I have been restoring a 61 falcon ranchero and dropped a 289 in it but i also have a 96 f-150 with a 351 windsor that im thinking of replacing with a diesel. I'm trying to set my ranchero up for drags and my truck for mud bogging. Wondering if i should keep the 289 in the ranchero and rebuild the 351w and put it back in my truck or if i should rebuild the 351w and drop it in my ranchero and put a diesel in my truck?

 

What originally did you have in the ranchero before the 289? And is it a basic or a high performance? Last question is what kind of transmission are you running, a C-6? The 351W would be a lot more heavier that would drag down your time if you are considering that kind of things.

 

Originally my ranchero had the straight six in it. I love speed and performance and I wasn't feeling the three on the tree much either. My dad and I took the front end and the 289 out of a 65 mustang and rebuilt that motor. We put a falcon sprint rear end in it and welded some support beams underneath connecting to the unibody. I'm not exactly sure what transmission I have in it, all I know is it's a five speed. Down the road i'm looking into putting a mustang II front end so I can cut out the firewallls for more engine clearance. Not much room left in that tiny engine compartment. So you are thinking that the 351w might just be a little too heavy for competitive racing?

 

The only engines available in 1960/62 Falcons (and Comets) were the 144 & 170 I-6's.

 

Im not sure which one it came with but it was an in line six. Scrapped that engine and put the 289 in.

 

Personally I don't think as of right now with out some good fabrication if there is enough room in your engine compartment for a 351, I think a 289 tricked out would do fine with the size of your ranchero.

 

Thanks pulls my car around pretty damn well even right now. Think only mod my dad did on the engine is a nice cam and carb. What mods would you do to the 289 to increase the power?

 

There are multiple ones you can do that are simple
1. Adding a cold air intake
2. Racing headers that are smoother inside reducing back pressure
3. Put a supercharger on the cold air intake
4.Switch the engine's head with one that has multiple intake values and exhaust valves. Most standard engines only have one of each. With multiple valves, the engine's airflow will increase and the horsepower will improve
5.Install an intercooler. Cool air contracts, which means you can fit more of it into the engine's cylinder than hot air. The more air you fit in the engine, the more horsepower when the cylinder fires
6. Replace your intake manifold with one made of smoother material, or simply polish it to buff out any imperfections. That will lower the air's resistance as it moves into the engine's pistons and increase its effective horsepower.
7. Increase the size of your car's air filter or reduce the size of its intake piping. This allows air to enter the engine more freely, which lets the pistons work more efficiently and increases the engine's horsepower.

Pretty much matters how much money you are willing to drop.

 

You've got some of the basics here, but as far as multiple valve heads for a SBF, you'll find those in a museum, unavailable at any price.

This would be an example:

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You can't just pop a supercharger on a cold air intake either. Superchargers or turbos on this type of engine require a blow-through carb set up.

Headers, intakes, low restriction air cleaners and mufflers, yes, those reduce pumping losses and increase volumetric efficiency, which leads to more power.

 

The 289 out of the '65 Mustang....What was it originally? A 2bbl or 4bbl?

The cam, do you have any specs on it?

What size carb, and what manifold?

What exhaust?

What budget?

If you have $10,000 to play with, a 500+ horse 331 or 347 will bolt right in where that 289 is, as long as it's a 6 bolt bell.