dacobb, I've been going through a lot of the same decisions with #3014.
My approach to the engine has been to keep to a reasonably faithful 289 look but allow modernization where it either doesn't show or isn't a sacrilegious change to the look. Those rules sound simple but turn out to be a slippery slope and complicated to apply
.
Also, since I'm assembling the engine myself I vowed not to put any vintage parts at risk. No sense hosing up a 5-bolt 289 block or a set of HiPo heads just because I'm on the learning curve.
So the new things are:
- Dart SHP block, 331 CID rotating assembly
- AFR heads
- hydraulic roller cam
and the efforts to hew to the original look are:
- painted the heads black
- 289 HiPo front dress:
- passenger's side inlet aluminum water pump
- corresponding timing cover with cast-in pointer and dipstick tube entry (but the
oil fill tube found on the really early engines)
- HiPo balancer and corresponding 3-bolt crank pulley
- Aviaid pan
- don't have the dizzy yet, but probably a Pertronix (i.e. electronic ignition hidden inside, rather than an obviously modern system like MSD)
Attached photo gives an idea of what this looks like so far.
Remember that it's your car and your dough, so whatever you choose is right for you
Best of luck,
Bill
12Likes
Threaded Mode
