New Boss 302 crate engine and block

[Mark Worthington]

Wow, good news. It looks like Ford Racing Parts is releasing a new Boss 302 block which will form the basis for Ford's new crate engines, including a 500 hp Boss. Click the link for specs.

Ford Racing Performance Parts [The Boss is Back]

Here's the press release:

FORD RACING BRINGS THE BOSS BACK WITH NEW LINE OF BOSS 302 CRATE ENGINES

Ford resurrects legendary 5.0-liter V-8 engine with all new Ford Racing BOSS 302.

New line of BOSS crate engines are capable of delivering up to 500 horsepower

Race ready and affordably priced, starting at $4650

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 31, 2006 - Ford [NYSE: F] today announced at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show that it is reviving the legendary 5.0-liter 302 cubic inch V-8 engine for the aftermarket with a new line of BOSS 302 crate engines, which will go on sale in early 2007.

Making its debut in 1969, the original BOSS 302 powered a limited production Mustang model sold for two years, which was known as the BOSS 302. The car got its name from the legendary engine that powered the Mustang to a Sports Car Club of American Trans-Am series win in 1970.

“The original BOSS 302 was a race winning engine. Sharing the DNA from the original BOSS 302, the new BOSS 302 begins with a block designed with racing in mind from the beginning,” said Jamie Allison, manager, Ford Racing Performance Group. “Whether racing in a sealed engine class, building an all-out drag racing engine or looking for a street performer, the BOSS 302 block and engine family meets the needs of all Ford 302 enthusiasts at a price that is comparable to a performance-prepped stock 302.”

The new Ford Racing Performance Parts BOSS 302 line was conceived because there was an unmet need for engines built from a block stronger than original regular production 302 blocks but more affordable than full race-prepped blocks. The new BOSS 302 engine block features greater strength than most race blocks and offers a street-capable cooling system design, something that race specific blocks tend to sacrifice.

Despite its strength and capability, the new BOSS 302 line is surprisingly affordable because of its high volume production. And since it was designed within Ford Motor Company, the engine also benefits from the improved quality and durability that comes with a production type engine.

“The original BOSS 302 delivered less than 300 hp. Today, enthusiasts are making 500 hp street cars and they need a robust block. Race-specific blocks offer the strength required but cool poorly for street use and are very expensive for the average enthusiast,” says Allison.

Built from the all new BOSS 302 block, the BOSS crate engines feature performance and packaging that accommodate displacements from 302 to 363 cubic inches. Entry level engines feature the Ford Racing GT-40X Xtra Performance Turbo Swirl aluminum heads to retain stock exhaust locations and are rated at 340 and 345 hp. Higher performance versions include Ford Racing's “Z”-head equipped 302 and 347 cubic inch engines rated between 360 and 450 hp, depending on configuration. The BOSS engine series is capped by a 500 hp 331 cubic inch engine that showcases the capability of the new block by breathing through all new ported Z-heads.

Features that separate the new BOSS 302 from its competition include:

4-bolt mains for lower-end stability at high power outputs
High-tin 41,000 PSI tensile strength iron alloy for ultimate strength
Nodular iron main caps for additional strength
Screw-in freeze plugs for additional more strength and stability
Front cross-over lifter oiling for high RPM valvetrain capability
Siamese bores with specifically engineered drillings between cylinders for maximum wall stability and gasket sealing with street capable cooling performance

The suggested retail price for the BOSS 302 block is and affordable $1,759, with BOSS engines ranging from $4,650 to $10,000 for the 500 hp BOSS 331 cubic inch engines. The engines come with a 12 month/12,000 mile limited warranty.

Like the original Boss 302 that was engineered for Trans Am racing, the new BOSS 302 features trickle down performance from racing in the American Speed Association (ASA) Late Model circle track series. A sealed circle track version of a 347 cubic inch BOSS engine will be available both for ASA and NASCAR circle track racers in time for the 2007 season.

Debuting in four SEMA display vehicles, four premier car builders placed the new BOSS 302 in their 2006 show vehicles. All the builders chose to use a 302 cubic inch engine, staying true to the original namesake. Featured builders are:

Dan Web – Award-winning hot rod creator is featuring a 390 hp BOSS engine in his 1933 Ford 3-window coupe.
Galpin Ford – Known for their “Galpinized” custom creations, they built a “retro-mod” 2007 Mustang featuring a 360 hp BOSS engine.

Chip Foose – Created the new “Powered by Ford BOSS 302” from a 1970 Mustang for the show Overhaulin'; public reveal at SEMA.

Hotrods and Horsepower – Created the SEMA Deuce, a commemorative vehicle for the 2006 SEMA show featuring a 360 hp BOSS engine.
For more information on these engines and other Ford Racing Performance Parts, visit: www.fordracingparts.com.

M-6010-BOSS302*
The legend is reborn with this all new 302 block! Stronger than the original!

4.125" bore capacity

8.2" deck height

Splayed 4-bolt main on 2, 3, 4, maincaps

2-bolt main on first and fifth main caps

Fits factory Mustang oil pan with custom oil pickup tube

Revised oiling and cooling system passageways

Siamesed bore with drilled coolant crossover holes

Increased bulkhead material

Threaded core plugs, like original Boss 302

½" head bolts

Uses common OD cam bearings M-6261-J351/R351

Coming early 2007

Great price and value

The foundation for 8.2" deck projects

The block weighs 165 pounds, vs 133 lb for the Sportsman, 143 lb for the original Boss 302, and 181 lb for the R302. At a list price of $1,759, it sounds like a pretty good deal. Make mine with a custom lightweight Crower flat-plane crank, AFR 205 heads, EFI, and cammed for 8,000 rpm.

[Keith Hardy]

Great news! Thanks for the skinny Mark....



Ford rules!!! Well it will do with this combo anyway.....

[Doug Sainlar]

I've been aware of the Boss 302 bare block release for a couple of months, but this is the first I've seen regarding the crate motors.

Long live the canted valve SBF's!! 500 horsepower out of 331 CID is very good power production, if you ask me. Now, if Ford will just release an alloy Boss 302 block, I might give up my plans to build my own---naah, it will be too much fun doing it for myself, but it is enticing! I'd be interested in seeing what heads Ford is putting on this crate motor--steel vs alloy, valve sizes, port sizes for sure!

Thanks for the heads up, Mark!

Doug

[Doug Sainlar]

I've read this info a few times now and checked out the link and I don't see anything to indicate that this motor (I'm thinking crate motor) is going to use a canted valve head. AFAIK, the "GT40-X" and the "Z" heads mentioned are Windsor heads.

It wouldn't be a Boss motor without the canted valve heads, now, would it?

Doug

[Lynn]

Doug,


Remember: Marketing vs Production - two entirely different things.

BOSS is a marketing term, so it can mean what ever the marketing people (I was going to use another term, but I'll be nice) want it to mean.

But for Ford purists, you are right. For the 351 at least, doesn't this also mean a Cleveland block?? Which begs a question that I am not sure about: were the original BOSS 302s built with Windsor blocks or what? If so, they would technically be Clevor engines, wouldn't they?

Regards,
Lynn

[Doug Sainlar]

Originally Posted by llarsen

Doug,
But for Ford purists, you are right. For the 351 at least, doesn't this also mean a Cleveland block?? Which begs a question that I am not sure about: were the original BOSS 302s built with Windsor blocks or what? If so, they would technically be Clevor engines, wouldn't they?
Regards,
Lynn

AFAIK, Lynn, the Boss 302 of the late 60's/early 70's was a 302 Windsor block fitted with Cleveland type heads, although there were some minimal differences in valve size between the Boss 351 Cleveland heads and the Boss 302 heads. In my opinion, that would make the Boss 302 a Clevor, too, although a factory Clevor.

The Cleveland would be my engine of choice were it not for all the fitting and fettling needed to make it fit well into the GT40. One of our forum members has an ERA GT40 into which he fitted a 351C. According to him, there was a lot of work to get it to fit and there are clearances on the order of 1/8" and 1/4" between motor parts and things on the engine. Since this will be my first build, I'm proceeding with what I have started calling a "Small port Boss 302". I want to use the 8.2" 302 SBF block, preferably an alloy version for weight savings, and outfit it with alloy Cleveland heads, water pump, and either a Track Boss manifold or one from these guys: Aus Ford Parts

I'll probably source my heads from them, too--the 57CC alloy heads with the 2V Cleveland sized ports. I don't want an engine that comes on gangbusters from 4k up, I need some semblance of low end torque since this will be a street driven car for the most part, so the small port size of the 2V Cleveland is important. One difference I will eventually be implementing, however, is a mass-flow EFI system using a dry flow throttle body and rail type direct port injection. It fits on a standard intake manifold with some modification for the injectors. The information I have on this system says it is capable of flowing up to 1,000 CFM, which ought to be enough to take my small port Boss 302 up to 7,500 RPM's. It is going to be an expensive engine to build and I was sort of hoping I might be able to buy a real Boss 302 long block from FRPP, but after reading more I don't think so. I'm on my own on this one.

BTW--I'm curious. Has anyone ever seen a Weber setup for the Boss 302?

Marketing can be so deceptive, can't it? Here's a good case in point!

Doug

[Rick Muck- Mark IV]

Yes,
There were webers for the Boss 302 and Hilborn injection also.
Rick