FElony, I love them all, but I sure don't remember any 289 that made big power having any low end torque either. Luckily they were in very light cars with stiff gears.
Right. 289's with autos sucked hugely. As mentioned, I had 4.11's and a 2.78 TL. My first clobberator was a Holley 6619 600 cfm. From a low rpm traffic start response was "not bad". The carb was finished at 6-6500. After I killed the stock-spec clutch, I was advised by R.A.C.E. (the local SBF shop) to accompany the new McLeod unit with a flywheel they made that was FE-sized with SB bolt pattern at a whopping 40 lbs. I was told this would "solve" any low torque issues and they were right. Sounds contrary to modern thinking, but that flywheel allowed me to dial in clutch engagement (slippage) according to the street surface I was racing on as well as rpm out of the gate. The extra mass spinning during shifts kept the 289 up there, welcome with a wide ratio box.
I ousted the 600 in favor of a 4779 750 DP. Again, unconventional thinking. Max rpms went over 8000 with mo power in the process. The mechanical secondaries eliminated any semblance of throttle response under 4000, though. Cunningly, armed with needle-nose pliers, I would remove the cotter pin for the secondaries for the weekday surface-street commute to college. Operating on half a carb, acceleration off idle was brutal (in context). The car fell off at 5000 rpm like it hit a wall, but driveability was much improved so I didn't care. Friday afternoon I clipped the secondaries back into service and once again became an outlaw, a pariah, a rancid reminder that humanity can sink no lower. Just like today.
That being said, I think Coyotes are cool, but they are just too big for me. That size packing 500 cubes with all the same advances, that'd be cool, but too much cutting on an old car to fit something wide and tall with little cubes.
Also, driving something every day, I like silence and a cup holder, but let me hit the weekend, that Shelby sound will do better than my AM coffee!
Yes, new cars are cushy. For sure. Longevity is a factor, too. For me, I don't drive more than 6k or so a year, so there is no allure in something that can last 200k. I'd rather beat the tar out of a cantankerous engine that maybe makes it 10k. More smiles to the gallon.
Anyway, budget aside, I think this new new kit would be a great home for either engine. I have to think if the Coyote will fit, so could an FE.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNZA8KrQmkQ