Thread: 289 351w mustang swap

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is it worth it to swap a 351w in for a 289 in a 66 mustang. how much modification will i need?

The 66 Mustang has real narrow frame rails opposed to the 67 which is wider. The frame rails really isnt your problem though its going to be the shock towers. The 351 Windsor is a nice swap, if you can get it to fit inbetween the shock towers, I dont think its going to fit with out spreading the shock towers out. The motor is an inch wider than the 289. The best bet would be to swap a 302 in there. Otherwise your not going to be able to remove your exhaust manifold even if you do get it in there. Forget about changing the exhaust manifold gasket while its in the car. And you wont be able to change the spark plugs either. I ran into this problem with the 73 Mavrick, which is basically the same frame. I'd go with a 302, just to let you know. If you have to have the 351 in there, you're gonna have to spread the shock towers out. Thats what I ended up doing and it was a lot more work than it was worth. And if that cars a classic your not gonna want to cut it up. I'm going to work until tonight, I'll check this out tonight if you have any more questions, I'll try to answer them later.


~ Vegas ~

I think you should leave the 289 if it runs and stuff and just build it up if you want more power otherwise i would put a 347 stroker (302) in it

Where do you live?? If you take out the 289, let me know!!!!

well, here's the deal, i have the original 289 in right now and it needs a complete rebuild and a 78 351w that would also need a rebuild. I'm not looking to spend a lot of money(around 1500) on this and will need to finish within the next 4 months because i am leaving for the military. Which engine would give me significant performance and also fit my budget?

If you put a well built 351 in the car, it would have more power than a 289 with the same mods. To put a 351 in your horse, you have to mod the spring towers for the exhaust to clear, headers or stock manifolds. Not a big deal, but do you want to cut the towers on a stock Mustang??? Your car, your decision. A 289 that is put together with the right cam, heads, ignition, and carburation will be a very strong motor. You won't even come close to putting a good stroker motor together and be within your budget.

Just my opinion man, but I say go for the 351. I mean you definitely don't intend to get rid of the Mustang do you?! If you were planning on parting with it at some point you should leave the stock engine in but if you are like me then you want all of the power you can get. And although it will caust you a heck of a lot more to put the 351 in, just keep reminding yourself of how great it will be with this easy to remember magic word:

"...power"

or even,

" POWER! MWHAHAHAHAH!!!!"

Though you will wanna make sure no one is watching or listening to you if you do the maleviolent laugh....

I would rebuild the 289. The 351 isn't that much faster to make it worthwile. You can get plenty of power from a modified 289. If you had a 427 or 460 then maybe it would be worth the extra work. A 302 won't make much difference till you try to sell it and then you will get less for it than a 289.
You will sell it eventually because if you like cars you'll want to move on to something else after a few years. The urge to keep building is stronger than the urge to keep what you got.

will need to finish within the next 4 months because i am leaving for the military. Which engine would give me significant performance and also fit my budget?

Are you going to training or are you moving to another post?
I ask because if yer going to training wait until you get back, you'll save up more money and after training you can take leave to get all yer affairs inorder before yer first Duty station.
Also you will find that while yer at training, if thats the case, yer car is just gonna sit for 4 to 6 months mabey more I dont know how long yer training will be, and if it does get driven it will be by some one that didnt put the money or work in to it and really doesnt car about yer car. I know alot of people that left there car with a loved one came back after training and found it was wrecked or the motor they just poured heart and soul into is blown.

Just my two cents
Otto