Gentlemen, am considering buying a 65 econoline pickup with a newly installed 289 (my first econo). My big concern is whether this engine will require a larger than standard radiator or other measures to provide proper cooling for highway driving (Northern CA). Also will this engine generate heat in the cab and will insulating the dog house cause any problems. Thanks for your help

 

Hey welcome to FTE! I don't know the answers to your questions but I do have a 289 in a 64 Falcon convertible and those cars were initially designed as small sixes so the radiator design is pretty small. Still fine for it though. I'd try it out and then decide if you need an aluminum radiator or something for it.

 

Thanks FD - most people seem to think it wont be a problem either so good to hear confirmation from you.

 

The 65 Econolines have bigger rads than the early ones. It should work fine.. They are hooks to either a 240 or 300 engines. So they produce lots of heat.
The doghouse were only insulated on the lids. It does get warm, but I just open the vents.

 

The 289 wasn't available in Falcons until 1965. 1963 1/2's & 1964's were only available with the 260.

The radiator is different with V8's than it is for I-6's. The same radiators used in 1963/65 Falcon's were also used in 1965/66 Mustangs.

 

Thanks Bill. I put the 289 in about 22 years ago or so. What I meant was the physical size or the radiator, height and width, was established before the decision to add the V8. And for the record, doesn't the radiator in a Falcon have a slightly different inlet-outlet configuration than the Mustang?

 

In my experience, anything less than a 4 core radiator will get hot in a V8 econoline. I bought a 4 core rad for a 67 mustang, had my radiator guy swap the mounting brackets -left side to rt, rt to left- Then it'll bolt right up. You may have to use a bit of imagination to line up rad hoses, but its SO worth it in the hot summers.