Thread: Ford 302 Identification Help

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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