Careful on the valve size. Remember the bore of a 260 is 2.87 vice the 289 4.0 bore. Valve to cylinder wall issues might come up with putting big valves heads on the 260.
Ford Small Block V-8 Basics
When Ford Motor Company introduced the 90-degree Fairlane V-8 in 1962, not many of us
understood the great potential of this engine. In its original form as a 221ci V-8, it had a 3.50-inch
cylinder bore with a 2.87-inch stroke. That same year, Ford also offered an optional 260ci small
block with a 3.80-inch bore and the same 2.87-inch stroke. Both of these engines had the same
2.87-inch stroke 1M cast-iron crankshaft and C3AE, 5.153-inch long (center-to-center) connecting
rod forgings. Both engines were fitted with Autolite 2100 two-barrel carburetors and single-point
distributors with vacuum spark advance.
This is the 260-2V
small-block V-8 in
stock form. Introduced
in 1962, the small
Fairlane V-8 became a
legendary performer.
In 1963, Ford pumped up the bore size to 4.00-inches to create the 289ci small block. The 289-2V
V-8 was a hardy engine, long on power potential and reliability. Fitted with the same 1M cast crank
as the 221 and 260, the 289 also had the same C3OE rods. Also in 1963, Ford introduced the 289
High Performance V-8, a more powerful version of this engine that produced 271 horsepower. It
featured a mechanical high-performance camshaft, Autolite dual-point distributor, Autolite 4100
four-barrel carburetion, and special cylinder heads. What made this engine unique was its
aggressive camshaft and dual-point distributor, designed to enable this engine to reach 6,000
rpms. Hi-Po-specific cylinder heads also provided better valvetrain stability at high revs.
For 1963, Ford enlarged the 260’s
bore to create the 289ci, a very
mainstream small-block V-8. This
engine ultimately propelled racer
and car builder, Carroll Shelby, to
three SCCA B/Production
championships, spanking
Chevrolet's Corvettes along the way.
The 221, 260, and 289ci engines lived side-by-side during 1963. For 1964, the 221 was dropped,
leaving the 260-2V, 289-2V, 289-4V, and 289 High Performance engines in production. In 1964,
the 289-4V engine was a low-compression V-8, just like the 289-2V. It ran on regular fuel and was
available only in the Mustang. For 1965, Ford dropped the 160-horse 260-2V, leaving the 289-2V
as the standard small-block V-8. Also for 1965, Ford increased the 289-4V’s compression ratio with
flat-top pistons, boosting the horsepower rating from 210 to 225. The 289 High Performance V-8
remained the same through 1967.
For 1968, Ford stroked the small-block 0.13-inch, raising the displacement to 302ci to compete with
Chevrolet’s 307ci small block. The 302 had the 289’s 4-inch bore with a longer 3.00-inch stroke.
The longer stroke came as a result of a 2M crankshaft with a 3-inch stroke, shorter C8OE
connecting rods at 5.088-inches long. The 302 used the same piston as the 289. The 302 also had
a revised block with longer cylinder skirts (.015-inch longer) to improve piston stability at the bottom
of the bore. This block was actually introduced in mid-1967. Quite a few 1967 289ci engines were
produced using the C8OE 302 block casting. This means the 302 block can easily be used with 289
internals. We suggest avoiding the use of 302 internals in a 289 block, however.