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I own a 66 fairlane with a 289 in it. Wanted to do a few mods to it. This is what i want to do and was wondering if it will work.
351w is a HO from a van.
Wanted to use 289 block
install 351 heads and 4v intake
cam from 351
electronic ign. from 351
I was told that this would all work, but wanted a few expert opinions.
Was also told that i would have to change firing order to the 351 HO due to diff. firing order on a high output, something to do with the balancing. Was told that if i used orig 289 firing order, i could break the crank.
Thanks for any and all help.
Wes
Here's a couple things to my understandings. It may help.
302 and 351W cams are interchangeable, but the 351W has the same firing order as a 302HO. You'd have to switch a couple of plug wires on the distributor to correct the change in the firing order. From what I understand, changing the firing order doesn't affect engine balancing.
Since the 289 and 302 are the same blocks, but with different cranks, I don't see why you couldn't interchange cams from a 351W to a 289.
As far as heads, I'm not quite sure what interchanges. If the funding is available, I'd go with a good high performance head.
what type of intake are you going to use, because I know a regular style 289 or 302 intake won't fit a boss 302 which is a souped up 302 with windsor style heads, regular intakes have 12 bolts and the windsors have 14. I think the deck height on the 351 and 289 the same but i'm not sure. I agree with WrenchHead84 though, I'd just buy a good set of heads and not worry about it.
I don't think that the intake will fit. The intake off a 351W will not fit on a 302. The reason is the deck height on the 351W is taller, therefore the distance between the cylinder heads is a further distance.
The heads should swap. Get the smog bumps removed from the exhaust ports on the 351W HO heads.
the heads will swap but you need sleeves for the head bolts because the 351 uses larger diameter head bolts. The boss 302 used cleveland heads not windsor heads. the deck height on the 351w is taller and the intake is about 2 inches wider so the intake will not work. The 351 distributer will not work but the cam will if you change the firing order unless it is a HO with roller lifters then the lifters wont work without machining the block and you would need a hardened gear fot 289 distributer..
Last edited by ronclark; Jan 31, 2005 at 10:56 AM.
I own a 66 fairlane with a 289 in it. Wanted to do a few mods to it. This is what i want to do and was wondering if it will work.
351w is a HO from a van.
Wanted to use 289 block
install 351 heads and 4v intake
cam from 351
electronic ign. from 351
I was told that this would all work, but wanted a few expert opinions.
Was also told that i would have to change firing order to the 351 HO due to diff. firing order on a high output, something to do with the balancing. Was told that if i used orig 289 firing order, i could break the crank.
Thanks for any and all help.
Wes
The 351W heads from a from a newer engine are most likely E7s or E5s they would drasticly reduce the compression of a 289, The air flow of the 289 heads might even be better than the E7s depending on the castings. The old 69/70 351W heads have better flow than any 302s since they have bigger intake ports and larger valves than the 302 engines. Why not just swap for the 351. The intake fron a 351W wont fit a 302.
I think you would be better off with the 351W instead of the 289, but that is your call. Why do you want to keep the 289? The 351W is not much larger. Remember, there is no replacement for displacement. 72 cubic inches is a lot to pass up on.
Last edited by mako5972; Jan 31, 2005 at 04:02 PM.
The original 289 from the fairlane smokes(valve guide seals)
The 351w is in a van that was given to me. Engine threw a rod.
I thought that i would use the heads and 4v intake to increase H.P. a little.
289 has factory 2v and wanted to go with 4v.
351w heads already have hardened seats for unleaded fuel.
Want to install elect. dist. for better ignition.
Hope this explanes all.
Basicaly i am wanting to do a inexpensive upgrade to engine, due to i have a blown 351w with a good upper end.