The Ford Boss 302 (formally the "302 H.O.") is a high-performance "small block" V8 engine manufactured by Ford Motor Company. The original version of this engine was used in the 1969 and 1970 Boss 302 Mustangs and Cougar Eliminators and was constructed by attaching heads designed for the planned 351 Cleveland (which debuted the following year) to a Ford small block. threaded rather than compression freeze plugs, and custom-fitted canted valve heads that gave it larger valves than on most engines more than a third greater in displacement. These "better breathing" heads got attached to the Boss 302 Mustang by stylist Larry Shinoda in recognition of the enthusiasm of his boss, new Ford president Semon "Bunkie" Knudson (who had brought Shinoda over from GM's Chevrolet Division) for the car. Knudson told his designers, "I want to design a car that's the coolest Mustang out there. I don't want somebody else's name on it, like a Shelby." The model's widespread popularity resulted in the term "Boss 302" displacing "302 H.O.", the engine's formal name, in popular use.

This engine was also optional in the Mercury Cougar Eliminator, with a total of 169 produced in 1969 and 469 assembled in 1970.

New Boss 302 (2007-)

The new Boss 302 engine was unveiled in the 2006 SEMA show.

In 2007, Ford Racing began marketing new crate engines using the "Boss 302" moniker with displacements between that are rated from .

The double overhead cam, variable valve timing Ford Modular "Coyote-Boss" engine is also marketed as a crate engine by Ford Racing.

See also

  • List of Ford engines

References

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  • BOSS 302 Cylinder Block instruction sheet
  • Boss 302 "Ford Remakes a Legend"
  • "Ford’s Boss 302 & Boss 429 Mustangs", Heacock Classics