[creepinAlong]

Ok I have had all these plans for my fairlane but now I am starting to get money to do these plans and now I am not sure which route to go. I want to drag race it and make it a street strip car but it is matching numbers so I don't know how much it is worht in mint stock edition. So I guess what I am asking is that is my matching numbers 1965 Ford Fairlane Sport Coupe worth a whole lot in it's mint stock form or is it better just to make it a resto rod?

 

[norcal500]

i vote to keep it all matching. maybe stroke the 289 into a 347

 

[tenchisan]

i heard making the 347 stroker was a bit much on the motor, especially if its matching numbers. go with a lower stroker if ya wanna do that. But my advice is completely restore it. 65 is a weird year, i have a 4 door sedan from that year, and ill tell ya that a completely restored car is generally much more then a street racer. add some good audio, make it nice, and just make it the car that you dream of.

 

[creepinAlong]

How much power can I get out of the old 289 before it's at it's limits?
Would a 331 with some decent heads make good power? Like around 300 350?
_________________
Too much rust in my car...AHHHHHH

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: creepinAlong on 4/10/06 10:35pm ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: creepinAlong on 4/10/06 10:35pm ]</font>

 

[norcal500]

On 2006-04-09 22:42, tenchisan wrote:
i heard making the 347 stroker was a bit much on the motor, especially if its matching numbers. go with a lower stroker if ya wanna do that. But my advice is completely restore it. 65 is a weird year, i have a 4 door sedan from that year, and ill tell ya that a completely restored car is generally much more then a street racer. add some good audio, make it nice, and just make it the car that you dream of.

true, I was just thinking max power but you can get lots of power from the 289 with the right combo. I've seen a built up 65 289 mustang smoke a 350 chevy camaro easily

 

[norcal500]

also the 65 fairlane is only 1 year of that body style therefore making them very rare especially because its a sports coupe

 

[tenchisan]

which is why i said to restore it. i know how hard it is to find those pieces, and a 331 would definately probably be better if your gonna do it for racing. 289s are my favorite, you can run them in the dirt and keep going!

 

[8BBL427]

Let's face it, the '65 Fairlane is just not a popular car. As such, its "investment" status is even more questionable than most cars. (Best ways to make money out of this car hobby are to get paid to work on other people's cars or part out rare cars.)

Make the car what you want it to be. If you want a drag car, make this one. For full-out drag, a big-block would be sweet. For a more balanced/cheaper/easier to build car, stroke the small block or add a blower.

If your "numbers matching" engine combo is a HIPO, I'd suggest peddling those parts to a restorer to fund you dream. Use that cash to buy a crate motor or at least a roller block to start with and I think you will be money ahead.

Bottom line, build what you want. If your car is to "rare" for you to enjoy, sell it and find a toy.

 

[norcal500]

i almost completely dissagree with the above statement by 8bbl427.

the 65 is claimed to be the ugliest of the fairlanes by some people ( mostly earlier fairlane owners ) because of it boxy shape. The boxy design is what attracted me to this year. besides I think that the earlier year fairlanes look too much like galaxies. might as well buy a galaxie. Thats just my opinion though.

If your 65 is a hipo setup the last thing in the world you would want to do is "peddle it out " to replace it with a crate motor???? BORING !!!!!! talk about decreasing the value of your car. Why ruin a perfectly good setup ?

An idea of what it might be worth.

2 months after I bought my 65 sports coupe with a 289 I got an offer for $ 8000. I paid under $2700 total for it in its weathered but decent condition.

I kept my car but there is a demand for this year car no matter how ugly or unpopular some people call them. Its just a matter of time and finding the right person to buy it.

 

[creepinAlong]

your car looks exactly like mine except i have stock black steel rims and i am missing the moulding under the door. I can not find it anywhere.

If I updated the front end to a heidts would it take away from the originality or would it add value?

 

[Lucky]

Couple of pieces of advice on this subject. First of all, build what YOU want, it's your car, you drive it, and it should be a "part" of you when you're done with it.

In my expierience with the SBF strokers, a 347 (in my Fairlane) makes TONS of power, runs like a scared rabbit, and will smoke just about any SBC on the street, even spotting them 50+ cubic inches. But it relatively short lived. Rod ratio is way outta line, balancing issues become multiplied, I even have my clutch balanced as part of the rotating assy. Plan on tearing it apart every winter.
We also have a 333 stroker (331 that's .040" overbore instead of .030&quot

and it absolutely screams! Less maintenance, less wear and tear on important engine internals. Sure, you give up some power, but the 331 with a decent cam, heads, intake will make more than enough power for a street machine. I WOULD NOT, I repeat NOT use a 289 block as a starting point for EITHER of these engines.

Is it possible for you to have the best of both worlds? Yank that 289 hipo, wrap her up in a warm blanky tuck her away all snug and cozy in the corner of your garage. Build a 302/331 to go play with. Then if you ever want to put it back "#'s matching" you can. And you also have a spare bullet in case something happens to your stroker.

NOT trying to be vindictive to any other posts, this is strictly my opinion on the matter.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide to do!!!!

 

[tenchisan]

heres a pic of my 65 289 2 bar
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/13bloodytears/Car/6f04eeff.jpg

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: tenchisan on 4/14/06 4:35am ]</font>

 

[truedog]

Sure, you give up some power, but the 331 with a decent cam, heads, intake will make more than enough power for a street machine. I WOULD NOT, I repeat NOT use a 289 block as a starting point for EITHER of these engines.

Why not? I am thinking about the 331 route for my 64 Fairlane 4 door which has a 5 bolt 289 (2 barrel) and C4 Cruise-O-Matic. I am not all that concerned with the whole numbers matching thing, but no one has said WHY I should not stroke the 289.

This will be a 100% street car so would I be better off staying with the 289? Either way, 331 or 289, I will probably use Windsor Jr. heads, and an RPM manifold with something like a Comp XE262 cam.

I'm all ears.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: truedog on 4/14/06 5:40am ]</font>

 

[Lucky]

Each and every time I start my 347, I'm thankful it didn't split the block down the middle of the lifter valley!

Keep this in mind "The further you go from stock, the less reliable it is." So that in itself, to take a 289 out to 302 is "beyond stock".

Secondly, contrary to popular belief a 289 IS NOT the "same" block as a 302!

The 289 was basically Ford's first true step into the factory Hi-Po world. And not trashing the 289, because without it NONE of us would be where we are.

Basically the 289 is a 260 with 10 lbs stuffed into a 3 lb bucket. But at that point the motor reached it's limits.

Do you think Ford produced an "All new engine" (the 302) with only 13 cubic inches more for no reason?

Bottom line. LOOK at an original 289 block vs. a 302 block. There is no comparison. 302 has much more support "down inside" where it matters, ie main supports, etc etc.

I'm afraid of my 347 in a Ford 302 block, because they are known for literally spliiting down the middle. With the minimal added "pretection" the 302 affords, there is NO reason to start with a 289.

They ARE NOT the "same" block.

 

[truedog]

Thanks for the info. Now, on a street only car, would it be worth the extra expense to build a 331, or just keep the 289? Like I said, either way 331 or 289, I will probably use Windsor Jr. heads, and an RPM manifold with something like a Comp XE262 cam.

 

[tenchisan]

289, because theres no reason to stroke it if its a street car, you would only be putting more stress on the engine then. just throw a nice 4 bar, do your planned set up, and if ya dont already have one on there, make a free flow exhaust system- dont throw on headers, go get a good set of hipo exhaust manifolds. buy a nice dress up kit for your hoses, or even go get your valve covers done it mirror black powerdercoating.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: tenchisan on 4/14/06 10:13am ]</font>

 

[Lucky]

On 2006-04-13 19:10, tenchisan wrote:
289, because theres no reason to stroke it if its a street car, you would only be putting more stress on the engine then. just throw a nice 4 bar, do your planned set up, and if ya dont already have one on there, make a free flow exhaust system- dont throw on headers, go get a good set of hipo exhaust manifolds. buy a nice dress up kit for your hoses, or even go get your valve covers done it mirror black powerdercoating.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: tenchisan on 4/14/06 10:13am ]</font>

That's what I'd do with her! That little 289 will run really well for you with the mods you listed. No sense spending the extra cheddar if you're not looking for all out performance.

 

[truedog]

One more question. I picked up a set of "J code" heads from a 68 Cougar 302-4V, casting number C80E-F. Should I keep them and use them with the combo I described or sell them on Ebay and buy a set of Windsor Jr.s? Remember, I am just looking for a nice snappy street car that will likely never see the track.

 

[creepinAlong]

Mine was looking at seeing the track but maybe I will build this one as a mild street car and build another drag car.

 

[65frlane]

I think 8bbl427 is a bit off. The cool thing about a 65 is they are different. At cruises i have parked next to the dime a dozen66/67 and always get the attention. Do what you want with it. If it were a 65 Hi Po I would restore it ( less then 100 madE )