289 with 351 heads?

[craigerGTA]

i was wondering if this was true.
i heard that with a (67) 289 if u bore it out .40 or .60 over u can fit 351 heads on it, the same with 302 heads. is it?
and if so would this be benificial?
ive also heard that if u buy say 289 edlebrock performance heads the ports for example are bored/honed out almost to the same size as 351 heads. is this true or just lies?

thanks

[torkair]

All small block fords have the same bore spacing and bolt pattern, even the Clevelands so you can swap heads all day long until you herniate yourself if you'd like and it has NOTHING to do with bore size.

[RetroJim]

Just remember , the more cubes you have the better !
So that will answer you question on boring but why overbore just to get more cubes ? You should only bore when the cylinders are bad not to just get a few more cubes . If you want more cubes then just get a 351w and stroke it out .
As for head swaps yeas they will work BUT the 289 has the smaller head bolts so you will have to buy spacer sleeves to use on a 289 block .
The problem comes into play when you start to figure out what intake to use on which heads .
Back in the early 1970's we all used Cleveland head on a 351w . They were called clevor engines . They had the bigger valves and better flow .
Same idea with 351w heads on 289 & 302 .
All you got was bigger valves and better flow which was great on top end !

Personally I still use 289 heads on a sbf for a street engine . Got the higher compression and loads of low end torque BUT I also put 1.90 / 1.60 valves in the 289 heads . That's about the biggest you can stuff in them .

Jim

[craigerGTA]

ok thanks guys. not sure what ill do. im still deciding. like if i stay witha carb or go for fuel enjection

[Culcuhain]

IIRC the 351W have bigger bolt holes... just something to think about... IIRC..

[slow-poke]

I built a 289 with ported 351W heads in the early 80's. Ford had special bolts (in stock) at the parts counter that had 7/16 thread and 1/2" shafts that were ideal for bolting the 351W heads to a 289/302 block.

You can use any 289/302 intake, just match it to what your building.

One thing to watch is that you need to use a fairly high compression piston to get a reasonable compression ratio, because the 351W heads have larger chambers (I think the desirable C9/D0 heads are 60 or 64cc while the 289 heads are much smaller 54 or 58 I can't recall exactly). So if you use a 10:1 289 piston you end up with a 7.5 or 8:1 slug. I used 12.5:1 pistons.

That lil 289 ran 12.7@107 which is slow by todays stadards but was quick for mild street 289 back then.

[dacofaII]

My question is what's your goal here? If you're going to bore it out, I'd just get 302 crank, rods and the new pistons for the .030" overbore and then you'd pick up 16 cubes anyway, ARP or Milidon rod bolts too. No one will know the diff.
289 heads with 351W valves and port out the exhaust side only and just clean up the intakes. Good set of roller rocker arms and you'll be happy with them. Simple and duriable.

[RickRacer]

Hey Slow-poke, what kind of intake and cam size did you have it that 289/351 build? Sounds like a good build even for today.

[craigerGTA]

well i ask just to see if its worth it really, ive had a couple people tell me to do that but ive always planned on just getting 302 heads there a bit bigger in every way.

why a 302 crank? should i get a bigger crank?

thanks

[craigerGTA]

Originally Posted by craigerGTA

well i ask just to see if its worth it really, ive had a couple people tell me to do that but ive always planned on just getting 302 heads there a bit bigger in every way.

why a 302 crank? should i get a bigger crank?

thanks

lol sorry i wrote like a retard lol

[BuzzLOL]

.. Prolly only want 1969 or 1970 351W heads for use on a 289 with 12.5:1 pistons... the newer 351W heads were kind of pathetic... unless they come off a 351W Mustang Cobra or SVT engine... or you're willing to cut the air reactor bosses out of the exhaust ports of 1971 & up 351W heads and port them... maybe add bigger valves...

[slow-poke]

Originally Posted by RickRacer

Hey Slow-poke, what kind of intake and cam size did you have it that 289/351 build? Sounds like a good build even for today.

Better late than never...

Intake was a Weiand Accelerator, and cam was solid, 230ish duration, 0.550 lift if I recall.

[RickRacer]

that's a lot more cam than I want.....I think I'm going with some tricked out early 289 heads and a mild crane cam, so it won't be running any 12's for sure.