More "Rodney Dangerfields" that can make good power.....

In the last post I talked about some "forgotten" engines that could make big power for low bucks. I had a few people bring some others to my attention that I overlooked. Here's that list. # 1. 289 Ford. These were used in just about every compact and mid-size Ford or Mercury from 1963-68. In a light car like a Falcon / Comet or Mustang / Cougar / Fairlane these can be fun. They don't have much torque but with the right cam, intake and stiff gears they love to rev. There is a ton of speed equipment available for these engines-almost as much as for a small-block Chevy.  I'd recommend a 4-speed and at least 3.90:1 or 4.11:1 gears. If you want to run an automatic I'd recommend a C4 with a 3,000 rpm converter and 4.11:1 gears. If their set up right these engines can handle 7,500-8,000 rpm easily. I've known some guys with early Falcons or Mustangs that were wicked fast with 289s. The 302 used from 1968-1997 is much more plentiful, and Ford SVT sells 302 crate engines to this day. However-if the car you have or want to buy has a 289 in it I would by all means use it. And although the Small-Block Chevy is a more popular swap-a lot of guys put 289s into Austin-Healeys to create a "poor man's Cobra". # 2. 400 / 425 Olds V8. Everyone wants the 455s but anything that fits a 455 will fit the 1965-69 400 and the '65-67 425. Edelbrock makes aluminum heads and Performance intakes for these engines and companies like Crane, Lunati and Comp Cams make cams and valvetrain gear. Hooker, Hedman and other companies make headers. These can make just as much power as a 455 with the right combination. I wouldn't search the galaxy looking for one, but if the car you have or want to buy has a 400 or 425 in it I would definitely use it rather than spending a few extra grand trying to chase down a 455. # 3. 400 / 430 Buick V8. Just like their Olds cousins Buick guys fight with machetes over 455s but largely overlook these engines. Anything with 400 or 430 cubes is going to run pretty damn good even bone-stock. However-Edelbrock offers heads and intakes that fit these engines as well as the 455s and Lunati and Comp Cams offer cams. I give the same advice here as I did to the Olds guys-If you have one in your car or a car you are buying, or can buy one cheap I would definitely use it. but I wouldn't search the galaxy for one.  # 4. 360 AMC V8. While 390s and 401s are scarce and priced accordingly-there are millions of these in junkyards that were used in Jeep Grand Waggoneers until 1992. Edelbrock offers aluminum heads and intakes and other companies offer cams, headers etc. Since AMC engines are externally identical ( like Pontiacs ) this is a bolt-in swap to replace a 304. At the engine masters challenge a guy with a 360 AMC made over 500 hp. Impressive.  # 5. 403 Olds V8. Even though these were only built from 1977-79, they were used in millions of Buick Rivieras and LeSabres,Pontiac Bonnevilles, Olds 88s and 98s, all the big BOP wagons and hundreds of thousands of Formula and Trans-Am Firebirds. Anything that fits a 350 will fit these engines. This makes them a bolt-in swap for a 330 / 350 in an early Cutlass, or a 307 in a later "G" body. Edelbrock claims 397 hp and 400 lbs of torque from their Performer RPM package on a 350. With 53 extra cubes you'd easily be well over 400 hp. Magazine writers spout numbers flippantly but 400 honest hp will make any street car into an absolute rocket.  Mastermind