Suggestions re:66-GT engine rebuild

[mainemustang]

Restoring factory GT vert and had to remove engine to perform some frame repairs. Engine has surface rust and is ugly, but runs pretty good (compression check/dyno showed no real problems). While out, was thinking of not only taking care of cosmetic issues, but rebuilding engine. I want to keep car original or original looking, and engine is original. What can I do to engine internals to boost power from the A code 289, while keeping appearance original. The goal would be to end up with a more powerful engine, and a more reliable, modern engine taking advantage of more modern parts/processes while keeping engine looking stock and original from outside. Looking for mild, not wild, reasonable/practical vs. expensive. Could it be taken to K code specs? Is it worth it? Specifics would help (including brands, model #'s, etc) when suggesting parts, systems. This is being considered because the engine had to be dropped and cleaned up anyway. If I can take advantage of this and make a lemon into lemonade, I'd feel a lot better about it. Thanks for any ideas/info you may have.

 

[Anonymous]

What you can do is only limited by how much you want to spend!! Have it B&B'd, new cam, intake, port the heads, gasket match the intake and exhaust, headers, dual exhaust......

a nice cam and ported iron heads will really wake that 289 up. Click on my Cardomain link and go to page 2, it has all the stuff I did to my 289.

 

[hivewax]

Or, you can stroke it. It can be de-stroked later, if you choose.

 

[mainemustang]

Sil-BluBP-- Thanks for the ideas. Since engine is complete, intact, and functional, I wanted to keep it "original" looking, so while I'd like to go with headers, new intake, it would be pretty noticeable. However, if I can pick your brain a little more, could you educate me regarding B&B'ing the engine? I know that this means balance and blueprint.....but I do not know what that really means. I am wondering whether machine shops (or others) may have different definitions of what this entails. Could you or somebody explain in plain, dufus english what B&B means so I know what I'm talking about? Also, I've never been involved with an engine rebuild, but if there are no problem signs like burning oil, low compression, etc, if one is removing heads, should certain parts be replaced anyway,,,,like piston rings, etc? I am asking out of ignorance, but with the goal of pre-empting the need/money for work that may be needed later, but would cost more then, as opposed to doing it preventively. In other words, if you B&B, port, install mild cam, while you're there, is it cost effective to do other things even if they are not current problems? If so, what would some of those things be? I know this is a lot to ask, but I have not gone to this level (have not needed to) with my other mustangs. Thanks again for any info/tips you can offer.

 

[daveSanborn]

Holy moly.... that's a lot of questions.

My two cents.....

You stated that the engine is/was running fine and that you'd like to keep it's stock looking appearance. "While it's removed" is NOT a good excuse to rebuild an engine. When it's "broken" is a GREAT time to rebuild it.

Clean the removed engine and detail it the best you can with it installed on an engine stand. You'll be surprised how much better you can get it to look with just a weekends worth of effort.

The day will come when the engine will for whatever reason wear out/fail. At this time the rest of the car will be finished and you can devote 100% of your time/money/energy to rebuilding the engine. "While I'm at it I might as well..." prevents a lot of cars from ever being finished and enjoyed by their owners. My advice is to clean up/detail your removed engine, get the car back together and enjoy it until it breaks.