Does the 65 block have a 5 bolt bellhousing or a 6-bolt bellhousing?  If it's a 5 bolt (your 66 should be a 6 bolt) you'll need to change your bellhousing to use it.

TKOPerformance wrote:

Don't stroke a 289.  The cylinders aren't as long making the pistons less stable at BDC and 347s already have a problem with a short piston and ring package. 

Start with a 5.0 HO block for a stroker.  Already set up for a roller cam too. 

Most Ford small blocks can't be bored more than 0.030".  I wouldn't buy a used block unless it was a standard bore (4.000").  To make best power you will want a fresh bore, so you're going to bore it 0.030" over.  You can measure with a caliper and see if its been bored or not. 

Sometimes you can see cracks, but to really check it needs to be Magnafluxed by a machine shop.  One reason not to pay a lot for a used block, though I know finding one where you are is going to be a challenge already. 

Good to hear from your brother.  Hope you're doing well.

Thanks for reply ,  I don't know if the " 5.0 H.O "  you refers  is the 302 i have found or a new block  ? 
New to me that can't be bored more than 0.030 over , but glad to know . 
What i found as info on the web about this c8ae-6015b  is  302 stamped in the valley but seems coming as late production of 289 . BTW comes home for 200 bucks. and referred as never stroked . or worked . 
This is little riddle to me . The 302 is the 289 stroked from factory or is a different casting block ? 
thanks tko ! 

I believe the DIFFERENCE between the 289 and 302 is the crankshaft has more stroke on the 302.
The 302 was cast with longer cylinder sleeves. (not just left over 289 blocks!)
Now......the 302 crank WILL bolt into the 289 block but the increased stroke will bring the pistons further down the cylinder.
Now.....using the 302 crank with 289 rods AND...custom shorter pistons will also work too. (Boss 302's used 289 rods.)
289 rods are longer and WITHOUT special pistons the crown of the piston will stick up above the deck of the 302 block.
Ideal situation would be a late model 5.0 block that came from FoMoCo machined for roller cam.
The difference between the 5.0 and the early 302 blocks is the roller cam.
I would suspect a 5.0 block would be easier to find (not worn out) than an old 302/289.
5.0 block will have holes tapped in the lifter valley for the "spider" hold down for the roller lifters. (ck for this!)
6sally6
I sure hope you can translate this info to Italian!!!

6sally6 wrote:

I believe the DIFFERENCE between the 289 and 302 is the crankshaft has more stroke on the 302.
The 302 was cast with longer cylinder sleeves. (not just left over 289 blocks!)
Now......the 302 crank WILL bolt into the 289 block but the increased stroke will bring the pistons further down the cylinder.
Now.....using the 302 crank with 289 rods AND...custom shorter pistons will also work too. (Boss 302's used 289 rods.)
289 rods are longer and WITHOUT special pistons the crown of the piston will stick up above the deck of the 302 block.
Ideal situation would be a late model 5.0 block that came from FoMoCo machined for roller cam.
The difference between the 5.0 and the early 302 blocks is the roller cam.
I would suspect a 5.0 block would be easier to find (not worn out) than an old 302/289.
5.0 block will have holes tapped in the lifter valley for the "spider" hold down for the roller lifters. (ck for this!)
6sally6
I sure hope you can translate this info to Italian!!!

Hello 6sally6 ! happy to hear you again !  thanks,  all is clear !
Thanks for great info , everithing help ! .
Ok now understand 5.0 is a later model  , but is very hard to find it here. I was lucky to find a 302 .! 
Now the question is : is bare block and needs everithing ! 
as is an old 302 block , can i buy a 306/331/347  stroker kit and machine the block without big issue ? 
Don't need to race or strip , but i would like a good strong engine with efi . 
This project is good or better leave ?  
last question is very good and important 
Please anyone reply is glad to me 
ciao 6sally 6

TKOPerformance wrote:

The most important question is how much you have to spend?

A solid 5.0 H.O. with stock EFI makes a surprising amount of power compared to a stock 289.  A stroker with good heads and a good cam will make a lot more, but you're also talking about a lot more money.  Good heads start at $1,000 here, and you'll have import duties, etc. to pay on top of what we pay.  Machine work is going to be $600-$1,000 depending on the stroker kit, and the kit is going to add another $1,200. 

yes , it's correct and spare part list isn't finish yet ... so i think 5k are real money to spend . 
As sayd,  find a later block 5.0 is very difficult here . 
maybe the best way is  do nothing . Too much money for this , at this time . 
probably is better put an efi on my 289 , considering it "the last job "  and leave a stroker engine dream .
As always,  is better know  before , than regret later ... 

Thank you tko , you got always right thing to say , and always i got to learn . That's sounds good ! 
ciao tko 

I would just look to modify your 289.  A set of modern heads and a roller cam conversion will get it making a lot more power.  I'd use AFR 165s and get a cam ground to match your setup. 

Top that with EFI and it will be potent.  Realistically 325-350HP, and in a light car with a manual transmission it will be very fun to drive. 

Rudi wrote:

Like Alessandro we foreigners have to pay a premium to be in the classic car hobby. Perhaps not near as much as Europeans, Canadian taxes, exchange rates plus shipping are always a deterrent for doing upgrades to our cars.
I totally understand Alessandro’s situation and basically it comes down to how much money you want to pour down the “rabbit hole”

What I do would have been impossible without the help from the network of people on this forum.

Hey Alessandro!
I've been working on making all my leftover Ford OEM EFI parts more presentable and for sale. When I went through it all I actually found that I have 99% of what you'd need to convert an old 289/302 to EFI. Send me a PM or email hakanostlund@gmail.com if you're interested. As you probably know I'm located in Sweden. This picture shows a fraction of all the parts I have and the upper intake is so far just partly bead blasted. The firing order of the old (pre '81 IIRC) engines won't be a problem as I'll include a Moates Quarterhorse together with the rest of the parts:


 

Since 5.0 blocks are hard to find I guess a 351 block is even harder to find?!
Cheaper than a 5.0 + stroker crank+pistons etc.
You start off  with more HP than a 331
6sally6

end of the game . block has been sold . Sometimes happens that one is faster and like you sayd :
if you snooze , you loose . 
Probably the easy solution is just what tko says : cams , heads are enough to start .
thanks everyone ! you cleared my doubts 

Just a little different thought, I didn't see where you state what the end goal or main use is for the car? Is this going to be a track car or a weekend cruiser and errand runner? I have a 331 and love the motor but, if you have a budget (We all do) and don't want the car down for ever. the best bang for the dollar is gearing, and this is something you will feel right off the bat with no impact on reliability or the fear of botched machine work.

If it were mine with a solid 289 and a overdrive trans (T5 or AOD), I would put a good clean dual exhaust system on it with Hi-po manifolds and a cross over pipe. I would use the smallest 4 bl carb (500cfm) i could get, and a solid ignition system. Then if I was in town cruising 75% of the time I would run a 4.10 gear, and if I planned to make several road trips I would run a 3.73 gear. This will wake the 289 up by keeping it in the sweet spot and the small 4 bl carb will have great throttle response.

Your Butt dyno will enjoy this better than 350 HP and the wrong trans and wrong gearing, and save a lot of money.

Rudi wrote:

My car always wanted more than my 289 even after it got new Edelbrock performer rpm heads, manifold, matching cam, tri-y headers and 4100 carb.
It did not give me the punch I craved especially after I swapped an AOD in place of the C4. For me the answer ended up being a 331.
I probably would have been happier the 289 if the car had a 4 speed manual but arthritis dictated otherwise.

well. as Hakan says , here in europe is very hard to find block to be stroked . The lack of used spare parts , and board tax are first guilty to cut the budget . i did a brief with major parts for a 331 and easy go more than 5 k . 
i understand your point of view , and me too wish have a stroker . 
ciao ! 
 

TKOPerformance wrote:

Cam it to where it will pull to 6,500, and its no problem.  Problem is the OP lives in Italy, so we all know what the gold standard is in Italy: Ferrari.  That's a tall mountain to climb, but a high reving undersized V8 (or V12) is how old Enzo got it done, so what's good for the goose is good for the gander and all that.  I believe he has a T5 in the car already, but can't recall the rear gear. 

Well ain't got what refers to OP . Anyway i got t5z and 3.40 . swap from 3.80 that was too short . Now is really a 5th overdrive . 100 mph @3000 rpm  The rest 4 gear are perfectly geared for fast driving . -
thanks