1965 comet 289

F

flathead 53

Well-known member
I have A 65 comet caliente ,with A tremac 5 speed , needs A new engine , undecided, to rebuild the 289, or go for A 302 , If I go for A 302 what problems will I have with the install ?
 
Talk about a beautiful body style ...

First, how fast do you want to go and how much $$$ do you have to throw at it?
 

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I believe if you go newer than 1973 block there is no clutch cross shaft hole in the block. The casting may be able to be drilled but when they went to lighter blocks in 80 that part of the casting was eliminated. Someone made at one time a bracket that bolted to the bellhousing bolts and would accept the ball stud. I tried to use a mid 80's 302 in a 68 Torino with column shift automatic and it need that same hole in the block on the linkage. Just ended up rebuilding original rather than cobble as it wasn't my car. Another roadblock on that swap was the switch Ford did to the 50 ounce imbalance. flex plate I could handle but harmonic damper was different and they had moved timing marks so it needed another front cover but the Torino had passenger side lower radiator hose like older mustangs so it would have meant swapping all the front of the engine and radiator. At the time someone made a special balancer for the early Mustang guys doing the late model swap but didn't know if it would work for me. I always thought the 289's ran better than the 302's in my day. But the emissions controls and lower compression started about the same time 302's came out. I did rebuild a 91 Mustang GT and it was a good performing car.
 
This piece should be available. Try the Fairlane parts suppliers. I had to get one when I put a late model 302 in a 64 Fairlane.


5851a said:
I believe if you go newer than 1973 block there is no clutch cross shaft hole in the block. The casting may be able to be drilled but when they went to lighter blocks in 80 that part of the casting was eliminated. Someone made at one time a bracket that bolted to the bellhousing bolts and would accept the ball stud. day. .
Click to expand...
 
Im using a cable clutch ,as I have A 5 speed in it , I will need to get A two groove,four bolt hole pulley, and A flywheel balanced to 50oz, Summit has A drop in 302 complete with carb ,distributor, wires , fuel pump, for $3,299.00, delivered,with a warranty, might go with it ,
 
Installed the 302 ,so far good ,more torque and hp then the 289 , engine was dyno, readings were 335 ft lbs of torque, and 249 hp, looks good and runs nice , blueprint from summit, 30,000 mile or 5 year warranty.
 
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