'66 K-code heads & intake

Many years ago, a high school buddy cracked the block on his 302 in his '68 Cougar. He went to the junk yard and found a fully intact '66 K-code 289. He got it home and discovered the block on that was cracked also. I had a '65 6 cyl coupe at the time and talked him out of the heads and intake. I was (foolishly) considering an engine conversion. (un)Fortunately, life got in the way and prevented that. I sold my '65 when I went into the military. Now, 15 years later, I'm ready to build again! I still have the heads and intake, and would like to start building the engine for my next Mustang. No, I don't have the car yet, but the search is on. Something in the '65-'68 range is what I'm looking for.

My question is this: I have heard the lower end of the k-code block was a tad bit beefier than the standard 289's, and the regular block may be a bit on the weak side for a HiPo setup. What would be the block alternatives for this combo that would give that extra beef? Finding a raw '66 HiPo block is obviously proving to be difficult.

Thanks in advance for the help.

FRPP Sportsman 302 block would be beefy enough. Just use 289 internals.

I don't see why an HO block wouldn't take that stress, too, since stock Iron GT-40 heads from a 93-95 Cobra outflow Hipo heads. These usually split with abuse in the 400-450 HP range. Sportsman would be good for a lot more than that.

Or you could talk to DSS Inc. or Dart about one of their beefy blocks. Good luck!