twotwoturbo
Club Member
good project car ya I seen the car at dougs when it was there ...
1984 Ford Thunderbird
- Thread starter fst89302
- Start date
302/Cleveland interchangeability
302 blocks and BOSS 302 blocks are dimensionally the same, just the 4 bolt main difference, the pipe plugged freeze plug holes, and beefier block internally. To put Cleveland heads on a 302 you need to drill water passages in the heads to match up with the water crossover in the intake (BOSS 302 style only, stock 302 intakes don't work at all with Cleveland heads). Clevelands have a dry intake (t-stat housing in the block) where 302/351W/BOSS 302 all run water through the intake and the t-stat housing is out the front of the intake. I've built BOGUS BOSS engines with Cleveland heads and stock roller 302 blocks for a couple people and unless you're a purist you can't tell (I pipe plug the freeze plug holes to make the engine look the part). They were looking for budget builds but wanted to have true looking BOSS engines rather than standard small block stuff.
If I had the $$$ I'd be taking a look at your 'Bird but I'm deep into a couple projects myself...
302 blocks and BOSS 302 blocks are dimensionally the same, just the 4 bolt main difference, the pipe plugged freeze plug holes, and beefier block internally. To put Cleveland heads on a 302 you need to drill water passages in the heads to match up with the water crossover in the intake (BOSS 302 style only, stock 302 intakes don't work at all with Cleveland heads). Clevelands have a dry intake (t-stat housing in the block) where 302/351W/BOSS 302 all run water through the intake and the t-stat housing is out the front of the intake. I've built BOGUS BOSS engines with Cleveland heads and stock roller 302 blocks for a couple people and unless you're a purist you can't tell (I pipe plug the freeze plug holes to make the engine look the part). They were looking for budget builds but wanted to have true looking BOSS engines rather than standard small block stuff.
If I had the $$$ I'd be taking a look at your 'Bird but I'm deep into a couple projects myself...
boosted gt
Club Member
would you be intrested in a trade for a '89 cadillac allante convertible or '00 dodge grand caravan sport?
91Notch
Club Member
D= 1970's (decade)
O= 1970 (year)
Z= Mustang
E= Engine & Foundry Division
Hope this helps