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I recenlty bought a 289 HO motor complete and aseperate 82 Bronco to put the engine in. Pulled the 289 apart, found out it's got 302 heads and now it has an 84 Mustang 4 bbl ford intake along with a brand new edelbrock 650.put new gaskets double roller timing chain hi-flow oil pump and tune up in it.....it has great spark, great fuel and good air.Still won't fire.Timing chain is dead on....still tinkering with the fulcrum head valve adjustments.New blue streak cap/rotor.Autolite platinum plugs and 8mm wires.80 gph Holley mechanical FP.Still no fire....it does pop when it tries....have tried both the 302 and 351w firing orders....still no luck....pretty sure it's the 302 since I'm looking at the rockers as it's cranking over(valvecovers are off for adjustment) brand new accel coil...as well as an ignition module...like I said great spark and good fuel/air.....any ideas?been too weeks and getting frustrated with it......did I mention how much I hate timing?????
The only Ford 289 HiPo engine ever offered (271 HP with SOLID LIFTERS) was optional on 1965/67 Mustangs (the so called K cars, because the letter K was used in the VIN) and standard on 1965-67 Shelby GT 350's. The 302 engine was first offered in the spring of 1968. Ford never made a 289 HiPo with 302 parts. After the 302 was introduced, Ford stopped using the 289. The 289 was never offered in F Series trucks, or Econolines.
289 1965/67 Passenger Car VIN Engine Codes (5th digit in VIN)
A - 289 4V
C = 289 2V
K = 289 HiPo
Last edited by NumberDummy; Apr 15, 2007 at 05:46 PM.
I know this....it IS a K code engine out of a 67 Mustang coupe.....it also has a reman tag glued to the blockalong with several ZZ stamps in various places as well as the .060 stamped into each piston...I did my homework teacher, but you didn't answer the question(dang public schools)In the process of the reman not only did they pull the 3/8 connecting rods but swapped in the standard 289 rods (5/16) but also, as I found out from the wrong spark plugs, it has 302 heads, which surprisingly have smaller spark plug ports......
Thank you MHG now that is a response I can respect.I was thinking about the valve thing and compression...but what should it be?or should I just go from cylinder to cylnder to find variances?
You can check compression for consistency from cylinder to cylinder. This will tell you if the timing chain is correct, since the valves won't be closing at the right time if it's way off.
If you turn the engine by hand to TDC, then both valves on #1 cylinder on the passenger side front should be closed. Turn the engine 1/4 turn, and then look to see what cylinder has it's valves shut, compared to the 302 or 351w firing order. You should be able to keep turning the engine 1/4 turn, and follow the correct firing order to determine what camshaft you have in the engine(if it's a 302 cam or a 302HO or 351w cam.
I know this....it IS a K code engine out of a 67 Mustang coupe. It also has a reman tag glued to the block along with several ZZ stamps in various places as well as the .060 stamped into each piston. I did my homework teacher, but you didn't answer the question (dang public schools). In the process of the reman, not only did they pull the 3/8 connecting rods, but swapped in the standard 289 rods (5/16). Also, as I found out from the wrong spark plugs, it has 302 heads, which surprisingly have smaller spark plug ports......
I didn't answer the question, simply because I wanted to explain what the 289 HiPo was and when/where it was used. I have a bit of knowledge in this area since I worked for Ford 3 yrs before the engine was introduced, and used to own the 5th Shelby GT 350 made. Most ppl weren't born when this engine came out, so that's what I posted what I did.
Last edited by NumberDummy; Apr 16, 2007 at 12:02 AM.
I'm gonna check the compression from cylnder to cylnder,just to humor myself, I installed the double roller myself so ifit is off I'll be more than a littleticked especially when I've done em.....how many times?As for the finding TDC and rotating quarter turns.......been there done that....thanks for the thought though.Already thought to myself, what were the easy hop-ups?, oh yea a cam from a windsor.......it ain't standard 289/302 firing order.Haven't been able to memorize that one yet...though I know the newer 5.0 and older windsor orders, there the same.13726548.Got a CHILTON manual and a few intakes lyin around.....wow what a challenge.....no one ever said engine swaps were easy, especially when you weren't the one tearing it all apart.Welp, back to the cold forge....Thanks guys
Ok, maybe I'm playing devils advocate here a bit, but why don't you sell the motor to a mustang guy if it's a real K code, and have enough to build a 302 or 351 with more power and money to spare?
I'm gonna check the compression from cylnder to cylnder,just to humor myself, I installed the double roller myself so ifit is off I'll be more than a littleticked especially when I've done em.....how many times?As for the finding TDC and rotating quarter turns.......been there done that....thanks for the thought though.Already thought to myself, what were the easy hop-ups?, oh yea a cam from a windsor.......it ain't standard 289/302 firing order.Haven't been able to memorize that one yet...though I know the newer 5.0 and older windsor orders, there the same.13726548.Got a CHILTON manual and a few intakes lyin around.....wow what a challenge.....no one ever said engine swaps were easy, especially when you weren't the one tearing it all apart.Welp, back to the cold forge....Thanks guys
Old-school hop ups were 351W heads bolted to a 302 Windsor 351C heads also known as Cleavors once the Cleveland heads were installed on a Windsor. As you already know there is very little difference between the 289 and 302 but there is a big difference between 302 and 351. Deck height, rods, head bolt size, cam timing all change/increase for the 351.
Stroking the 289/302 was not done until fairly recently when high flow aluminum heads became common place.
the only thing left on the engine of value to collector/restorers will be the block and if youre lucky the crank.....and since the block is punched out 0.060" its on its last life.
I believe you could also get the 271 horse 289 in falcons and fairlanes ,good luck with your snappy smallblock.
jdlover
Available in Shelby GT 350's, 1965 Falcons, Comets and 1964/67 Fairlanes in addition to Mustangs, but only the Mustangs have mostly survived. There was little or no collector interest in Fairlanes till only recently. Most of the cars except Mustangs and Shelby's that originally had the K engines, have had the engines removed, and installed elsewhere. The engines are desireable today, because there are more K cars around, than engines. The K engine code in the VIN adds $10,000.00 + to the price of a 65/67 Mustang, if the engine is correct.
Last edited by NumberDummy; May 4, 2007 at 11:18 AM.
If it is backfiring it sounds like the timing is wrong. Firing order should be 15426378 if it is a 302 or 289 cam. If you have the valve covers off wind the motor over until number 1 cylinder valves are rocking , keep turning engine by hand , number 5 cylinder should rock next . Continue until you are sure what the firing order is . Check that you have the spark plug leads in the dissy in the right order and right direction .
if ya take a step back and remember the kiss (keep it simple stupid) method only 3 things are needed to make an engine run, fuel,spark,compretion so if ya have all of those and every thing happens at the rite TIME it'll run.