Thread: Ford 302 Identification Help

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The top is for sure a 302/5.0L. It's most likely out of a full size car or truck based on the wide stance of those accessories. The second - it might be a 351, but the photos are poor enough that it's hard to tell. To tell the two apart when you get there - they both appear identical with just a casual look - is that the 351W intake is about an inch wider. The heads also have a 302/351 cast under the rocker covers. IMHO, the 351W is a much better choice as with very little problem, only money, can go to 427cid, tho many other parts wont interchange internally.. As far as suffix letters - not much difference. There is a myth about higher nickle content in some early 351W's, but everything I've read, including an article by a retired Ford metals engineer, says that ain't so.

When you get into OEM heads for a mild build, then you can be "discerning". Neither are roller cam engines, but that's easy to fix - again only $$$$$.

Either or both are good prices for a rebuildable core at $100 each (or less)

Originally Posted by IC2

There is a myth about higher nickle content in some early 351W's, but everything I've read, including an article by a retired Ford metals engineer, says that ain't so.

There's a lot of folks who believe the story of higher nickle content giving a stronger block, and it applies to some 302's, too. The mark on the 302 is in the valley area between the lifter bores, and is "XXX". My engine guy swears that he has talked to people at Ford who say it is true, but as Dave says there are others who say it is simply a myth. For me, the XXX block is either stronger due to better metalurgy or is the same as all the rest so it cannot hurt to have the mark, which by the way can be seen on my 302 block

Roger - that XXX is a new one for me. I'll have to see if mine is so graced, that is if I can find the prints or if I even took a picture of the innards
when I did the final (re)assembly after installing the ARP bolts and a better roller camshaft.

Amazing the myths that get perpetrated :-))

The 3 X's I have read and almost every time is a marking for the HO blocks , I have a 84 from a RS Capri that is marked this way also . Another I D for 302 to 351 is the .5 inch deck height that is easy to see at water pump . No clearance to head on a 302 and .5 or so clearance on the 351 .

Originally Posted by rspears

There's a lot of folks who believe the story of higher nickle content giving a stronger block, and it applies to some 302's, too. The mark on the 302 is in the valley area between the lifter bores, and is "XXX". My engine guy swears that he has talked to people at Ford who say it is true, but as Dave says there are others who say it is simply a myth. For me, the XXX block is either stronger due to better metalurgy or is the same as all the rest so it cannot hurt to have the mark, which by the way can be seen on my 302 block