I am anticipating the arrival of my first 'stang sometime tonight. I need to know what year (s) 302 will fit my car. It's a 1968, I don't have the vin, and don't care if the engine is historically accurate, only that it will bolt in and up to the A/T that's already in place with the least amount of modification. It's not ever going to be a concourse restoration, just a good solid "toy" for my girl and I.

 

Any 302 up through 1973 will bolt right up to a C-4. It would be nice to have a Boss 302.

 

Excellent! I begin my search...

 

well if u want a to make a boss 302 just slap on sum cleveland heads and thats basically a 302 boss..

 

it is?.. but if i change the heads do i also need to change headers and such?

 

im pretty shure they will fit...if u read the history of the 302 boss they will say that the heads are from the clevelands, also make sure there are clearance too that nothing will hit the heads...like wires etc..hoses....

 

It's not that easy to put cleveland heads on a small block. You need a special and expensive intake manifold, drill some coolant holes in the block, plug some holes in the heads, etc...believe me, I've done it.
Best bet would be to bold on some early 351W heads, that should be much easier and less expensive. They should breath lots more than 289 or 302 heads.

 

Yep, it's a hassle, isn't it? Best bet would be to find a Boss 302, then overhaul it and stick it in there. The original question was what years a 302 came with that will bolt up to his auto tranny. My statement was that it would be nice to find a Boss 302, but I forgot to go on to state that a 302 can have other mods to make it fast other than the Boss adds.

 

351 head are not any better, right? Put some alum. heads on. It adds about 40 horses and you lose about 40-70 pounds over the front end which acts like you bolted on 70 horses instead of 40.

 

Any 67-80 302 will bolt up. If you go with something over 1980, the radiator has to be changed as the water pumps on those flowed the opposite way of the 68.
To get an original Boss 302 nowadays, you pretty much have to take out a second third mortgage on your home. BIG Bucks$$$$. Even the heads cost a fortune.