I had a couple questions on the CobraJet 289 engine. What cars did this engine come in, and does anyone know what the estimated value of these engines are? Thanks in advance.
I have never heard of a 289 referenced as a Cobra Jet. The only motors I have heard referenced as Cobra Jets are 351's, 428's and 429's. The hot 289 was referred to as a "High Performance" or "HiPo".
Ok, I thought they made a 289 cobrajet. I am just trying to identify this motor. I can try to get some pictures posted of the engine too. It has cobra stamped on the intake manifold and bell housing, and also the valve covers say "powered by cobra". Apparently it was taken out of a late 60's Mustang.
sounds like it is a hi-po 289 possibly out of a 65-67 shelby mustang. it's also possible that all of the shelby parts were added to a stock lo-po 289 or 302.
I'm with 302 coupe, I can put a Shelby intake, valve covers, cast aluminum T-pan and a a Cobra Bell housing on the "rare" '79-'82 255 and get many people to believe it's a 289 Hipo if they don't know what they're looking for. Get part numbers off the block, heads, intake, valve covers, carb, exhaust manifolds and bellhousing. If he'll pull the pan and intake, get numbers off the crank, rods and confirm the cam is a solid lifter cam.
Unless you have a car with a K code serial number, the engine, even if a K motor, won't be worthj THAT mauch. It's mostly a numbers matching thing. Anybody can put Cobra valve covers on a standard motor.
They are right there is no such thing as a 289 cobra jet, but there was a 289 cobra. On one of the "ears" (rear of engine) you should be able to find the letters HM and some numbers. I do not know if this carried over to the 65 Shelby Mustang GT350, but it was on the 289 AC cobras blocks. The HM plus the numbers were not SAI, but it was explained to me back then that it meant that it was a Holman Moody 289 cobra and was used by HM to track internally and account for how many engines they built, I also recall being told that anything prior to 1965 was not a 289 hipo but it could\would still be a genuine AC cobra- 260-289 cobra engine. I dont recall seeing the cobra jet script on anything prior to the 1968 428 cobra jets and after that only on cars with 351's, (Rare)427's ,428's and 429's cobra jet engines. This is to the best of my recollection and was told this about 26-28 years ago, Holman Moody should be able to verify this if its true. We used to stamp the blocks and heads (in 2-3 diffrent places) prior to sending them out to get vatted (To prevent dishonest shops from switching damaged blocks or heads and claiming they were ours. ) Thats when I notice the HM and the numbers and asked about them.
My Dad has owned this engine since 1971. He said he pulled it out of a wrecked Mustang that year, but since it was 35 years ago, he doesn't remember too much on the car it came from, or if it was even the original engine in the car. I did look at the intake manifold last night, and it has the code "S2MS" on it. I will try to get some more codes off of it.
I was going to say, could be a Cobra motor, but mentioned above. Is it a K motor? 5 or 6 bolt bellhousing? Lots to check on as mentioned above. Get codes. If it checks to be a Cobra motor, I may be able to help you re-unite the motor with the original car, if it still exists. If it's genuine, HUGE $$$$$$ Dan
Likely not a Cobra motor if the above statement is fact, but a very slim possibility. My money is still on over the counter dress up kit/intake.
I don't don't want to keep bugging you guys with my questions, but I have one more. I am going to go take a look at that engine again in the next couple days. Where should I look on the motor, for the ID codes? Thanks again for all your help.
Bellhousing is the kicker. Only offered on the Cobras. Not many people went through the hassle of replacing it. I'm curious.
it definitely has a cobra intake as indicated by the "S2MS" code, still doesn't mean it was a cobra motor necessarily but like Chepie said the bellhousing is a good indication as most people didn't bother. if i were you i'd send chepie a PM and give him all the date codes and casting numbers you can find.
Its also possible that it was a Shelby Hertz rental car 289 hipo, people used to rent the cars for the weekend and switch the engines all the time. I bet some of them ended up with a 4v 289 that had already been switched...lol!
