Is the Gen 2 Ford 5.0L Coyote V8 Head Really the Same as a Boss 302 Head?

Rumors that the Gen 2 Ford 5.0L Coyote V8 and Boss 302 heads are close to being the same thing perpetuated for years. Here’s the truth.

The automotive world is one ripe with rumors, speculation, and half-truths, many of which tend to perpetuate for years. Eventually, myth busters come along and tackle certain subjects, proving them to be either true or false, but until that happens, rumors tend to spread and oftentimes are ultimately accepted as true. One such rumor has long suggested that the heads used on the second-generation Ford 5.0-liter Coyote V8 are the same ones present on the Boss 302, a topic that the YouTube channel HeadGames MotorWorks recently decided to answer once and for all.

This rumor suggests that the cylinder heads used on the Boss 302 lived on – in cast guise – via the second-generation Coyote V8, which might make sense for a number of reasons ranging from development costs to potential improvements that Ford discovered that it might have wanted to implement in future powerplants. Thus, in this recent video, our hosts decided to flow test and closely inspect the heads and determine once and for all if this is merely a rumor or if there is some truth behind it.

Taking a look at the Boss 302 heads, we can see that they’ve been CNC-ported and have swirl enhancers, light fins, roll enhancers, and no provision for direct injection. As for the Gen 2 Coyote V8 head, it doesn’t have swirl enhancers, it isn’t ported, and it has a different valve job on both the intake and exhaust side. The combustion chambers are also a bit different, but interestingly enough, the guide bosses are quite similar. The Gen 2 Coyote V8 exhaust ports are also bigger than the ones present in the Boss 302, to boot.

There are some clear differences here that seem to indicate that these two things are certainly not the same, but our host still decides to put both on the flow bench to see which one is better in terms of performance. Interestingly, on the intake side, the Boss 302 performs better at the low end before it winds up right with the Gen 2 Coyote V8 through most of the middle of the rev range before the Boss beats out the Coyote slightly at the top end. On the exhaust side, there’s a far bigger gap at the top end for the Boss 302, proving that a little porting can go a long way.

Ultimately, the Boss 302 and Gen 2 Coyote V8 heads share some similarities and even perform somewhat closely in terms of flow, but there are more than enough differences here that we can clearly declare that they are not, in fact, the same – dispelling yet another perpetual myth in the automotive world.

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Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.

He has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.

In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and every other type of automobile, Brett had spent several years running parts for local auto dealerships.

You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.