Picked up an ‘83 Bronco, marketplace find, not in super great shape. Seller promised the moon, I get there and runs like crap, it’s backfiring, long tube headers are barely bolted to the heads, nothing works, “spare” transmission and transfer case are caked in mud. I probably paid too much but it still wasn’t a huge dollar amount, just a unique vehicle that I’ve never owned to play around with and resell next spring.

So I get it home, just trying to get it cleaned up, figured I’d change all the fluids and de-redneckify it as much as possible before putting it in the shed to get back to at a later date. Drained the tank, gas was brown, pretty much all of the fluid had leaked out of everything except the T18 transmission. This engine has been rebuilt and repainted, so it didn’t occur to me, and didn’t matter enough, to verify that it was the Bronco’s original engine. It’s also my first carbureted Ford V8, they obviously look a lot different than the EFI Windsors and modulars that I’m used to…

But as I’m trying to get a model number off the Holley carb and MSD ignition to see if I can track down manuals, my spidey senses started tingling. The real lightbulb moment came after I decided to clean up the engine, after which writing on the intake manifold became visible… “Edelbrock Performer 289.”

While I’d like some confirmation that this is, in fact, a 289, I’m more interested in opinions on its value. The codes in front of the left head have been milled off and I’m not sure where to find the relevant numbers on the side of the block. But is there a 289, say one from an early Mustang, with a higher intrinsic value? Bottom line, is the complete engine with Holley carb worth more out of the Bronco, which in cleaned-up running condition might be worth $3500?

 

The intake manifold saying "289" on it does not mean it's a 289. It could be a 302. I have a 1986 302 that I put a 1968 Ford 4bbl intake on it. That doesn't make it a 1968 302.

You have to take the starter off and look for the casting numbers above it.

 

I’m aware. I’m also aware that if it is a 289, the chances of it being a K-code are slim. From my research, the indentation in the block behind the intake manifold is more indicative of it being a 289.

Casting number above starter, got it, thank you. I will grab those numbers and circle back this evening.

 

According to this article, you will most likely be able to tell if it's a 289 from the casting numbers, but you will not be able to tell if it's a K code engine. You will have to pull the valve covers to get a hint if it's that one.

https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/mu...ngine-id-guide

 

Great info, thank you. Unlike my EFI Windsors, one of which I still own, pulling the valve covers on this would be easier than pulling the starter.

Do these blocks not have a partial VIN stamped on them? I’ve always thought that was the case, at least with my ‘89 351 (which reminds me, I’ve been meaning for years to double check that it’s the factory engine).

 

What is the engine code in your VIN?

Eighth character.

And this is a Bronco right?

 

Ford didn't stamp the partial vin on the block until it was mandated by the Gov in 1968.

 

I highly doubt its a 289. For some weird reason Edelbrock still casts the Performer for the 289/302 with the "Performer 289" on it, the Performer on my 302 build says the same thing and I am not too crazy about it, thankfully once all the bracing and airbox is installed you cant see it.

 

Good catch. The Performer 289 is still in production:

https://www.edelbrock.com/performer-...fold-2121.html


Says it’s for 260-302 Windsor small blocks. Zoom in and you can see the 289:

 

Easiest way to identify a 289 hipo is the extra thick vibration dampner (harmonic ballancer)
at least for the bottom end.
289 hipo heads are obvious with a valve cover removed
Because of the pocket the valve spring sits in
Values arent very high unless its a hipo or five bolt block
thrre is much more interest as nd value in the roller cam 302 engines.

 

Yep thats the same 2121 I got on my 302 build. They have one that doesnt say 289 on it, it says 302 on it and its their 3721 as shown below. This wont work on our trucks as the only vacuum port in the back is on cylinder 8 which is right under the throttle cable mount which makes it useless. It also has a coolant cross over on the back side. Both of these reasons are why I couldnt use it on my 302 build for my truck. the EGR Im not concerned with as my AFR Renegade 165 heads dont even have an exhaust cross over machined into them so it would never work anyways. But I need the vacuum for my cruise control, brake booster, and transmission so the Performer 302 is off the table for me.

 

Factory 302, why do you ask?

 

As stated, the intake manifold wasn’t what made me think it was a 289, it’s just what made me want to dig into it. Spot for date stamp (since milled off) in front of left head and indentation behind intake manifold are not consistent with a 302.

 

Date stamp on mine is by the starter and its not a stamp but cast into the block as raised numbers just like the casting number. I dont think I ever seen a Ford with an actual stamped code on a Ford engine like what I had on my 283 on my Belair which was the plant code and date code stamped into the pad on the passenger side infront of the head that was stamped with a hammer strike stamp.

I mean ultimately someone could have thrown a 289 into the bronco, but the bronco being an '83 it would be a 50 oz imbalance 302 which was introduced in '82 and the 289s they all were 28oz imbalance like the pre '82 302 and all 351Ws. Doesnt mean someone couldnt have swapped the flexplate/flywheel out for the proper 28oz imbalance. Just seems like a bunch of work to put a older smaller displacement engine in place of a newer larger displacement engine but someone might have had a reason to swap it if they did.

 

That’s a completely fair take given what I’ve shared. I don’t have all of the answers, and don’t want to bombard the internet with an 800-word essay on why I have certain suspicions about this Bronco.

But to make a long story short… the guy I bought it from didn’t know all that much about it, but he seemed to believe that it was some sort of unfinished performance off-road build, and made a cryptic comment about an “old Ford cam” (this may or may not mean anything, I don’t know), and supposedly it’s an 850 CFM carb. All I know is that the drivetrain has been completely rebuilt, it has some old suspension mods and even without a much needed tuneup, that engine makes my ~300 horse ‘89 351 with 4.10s seem like a low-revving school bus (and if my math is correct, this one has 3.55s).

At least part of the engine mystery will be solved tomorrow when I get the numbers off the block.