Ford Boss 302 engine

Infobox Automobile engine


name = Ford Boss 302 V8
aka =
manufacturer = Ford Motor Company
type = Small-block V8
bore = Auto in|4
stroke = Auto in|3
displacement = Auto CID|302
length =
diameter =
width =
height =
weight =
block =
head =
valvetrain = OHV
supercharger =
turbocharger =
fuelsystem = Normally aspirated
fueltype =
oilsystem =
coolingsystem =
power = Convert|290|hp|kW|0|abbr=on @ 5900 RPM
specpower =
torque = Auto ftlbf|290 @ 4300 RPM
compression =
fuelcon =
specfuelcon =
oilcon =
power/weight =
predecessor=
successor=Ford Boss 351 V8
related=Ford Windsor V8
Ford 335 Cleveland V8
class=
engine=
similar=Chevrolet Small-Block V8
Chrysler Hemi V8

The Boss 302 engine is a high-performance small-block V8 from Ford Motor Company. It was a hybrid of small-block Ford V8s - It used the block of the small Ford Windsor engine and the heads of the larger Ford Cleveland engine. It was created for the SCCA's Trans-Am road racing series, and was fitted to the Boss 302 Mustang.

The high nickel content block has a thicker deck, cylinder walls and beefy 4-bolt main caps. It is easily identified by screw in freeze plugs on the side of the block, pent roof valve covers, very wide heads and a very wide intake manifold. The connecting rods are heavy, high strength steel forgings made for high rpm use. The crankshaft is a cross drilled high strength steel forging. The cam and lifters are high lift solid mechanical units.

The unique, wide, large port Cleveland style heads with staggered valve placement are what give the Boss 302 its unique high power capabilities. Early units were typically characterized by very large intake and exhaust valves sitting in a small quench style combustion chamber. Huge intake ports made certain that the engine only "woke up" above 4000 rpm, while at low RPM the Boss 302 motor ran very sluggishly. At racing speed the engine's performance was quite remarkable.

The motor has a unique sound as a result of its solid lifter configuration. At idle, properly tuned, the engine has a great deal of 'chatter.'

ee also

* List of Ford engines