If you have one of these "Oldie but goodies" by all means use it....

The last couple posts about overlooked engines caused some people to remind me of some viable ones they thought I forgot. I didn't forget them,I just dont think their plentiful enough to look for.  # 1. 289 Ford. I loves 289s. Their reliable, and offer tremendous bang for the buck. However, they've been out of production since 1968. That's 48 years. If you have a 289 V8 in the car or can buy one cheap, then by all means use it.  If your restoring a '65 Mustang to the nth degree, then a 289 is the only way to fly. For anything else-the 302 was used in millions of cars, trucks and suvs from 1968 to 2002 and is still in production and being sold as a crate motor to this day. That's all I'm saying-don't search the galaxy for a 289 while passing over hundreds of 302s!!  # 2. 396 / 402 Chevy. 396s run great.  If  you have one already in the car or your restoring an SS396 Chevelle or El Camino, Camaro or Nova to concours status, then this is the engine that you "gotta have." But they've been out of production since 1972. Why frantically search for a rare 44 year old engine, when 454s are plentiful in junkyards, and GM is selling 427 and 454 crate engines to this day?   # 3. 383 / 400 Chrysler. Same thing here. 383 / 400s run great. With the right combination, just as fast as a 440. However the 383 has been out of production since 1971, and the 400 since 1978. If you have one, or can buy one cheap by all means use it. However-again, I wouldn't chase a 38-45 year old 400 cube "B" engine, when Chrysler is selling 400 hp 360 crate motors, 500 hp 505 wedge ( a 440 stroker ) engines and 426, 472 and 528 hemis with 465-610 hp. # 4. 351C Ford. Again, if you have one already in the car, by all means use it. There's still a ton of speed equipment available for these engines. However they've been out of production since 1974. The 351W was used in cars and trucks until 1997, and is still in production today the- hi-performance 351W crate motors being sold by Ford, and Edelbrock and Trick Flow offering "Cleveland" style heads and manifolds to make "Boss" clones on Windsor blocks, it just doesn't make sense to try to find a 42 year old engine to build. Unless your restoring a Boss 351 Mustang or a Pantera. That's why these were left off the the list, not because they don't make big power. Mastermind