cleveland parts
- Thread starter mercurycapri
- Start date
Here's what you'd need: Boss 302 pistons (cleveland valve layout with a 1.55 pin height), Boss 302 rods to use with the 1.55 pin height pistons ( 5.155" long) Cleveland heads with quench chambers ( to keep the compression up where it needs to be) choice here is 70-71 4 bbl heads or a set of the later "Aussie" 2 bbl heads (these come up on ebay all the time)When you get these heads, they'll need modification to alter the coolant path to route it out thru the intake rather than back into the block (intake face drilled at the end and block port beneath this plugged) Lastly you'll need either an orginal Boss 302 intake or a "Street Boss" or "Track Boss" intake made by a company in Ft. Smith Ar. twenty years back (ebay item too) I don't recall the mfg. name offhand for this one. When you finnaly get it together, you'll have an engine more easily made using aftermarket Windsor style heads at half the price. In short, you will have to REALLY will want this style engine to do it for the time and effort and money it'll cost.
Here's what you'd need: Boss 302 pistons (cleveland valve layout with a 1.55 pin height), Boss 302 rods to use with the 1.55 pin height pistons ( 5.155" long) Cleveland heads with quench chambers ( to keep the compression up where it needs to be) choice here is 70-71 4 bbl heads or a set of the later "Aussie" 2 bbl heads (these come up on ebay all the time)When you get these heads, they'll need modification to alter the coolant path to route it out thru the intake rather than back into the block (intake face drilled at the end and block port beneath this plugged) Lastly you'll need either an orginal Boss 302 intake or a "Street Boss" or "Track Boss" intake made by a company in Ft. Smith Ar. twenty years back (ebay item too) I don't recall the mfg. name offhand for this one. When you finnaly get it together, you'll have an engine more easily made using aftermarket Windsor style heads at half the price. In short, you will have to REALLY will want this style engine to do it for the time and effort and money it'll cost.
the company that made the intakes was B&A perofrmance, and then later bush performance. price motorsports has intake adaptors to use a windsor intake with cleveland heads. one thing you forgot D. was the headers. they are going to be expensive for the fox body.
Right you are
I figured I was likely leaving something out 
I wonder if Cleveland headers would fill in here? Only an inch difference in deck height. 302 headers often work on 351W's in this case but not often the otherway around due to the starter boss clearance. Went thru that in modding a 351W swap header (for a 65-66 Stang) for my 89 Ranger's 302.i've been told that Bush performance is still around and still makes the intakes do a search on the net and you should be able to find contact info. also original boss intakes are bringing super big money about $400 or so, so they aren't hugely expensive. D.Hearne is correct that you need the 5.155" rods but you don't need original boss 302 pieces, the 289 uses the same rods and in fact the boss 302 rods were just updated hi-po 289 castings with bigger rod bolts for the most part. there are also several aftermarket companies that make a 5.155 rod like Eagle, etc. and TRW still makes the boss 302 piston, or at least they did last time i checked anyway. you also have the option of using aftermarket aluminum cleveland heads these days, CHI, E'brock, Blue Thunder and MPG head services all have them. and lastly, i've heard that E'brock is going to start making an intake especially for the "clevor" style engines either this year or early next year. headers will still be a pain to find but i think you can use early mustang headers in a fox body just not the other way around, though you may have to some modifications, not sure what if any though.
Here's what you'd need: Boss 302 pistons (cleveland valve layout with a 1.55 pin height), Boss 302 rods to use with the 1.55 pin height pistons ( 5.155" long) Cleveland heads with quench chambers ( to keep the compression up where it needs to be) choice here is 70-71 4 bbl heads or a set of the later "Aussie" 2 bbl heads (these come up on ebay all the time)When you get these heads, they'll need modification to alter the coolant path to route it out thru the intake rather than back into the block (intake face drilled at the end and block port beneath this plugged) Lastly you'll need either an orginal Boss 302 intake or a "Street Boss" or "Track Boss" intake made by a company in Ft. Smith Ar. twenty years back (ebay item too) I don't recall the mfg. name offhand for this one. When you finnaly get it together, you'll have an engine more easily made using aftermarket Windsor style heads at half the price. In short, you will have to REALLY will want this style engine to do it for the time and effort and money it'll cost.
From what I remember about MY BOSS 302 the pistons would not interchange with a Cleveland motor because the BOSS was a pent-roof and the 'c' was not. But if he needs some BOSS 302 rods.....I have a set. They are not cheap. I may put them in my 289.
Everything else I'm in 100% agreement with. Just get a 351c.
the only difference between the boss 302 piston and the 351c piston is the pin height. remember that the boss 302 used a slightly modified form of the 351c 4v head.
all Ford v8 connecting rods are forged, unless they are the newer powdered metal type as used in the 4.6 and 5.4.
ratio411
Founding Member
Neither the C or B had pentroof chambers.
The Boss used slightly modded Cleveland heads.
Much will interchange, or at least was built on the same foundation.
Think of the Boss as a hybrid between 289/302 and 351c.
That's all it was...
Hack
15 Year Member
CHI also makes intakes for your combo. If $s aren't the main consideration, I would say that CHI heads and intake are really good pieces that you should consider. CHI also has the coolant bypass you will need.
You can get reworked Aussie 302C heads from Powerheads, but they put the big 4V valves in, which seems a little big to me.
Also, you will need a relief cut in the top of the cylinders to clear the intake valves. At least you need it with 4Vs, you may also need it with 2Vs. Make sure you mock this stuff up or go with a good machine shop.
Mark McKeown is a good source for custom cams. He really knows the Cleveland engine.
Edit: this would require custom pistons, but I wouldn't put Cleveland 4V heads in a 302 displacement engine. I think you should do a stroker if you want 4V heads. The 4V heads really flow a LOT, even a lot for a 351 cube engine. They are well suited for a 408 ci motor.
You can get reworked Aussie 302C heads from Powerheads, but they put the big 4V valves in, which seems a little big to me.
Also, you will need a relief cut in the top of the cylinders to clear the intake valves. At least you need it with 4Vs, you may also need it with 2Vs. Make sure you mock this stuff up or go with a good machine shop.
Mark McKeown is a good source for custom cams. He really knows the Cleveland engine.
Edit: this would require custom pistons, but I wouldn't put Cleveland 4V heads in a 302 displacement engine. I think you should do a stroker if you want 4V heads. The 4V heads really flow a LOT, even a lot for a 351 cube engine. They are well suited for a 408 ci motor.
I remember the BOSS 302 came before the 351'c'. 1969/1970. And do you have a side by side picture with casting numbers visible of a BOSS-302 and 4 barrell 'c' head to show your point?
Well, I broke 7 pistons one night in 74 racing a 750 trident triumph and when we took the engine down they sure looked more pent-roof than wedge. But it ws just MY BOSS 302, not yours...maybe YOURS was different.
ratio411
Founding Member
Okay son, here we go...
I am a veteran of this arguement!
The Cleveland began development around 67-68.
During that time, there was an unrelated engeering development going on that would become the Boss 302. At the time, it was dubbed "tunnelport 302". This engine was in the works for limited production homologation for the TransAm racing circuit.
Around 68, the TP302 was determined to be a big useless dud of an engine.
They found that the engineers on that project relied way too much on outdated FE TP427 technology and just tried to adapt it directy to a 302.
This project was now set several years back, however Ford was chomping at the bit to win some TA races.
When they realized their heads were going to roll if they didn't do something fast, they looked over at the Cleveland engineers, with their 4v heads. The first thing that was obvious was that the heads used the same bolt pattern and bore spacing as a 302.
The Cleveland development saved their a$$es and the TP302, now dubbed "Boss" won some TA races.
That is how the B302 came out with Cleveland heads one year before the official release of the Cleveland.
I can't stand folks that push 'owning' a Boss in your face to make you think they are experts on the subject.
I have never owned one and I know more about them than you do.
Open your mouth on the subject again if you want to keep going.
I got pics and all. It just ain't worth my PC time to produce them all for you when you can just open your mouth and show how much you don't know.
Btw:
Casting numbers will be different.
Anyone would realize that... the water passages are moved slightly to send the water through the intake of a Boss. Therefore the casting will be different.
Put the two heads side by side from any angle, the biggest difference is the water passage. Everything else is cast the same. A child could determine that without having to match numbers.
ratio411
Founding Member
For giggles, here is the original "Boss 302" head -circa 68-, before they called it Boss, of course.
Edit:
Riddle me this...
Which intake flange is the B302?
Which is the Cleveland?
Top or bottom...
(raises hand immediately) OH OH I KNOW I KNOW the bottom one the the boss 302 intake. you can tell because it has the coolant passage.
or should i have let mike answer that one?
fasttback
New Member
Here's what you'd need: Boss 302 pistons (cleveland valve layout with a 1.55 pin height), Boss 302 rods to use with the 1.55 pin height pistons ( 5.155" long) Cleveland heads with quench chambers ( to keep the compression up where it needs to be) choice here is 70-71 4 bbl heads or a set of the later "Aussie" 2 bbl heads (these come up on ebay all the time)When you get these heads, they'll need modification to alter the coolant path to route it out thru the intake rather than back into the block (intake face drilled at the end and block port beneath this plugged) Lastly you'll need either an orginal Boss 302 intake or a "Street Boss" or "Track Boss" intake made by a company in Ft. Smith Ar. twenty years back (ebay item too) I don't recall the mfg. name offhand for this one. When you finnaly get it together, you'll have an engine more easily made using aftermarket Windsor style heads at half the price. In short, you will have to REALLY will want this style engine to do it for the time and effort and money it'll cost.
I wanted one of these motors back in the 1980's, but opted for the 351W heads on a 302.
I still have the 80's advertisement for the track boss manifold. Nice combo 20 years ago, but as D.Hearne mentioned it's not worth the effort today because of the aftermarket products for the Windsor motors. If you want something a little different go for it.Similar threads
