The small-block 289 engine was probably the most widely used Ford small-block engine during the 1960s. The engine was available at a modest 200-horsepower and a higher-performance version of close to 300 horsepower. The 289 is famous for its high-revving capability and its durability. However, even the 289 cannot last forever and a rebuild is an eventuality. Follow the steps below to rebuild a Ford 289 engine.
- Difficulty:
- Challenging
Instructions
things you'll need:
- Engine assembly lube Torque wrench Piston ring compressor Engine gasket kit
-
- 1 Coat the camshaft lobes liberally with assembly lube, then install the camshaft by carefully sliding it into the center of the engine block. Note that on one end of the camshaft is a gear. The other end of the camshaft slides into the engine first. After the camshaft is inserted into the block, secure it into place by placing the thrust plate over the end of the camshaft and securing the plate into place with two bolts.
- 2 Insert the crankshaft bearings and install the crankshaft. One side of each crankshaft bearing clips into the bottom of the engine, while the other side of each bearing clips into each of the four main bearing caps. Coat each bearing surface liberally with assembly lube. Rest the crankshaft into the engine on top of the main bearings, then place each main bearing cap over the crankshaft and torque the caps to 60-70 ft. lbs. of torque with a torque wrench.
- 3 Install the timing chain over the crankshaft and the camshaft. The timing chain itself fits around two gears, one smaller than the other. The larger gear slides over the front of the camshaft, while the smaller gear slides over the end of the crankshaft. Note that there is a circular indentation on each of the timing chain gears. These indentations must face each other. In other words, the indentation on the upper gear should be located just above the indentation on the lower gear. Turn the crankshaft and the camshaft until the indentations are aligned, then secure the fuel pump eccentric to the upper timing chain gear with a bolt and flat washer. Install the timing chain cover over the timing chain using new gaskets. Secure the timing chain cover to the engine with the cover's bolts.
- 4 Insert the pistons and connecting rods into place through each cylinder bore at the top of the engine block. Use only preassembled pistons, which come with new bearings and are installed onto new connecting rods. Use a ring compressor over the pistons to collapse the piston rings, then slide the pistons into place. Coat the connecting rod bearings with assembly lube, then insert the connecting rod caps over the connecting rod studs and tighten each cap to 19-24 ft. lbs. of torque with a torque wrench.
- 5 Install the oil pump and oil pan. Prime the pump by filling both oil pump ports with oil and rotating the pump's shaft. Slide the oil pump's shaft through the bottom of the engine into the distributor socket, then position a new oil pump gasket onto the pump. Place the pump into place and secure it with two bolts tightened to 20-25 ft. lbs. or torque with a torque wrench. Install the oil pan onto the bottom of the block. Coat the outer lip of the oil pan with gasket sealer as well as the mating surface of the engine. Rest the oil pan into place and secure it to the engine by tightening the oil pan bolts.
- 6 Install the heads onto the engine with new gaskets. Do not use gasket sealer on the head gaskets. Secure each head to the engine by tightening each head bolt to 65-72 ft. lbs. of torque with a torque wrench. Insert new valve lifters into each of the 16 bores in the oil galley. The oil galley is located between the heads. Slide each of the 16 pushrods through the heads until they rest against the lifters, then install each rocker arm onto the heads and tighten the rocker arm nuts.
- 7 Place new intake manifold gaskets coated with gasket sealer onto each intake manifold mating surface, then lower the intake manifold into place. Tighten each intake manifold bolt to 20-22 ft. lbs. of torque with a torque wrench, then insert the distributor through the top of the engine just in front of the intake manifold. Tighten the distributor into place with the distributor hold-down bracket and bolt.
- 8 Place a new carburetor gasket into place on top of the intake manifold, followed by the carburetor itself. Tighten each of the four carburetor nuts with a wrench to complete the rebuild. Do not use gasket sealer on the carburetor gasket.
- 1
