66 Mustang Engine Rebuild

[matted101]

Hi. Looking at a '66 Mustang with 289 V8 - there is a distinct 'tapping' noise and mechanics believe it might need a top-end engine rebuild.

Two questions:

1. Has anyone had anything similar who could advise on ballpark costs?
2. Any recommendations for where to get this done? I'm near Crawley, West Sussex.

Many thanks.

[aeropilot]

Check the exhaust manifold gaskets and nuts are tight, a ticking noise is common with a small blow around the headers/head seal.

[OutInTheShed]

The word 'rebuild' covers a range of things, from blueprinting things to better than new, down to only actually renewing bits which are broken or going to fail imminently.

It's very expensive to renew everything.
The minimum is probably a gasket set and a few small parts, plus labour.
The minimum might get another 50,000 miles or more out of an engine. Or not.

How far do you want to go when you find parts are not 'as new' but still 'OK for a good while yet'?

I could probably live with a small ticking noise if I understood it didn't mean the imminent failure of something significant.