I got a question to ask... I own a store in the country...I sell a lot of parts and have owned a mustang since I could drive which is not long cause I am only 24....but anyway my question is how do you know a "REAL" Boss 302 when you see one? I have a customer that comes in and is always buying parts from me for a boss 302 says he has it in a 1970 ford truck...which for me it is hard to believe because of the average income around this area... He tells me that it runs great and so forth and he'll bring by here one day but never does.....well anyway any feed back on this would help thank you........

 

Quickie check would be to count the valve cover bolts. 6 bolts means standard 289/302/351W, 8 bolts means Boss302 (or at least cleveland heads).

 

+1.... it is one of the easiest ways to tell.

 

If I had a dollar for every Mustang I went to look at that the owner said it had a Boss 302 engine it I would be rich. Most likely it has a regular ole 302 in it. Another thing to look for is Screw in freeze plugs.

 

easiest way is like said above externally look for screw in freeze plugs boss had 4 bolt mains also on 3 of the 5 but you'd have to have the pan off for that

 

It'll also have screw in freeze plugs instead of the press-in ones.