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NEED OPINIONS: should I rebuild my 289 or go with a 351w
The 351W is a layup, no question.
Has a lot of extra performance you can actually use.
IMHO, the best thing to do is see what SVO/FRPP has in their catalog. I think they still list a very inexpensive, 8.5:1 351W with a 4V intake and iron heads that is technically the "marine" long block assembly.
It is to a Ford what the Goodwrench 350 is to GM cars and trucks. Solid, bulletproof and cheap.
It's about 250 hp, give or take, and all you do is screw on the Holley, get your accessories and go. IIRC, it also has the old "GT" / "PI" roller cam, which makes good power and pulls plenty of idle vacuum. For the record, that's as good or better than the SAE net HP for a 390 4V.
My memory may be playing tricks on me, but I remember the price being surprisingly good -- around $2250 all in with a warranty. The only thing you will want to do to go with this (and you'd have to do it rebuilding the 289) is to get a different trans.
The bellhousing pattern changed for '65 on the automatics from five bolts to six, I think. So you would need to round up a trans, probably a C-4 or an AOD. There is a wealth of knowlege here for these swaps.
Small block C-6's are expensive, hard to find, and eat hp's; the FMX / Cruise-O-Matic might hook up easier but it is harder to get parts for, heavier and really not much for performance although some folks swear by them, even on this board.
Good luck, sounds like a cool car.
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