[chrisgrimes2186]

I have a 289 that I am rebuilding. How can i rebuild this to have 300+ hp. Assuming that I only bore it 30 over. Thanks for the help.

[2Manystangs]

The heads are probably the best way, go with some Trick Flow aluminums or similar...then get a good cam and headers and you should easily be over 300...I'd recommend paying extra for forged pistons...good life insurance for the motor

[65BlueHorse]

I agree with 2Manystangs. A cam, heads, and headers should really boost power don't forget about the intake and carb also. If you are replacing the crank and pistons then you may want to get a stroker kit for it.

[black02GT]

my opinion the best way to go would be cams, heads, rods, pitons, and crank. it would produce more hp and make the engine a lot better as a whole.

[PaulS]

You can spend the money on heads and have a lot more potential that with the stock heads but remember that the Shelby 300+HP engine used stock heads and valve sizes. Cleaning up the valve pockets and gasket matching the ports will provide you with a low cost ability to get 350 HP. The cam specs for the Shelby cam are still available and there are cams that can make more HP today. Forged pistons are good insurance if you are going to turn in excess of 6000 rpm. There are ARP rod bolts that are between the 5/16 and 3/8" sizes normally used - they are 11/32" and very good insurance for the bottom end up to about 7200 RPM. I would recommend 10:1 compression if you are going to run gas and 12 or 13:1 if you will be running E85. Select a cam that will get peak power at the speed (RPM) that you will be turning your engine. Remember that RPM above 7200 will require new rods and a stronger crank than stock. You will need an intake manifold that flows at the same RPM as the rest of your equipment. The engine is a system - All the parts have to work together to make it work well.

[chrisgrimes2186]

Thank you for all the help but im still a rookie at everything...For example what are the specifics on the Heads-what cc, angle, intake and exhaust or would it be just as good to port and polish the existing heads. I want roller everything but what size on the rockers or should the lifters be mechanical or hydraulic rollers. And for the cam what should be the lift or duration or RPM range and again am I looking for a hydraulic or mechanical roller cam. I just have so many questions like that, is there something that I can read or can someone give me advice. Thanks

[65BlueHorse]

The answer to most of those questions depend on how you are going to use the car and how much you want to spend. Without a stroker kit you will want heads with 58cc chambers to keep it as close to original compression as possible. Geting the stock heads ported and polished is an option but you probably would be much better off with aftermarket alum. heads for what you want. I just have a flat tappet cam so i can't help much with the roller question but roller is the way to go for the best performance. For the cam if the car is going to be driven a good bit you don't want anything to radical. something around .5 lift should be good. Also if it is being built as a street car not as a race car you probably want the top rpm around 5,500-6,000 range.

[65BlueHorse]

Sorry, I forgot to put this in the last post. If you want to get a book on rebuilding a 289 i bought How to Rebuild the Small-Block Ford, by George Reid. It is a pretty helpful book. The price on the book is $20 but i got it on amazon a lot cheaper.

[axman61]

The suggestion on the ARP bolts is right on! To make 300hp with a 289 takes RPM and RPM takes $$$. But I will say this also: drive a Stang that is putting 250 ponies to the ground and you will feel like you've got 400.