66 289 hi-po not getting along with trans.

Topic: 66 289 hi-po not getting along with trans. (Read 1152 times) previous topic - next topic

66 289 hi-po not getting along with trans.

February 07, 2009, 12:51:56 AM

AAAAARRRGGGGGG!!!!!!!

ok so its a 66 289 HI-P0, it had the wrong flexplate in it so we went to take it out, pulled the trany. figured out the new flex plate wont bold up to the torque converter that was in it.

Come to find out, by counting the teeth, it was a flexplate for a 351 motor, so can I just switch the bell housing and torque converter to match the motor, or am I going to have to buy a whole new tranny?

I dont know how much I'm gonna have to spend on getting this thing together right, but I know I need a vehicle to drive daily, and this thing is starting to make my wallet nervous. lol

we were planning on me driving it, my wife driving my explorer, and trying to sell her neon to then buy her a van. but to do all this, I need the T-bird to be a driver, and dependable.

66 289 hi-po not getting along with trans.

Reply #1 – February 07, 2009, 09:47:59 AM

Though you didn't mention what transmission you having trouble mating up with your 289, I will assume it's a C4. While C4's come in big and small bellhousing with converters to match, there is no reason you couldn't purchase a new flex plate to match the converter/bellhousing you have. You'll need a 28 oz balance flex plate (not the 50 oz required on the later 302's). They are pretty cheap, even the SFI ones are about $50.

If this isn't the information your looking for, provide a few more specifics. You know the old line about making an ass of u & me when you assume...

66 289 hi-po not getting along with trans.

Reply #2 – February 07, 2009, 01:16:00 PM

ASSuming(we coulda used a bit more info), you're trying to mate the 289 to the bird AOD, you need a flex plate for a 351/AOD... What's important besides tooth count, is balance... The 289, 302(prior to '81), and 351 all use a 28oz imbalance... The '81 up 5.0 uses a 50oz imbalance, so will shake like Hell on a 289... All AOD's use the same size flexplate... The 351 was used with the AOD through the 80s until '91 in the full size Fords/Mercs...

If you're talking C4, there are at least three different size small block bellhousings and each requires a different flexplate...

66 289 hi-po not getting along with trans.

Reply #3 – February 07, 2009, 04:13:52 PM

a local ford man was nice enough to come by the shop today and school me on it. lol

He had the same theory as you both, all I need to do is go buy the 164 tooth flexplate with a 28 oz. balancer. lol Great news for me! the car gods are no longer angry, and the sh*t happens factor is on the downslide. lol BUT, I found a line on some newer pullies, a starter, and some winter tires and rims for dirt cheap, also, a free 4brl. manifold and carb. lol

66 289 hi-po not getting along with trans.

Reply #4 – February 07, 2009, 07:50:32 PM

So what tranny are you going to run? An AOD? If so hooking a carb up to it can be a task. I'd be more than happy to share my knowledge on how to make the TV rod/cable work.

66 289 hi-po not getting along with trans.

Reply #5 – February 08, 2009, 11:24:49 AM

its a C-4 tranny, its one of the ones with a detatchable bell housing and from what I can tell, a detatchable tail shaft, but I could be mistaken. Everything seemed to work fine exept the flexplate. thats why we tore it apart. lol