What's up with all the 289 activity lately?

[David Kirkham]

Pat,

My last quote to a customer on the delivery date of a 289 was 4 months. We have 427's in stock. We do not have ANY 289's in stock. Frankly, I wish we did as there are now so many requests for them for some reason.

We have 3 289 cars that just arrived in Salt Lake City an hour ago in a container. They will not be delivered to us until early next week. All 3 were sold months ago. You can purchase a 427 from us today and the lead time is measured in a few weeks. If you want to purchase a 289 car today you will have to wait months as the aluminum for the car is probably still in the form of beer cans.

Customers on this very thread can verify what I am saying.

The 289 cars are far more difficult for us to make as we do not have nearly the same amount of tooling for the 289 cars as we do for the 427 cars. If anything we should raise the price of the 289 cars as they cost us significantly more to make. To date we haven't done that, but we have seriously considered it. The 289s are largely made by hand without much tooling.

As for tuning,

I have driven quite a few 427 cars with 427 motors made from builders from all over the country. I have probably driven around 100 different 427 cars--including originals. I don't think they all had a tuning problem--but, undoubtedly, some of them did. Regardless, there is no doubt the 427 engine in any state of tune runs hotter than the small blocks I have driven.

David