EFI Swap on '66 289

[mightyjak]

I've got a '66 289 Fastback and am looking for concise and complete information on converting it to EFI. I've looked at swapping in a complete 5.0 and 5-speed but also came across a website (http://www.mustangsplus.com/tech/efi/index.html) that seems to say that you can drop in an upper/lower intake manifold from a 5.0 onto either a 289 or 302.

1. Does anyone have any firsthand experience with swapping the 5.0 upper/lower intake manifold onto a 289? Are there any websites or books with this info? I'm interested in this combination the most due to the economic aspect.

2. Are there any good websites/books with info for the complete 5.0/T5 combo?

This will be a winter project and is still a little ways out, but I'm looking to start getting parts together now.

Thanks for any help.

Jeff

 

[Rusty67]

First off I'm going to say this because no one else has. Use the search button.

Second, for all intensive purposes a 5.0 is a 302. There are minor differences between them but they are the same basic engine block.

Third (personal bias), stay the hell away from Mustangs Plus.

Fourth, if you have all of the proper components from a 5.0 motor then yes, you can just bolt the upper and lower intake onto your small block 289/302. Keep in mind that you are going to have to do other things such as add a return line to your fuel system and install an EFI electric fuel pump. You are going to need a lot of parts that you wont get just from buying an engine. Stuff like the ECU, O2 sensors (must modify your exhaust to put these in), wiring harness, fuel pump inertia switch, other EFI sensors. If you are lucky, when you buy an engine, you will get a lot of that stuff along with the ECU and harness. This is not a simple switch of the intake manifold and you are running an EFI motor swap. You have to install all the stuff that goes along with supporting an EFI system.

A good place to start the learning is http://fordfuelinjection.com/

Basically, read everything on that website and then come back here if you still have any questions.

My advice if you are going to do this swap, especially if you want a T5 with it.... try to find yourself a donor car. The condition of the motor is not especially important because you can always bolt the manifold to your car's motor. Try and get one that will run so you can drive it back home and then gut it for everything you need. After that donate it. This is one of the best ways to do this engine swap because the donor car has all the stuff you need.

 

[Iamdiffrnt]

Also if you plan on re-using your 289, look into getting a 351w cam, the firing order is the same as the 5.0 (might save you a wiring headache)

 

[jikelly]

This set up for a surge tank to keep air out of your lines is pretty wild looking.

http://www.geocities.com/hrayhouston/antisurgetank.html

 

[65ShelbyClone]

Also if you plan on re-using your 289, look into getting a 351w cam, the firing order is the same as the 5.0 (might save you a wiring headache)

He'll have to switch to an iron distributor gear for the flat tappet cam in order to do that. The other option is to convert to roller cam, but a whole 5.0 swap is more cost effective than that.

 

[jikelly]

Oh crap did I order one of those Iron gears? I gotta check on that.

 

[JamesW]

Some Info

http://midnightdsigns.com/james/