Quote:
Originally Posted by TROYBOYONE
Would the presence of a 'single exhaust 2 barrel carb' 389 automatic trans engine be an indicator that it would be a '230 horsepower economy engine' ?
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I bought a 64 2-door Catalina in 1971 from the original owner that only had 15,000 original miles. It had the low compression 389 two barrel regular fuel single exhaust engine and a Roto-hydramatic trans. I think it was rated at 235 hp. No sticker on the valve (rocker) cover. The carb was the small diameter like the size found on the center on a 65 and earlier tri-power. A few years earlier my dad sold his 64 Star Chief. It had the high compression 389 two barrel premium fuel single exhaust engine and a Super Hydramatic trans. It was rated at 283 hp. The carb was the large diameter like the size found on the center of a 66 tri-power. A friend of mine had a 65 2-dr Catalina with the high compression single exhaust 389 two barrel (large diameter) premium fuel engine and Turbo 400 trans rated at 290 hp. Based on this the 389 economy low compression engines (regular fuel) had the small diameter carb while the large diameter carb 389 high compression engines used premium.