small.