[quikmcw]

Has anyone heard of a 289 Special Engine ? I ran across this engine in a '64 fairlane 500.

[Jonk67]

Not sure if they came in the Fairlanes but the only thing I could think it would be is a 289K code, that was the only special 289 engine I know of. It was used in Shelby Mustangs and was a pumped up 289 rated at 271HP vs the stock 4bbl. 225hp rating.
Jon

[Veronica]

Hello. The K code motor was often referred to by Ford as the 289 Challenger Special, and it was available in 64 Fairlanes. If you look at the front of the driver's side cylinder head on the outboard corner, you will see a two-digit number. If that number is either 19, 20, or 21 that's a K code head. The casting number back behind the starter should be either C3OE-6015-B or C4OE-6015-B , or-C , or -F Having one of those numbers doesn't mean that it is a K code block, but not having one of those numbers does mean that it is not a K code block.

[quikmcw]

If the numbers and such match and it is a K code engine, is it worth the $$ and time to rebuild it no matter how bad the walls may be ?

[Veronica]

Hi again. I guess that would depend on what you mean by 'worth it'. Ford didn't start using that motor in the Mustangs until June 1st of 64, so all of the stuff like the heads, fan, intake, etc... will probably be date-coded much too early for a Mustang. The hipo blocks that were destined for a Fairlane are easily distinguishable from the ones used in Mustangs, so, even though the date codes can't be seen without pulling the starter, a judge at an M.C.A. event can tell immediately that this is a Fairlane block. Or, at least, they should know that. The only parts that would have a value much higher than you might imagine would be the main bearing caps. A good set of those will bring something in the thousand dollar range.
However, if you build that motor back to stock configuration, it will be a real screamer. They can buzz along at six grand all day long, and with only the most modest of 'tweeking' you can also have them putting out something in the 300+ HP range so those, in and of themselves, makes it a really neat motor to have in a Mustang.

[quikmcw]

Yeah, but it would be finding someone that wanted, needed and could pay thousands for a set of good caps! I have a full set off of a regular '66 289!

[Veronica]

Hi again. The K code main bearing caps are different from the other 289 caps. The caps used on the A, D, and C code motors are worth about what you would expect them to be worth, which is next to nothing. As far as finding someone to pay a grand for a nice set of K code main bearing caps goes, It would take about thirty minutes to find a couple of dozen people like that.

[EagleAutosports]

Our Veronica's amazing sometimes...

[quikmcw]

Okay, the car will be at home shortly and one of the things that will be done is to verify the specifics of the engine and tranny that are in there.

[kens67mustang]

The challenger motor you are referring to is the Challenger 260,not the 289.

[quikmcw]

Once the car gets here I will be able to get under it easier and be able to get more casting numbers to find out what it really is.

[67fstbk]

The casting number on a K code block is no different than a standard 289 block. Supposedly the only difference is that the VIN# is stamped just above the oil pan on the passenger side of the block. But some people dispute that. The story is that Ford pulled the best of the castings out of the standard line to build the hipos. Another real easy way to tell just by opening up the hood and looking is by the harmonic balancer. Hipos have huge harmonic balancers compared to all other 289s. If you have a hipo balancer on the front and its not a hipo inside (or vice versa), you are going to have a problem.