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I was running 1 of the last 2 289 high performance complete crate engine setups that was made just as Gapp and Rousch left Ford. A local guy I knew found out about them still in warehouse and He made a deal for both knowing I was buying on engine. It was not a streetable motor but we tamed it down a little making adjustments so it would barely run on street. I had a bolt on hood scoop to hide the tunnel ram when taking it on the street but, at the track it came off and a snout scoop would be mounted right on the carbs with all of it sticking out of open hood hole. It helped the heat ecscape better also with scoop off. At track it got a make over running a fuel line ice bucket and few more things. It was a beast and I ran wheelie bars on track as it pulled front wheels with the T-10 top loader in 3 gears if I let it. Had to of course beef up the complete drive train. Ran i think 4.56 Detroit lockers. Had to chain the engine block down as it would not keep motor mounts in it not even solid ones and would break out the tranny mounts. It was not a comfortable riding car at all as i ran Gabriel air shocks so we could raise it up at track to put the wide Mickey Thompson wrinkle walls under it. But, to me it was worth it and i had a blast. My Mom fussed at me because I had spent enough money on the car to have paid for college without having to race to help pay the bills. She was right but, it was more fun my way. I had pearl white paint with the red long C I called them on the side going around the fake side air scoops.

I did make a mistake on carbs after talking to a high school and college buddy who helped work on the ride, well he rode in it mostly but, was the only person that would strap in with me. The carbs were 650 double pumpers. I had run a single larger double pumper on an eldebrock intake before going to tunnel ram. I was getting close to adding a blower. I had the heads reworked and oversize chevy valves used in them. I forget the spring pressure as with my illness i forget many things for now. Doc says it will get better though. But, anyway when we put valve springs on with roller rockers etc. we all just sort of squenched our eyes waiting to see which ever one of us who was compressing springs waiting to see if the springs blew up on the guy. The heads ran double springs as if i did not the valves would float. No one else could drive it just me. Mostly because i was crazy enough I did not care. I figured if i died driving the rig and no one else was harmed it was the way i would want to go it meant so much to me. One reason i never lost i guess was i pushed it to win or blow up. First race at KC Int. it was an 1/8th mile track but, I had to run a Z28 Camaro with a blown 454 on open night for grudge races. If it had been a 1/4 mile i think He may have run me down but, with the small block short stroke I jumped him out of the hole so bad He could not catch me. I always would drive with gas pedal on the floor and never lifted it. I had a quick foot on the clutch and just stabbed it and yanked the Mr. Gasket inline shifter with line lock through the gears.

A motor is just an air pump that we add fuel and spark to, so if You open the motor up to push more air then You can add more fuel to it adjust timing and let it do it's thing then just hang on is the way i always approached power and speed. The same with a waverunner or motorcycle i could not just leave them alone. Just in my blood i guess.

We had allot of fun with that car. Driving through Sonic I would just let it lope at idle and chirp the tires on each lobe of the cam. The heads were the only things we improved as Ford had this motor every part blueprinted and everything that could be polished polished race ready. In 1976 the final total invested in the motor was right at $10,000. Convert to todays dollars? The car was T boned on the street one of the few times i drove it since I loved it so much that i drove a 1970 VW Bus to keep it parked. Anyway, the body was not worth keeping and i was getting married. A guy in town who ran a 69 Mustang fastback came to me and made an offer for the engine out of
"The Iron Horse" as it was nicknamed for never being beat in a race. Over a week time we talked and He finally paid me $13,000 and let me keep the rest of car to part out. The 68 coupe started out with a 302 3 speed and it was just never going to do what i wanted it to do.

I raced regularly in Olathe, Kansas in an abandoned housing development paying my way through college. I happened to work for Keystone Manufacturing during college and when they learned of the car they became a sponsor. In the summer they would haul it along with their rail car. The farthest i ever went was i think Bee Line Dragway in Arizona. Spent most of my racing KC Int. Raceway to hold expenses down for Keystone. It was a better local statement for them.

I have forgotten way more than i can remember about most details. I know I went through a T-10 top loader every other month it seems when racing. Had to keep a scatter blanket over bell housing and tranny at all times.

Well enough of reminecing of the good old days. But, allot of what I have in mind for the H2 comes from the old days of pushing motors up till just before they broke. Anyone can do it know doubt but, it is an area where even in this technology experience of doing it allot helps You to feel what a motor will take over what others think it can do. To get the most You have to have no fear of pushing the motor and drivetrain for all it has then starting over if you mess up.

I like Your setup Captain as it seems You have gotten allot out of what You have had to work with. But, in a small block Ford there has not been and maybe never will be a motor that could do what the original 289HP motor could do. If I had a Stang with original 289 in it I most likley could not make myself to risk destroying it in these days.

Good Luck with Your Stang Captain and I hope You get to enjoy it for a long time. I wish all the time I could get that crate motor back I had my hands on.

TAZ