The real condition of your engine is difficult over the forum. Let's make that impossible. Someone with 289 Ford experience needs to put eyes and ears on it running. It could need a complete rebuild, or, it could be something cheap and easy like valve seals. Not knowing where you are prevents us from suggesting resources near to you. Its possible there is an experienced VMFer near you, or someone knows of a shop in your area that can reliably diagnose you engine isues.
Give us a hint where in these fifty states you are.
Have someone run a compression test or just rent the gauge from autozone.
Maybe you are lucky and an intake gasket is sucking oil instead of rings.
Good suggestion, but a comression test will only tell you which cylinder is low. It won't tell you why.
No offense, but I don't think Mean66 is adept at performing a compression test.
I live in the Imperial Valley, California. The closest experts are Mustangmedic over in Palm Springs. But I am sure I can run a compression test at a local transmission shop. In San Diego the pressure and leak test cost about $165. That's just to run a test. I hope I can find that cheaper here. Also if that is just the test than I am wondering how much it will be to take apart my engine and replace old worn out parts.
you do not need to take it to a mustang specialty shop. give a few places a call. check out the local street racing scene. hit up some local car shows and talk to people to see who they use and what they recommend. most car people are down to help other car people. someone will help you. id help you if you were closer.
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Jason, traps 126 @ 3400# all motor
You seem to have a fixation with your transmission. A compression test is not done on the trans. Its done on the engine. You do understand that the transmission is totally separate from the engine, don't you?
Someone , please post a pic of an engine and another pic of a C4, PLEEEAAASE.
Location: Soviet Socialist Republic of Massachusetts
Posts: 2,513
Mean, you really need to take a step back. I'm guessing by your questions and responses that this is your first foray into the automotive hobby.
My suggestion, drive the car for a few years. Learn the car, learn to fix the car as is, then start worrying about power. Things like saying the engine was overhauled but is smoking is inconsistant. Means the engine wasn't overhauled.
Slow down, don't put the cart before the horse.
Sure, you can slap some AFR165 heads on there, but without a better intake manifold and a better cam, it's $1500 wasted, especially if the rings are worn on the engine. to be honest, it appears you've done a few google searchs and are just putting out engine parts. Planning a performance engine build isn't done over night. And plus, if you are working with an engine that is worn and a transmission that is dying, you have other issues.
And honestly, if you can't perform a compression test, you shouldn't be trying to get 300 HP yourself.
If you think $165 is too expensive for a compression test, you probably are going to have issues affording a properly built engine.
In summary, get the car running well, not smoking, and shifting properly. Drive the car and learn how to do things like brakes, suspension etc. Find a 302 roller block on the side. Get the books mentioned earlier, read them, read them again, and fiddle with the extra block in a garage while driving your car.
I don't mean to come off as an *** or keep you from enjoying the hobby, but I don't want you to get knee deep and end up with a car that will never run right or never run at all or never drive safely. Don't worry, I didn't jump into mustangs knowing everything about cars. But I started out slow, got the car on solid footing, got more confident about building engines and now I'm building my 4th engine and I still read both the Monroe book and the Reid book as they are both invaluable everytime.
Look into some community/tech classes on automotive technology if you have the time.
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1995 GT convertible - Laser Red
1995 GT convertible - Black (Son's ride)
1966 GT Fastback under restoration- Code T Red
with White LeMans stripes.
Sounds like a plan. Thank you all for your help! I am going to try and get the engine looked at as soon as possible, so all leaks, gaskets, and loose bolts are properly fixed. Then I will see what the mechanic suggest the next step be after that.
GO where the Fords are (mustang centric is better), car shows, swap meets - talk to any one with a hood open or car you like. Ask about their motor, you will get a ton of information (more than you ever wanted) about what they did that they wished they hadnt and vice versa. Don't be afraid to ask how much money they have in their motor and what they would do different if they were to start again.
good luck, drop some 40 weight in it and drive for a year while you learn if poss...
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