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Author
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Topic: 302 Mexican Block?
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Sixty9Fstback
Journeyman Posts: 78
From: Colton, CA 92324
Registered: JUN 2000
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posted 08-29-2000 04:45 PM
I was on Ebay again, and some guy is selling a 302 Mexican block and says that it is the same as a Boss 302 block, because of the high nickel content. Is this true, or is this person just trying to get rid of his 302?------------------
69 Sportroof
302w/headers and a holley
FMX tranny
3.00 rear
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cpmaverick
Gearhead Posts: 1669
From: Manhattan Beach, CA
Registered: JAN 2000
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posted 08-29-2000 05:48 PM
I have been told that the Mexican block does NOT have a higher nickel content (as is the legend) but it does have thicker main bearing caps like a HiPo 289.The Boss 302, to my knowledge, did not have a higher nickel content block but was a different casting altogether. I may be slightly off, but for sure that block is not the same as a Boss 302, but more desirable than a stock 302 block. ------------------
-Charlie Ping
1970 Maverick Grabber
-1987 5.0L B303 roller cam/rockers
-1968 Mustang Toploader
-1977 Lincoln Versailles 9 inch w/discs
-1980 Granada Front Discs
http://www.maverickgrabber.com
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Just Jim
Gearhead Posts: 381
From: So Cal
Registered: FEB 2000
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posted 08-29-2000 07:07 PM
Like Charlie said,the Mexican blocks have thicker main bearing caps and webs,but are not the same as the Boss 302 blocks.Rumor has it that Ford sent the tooling for the HP 289 down to Mexico for them to use when they first started making the blocks,thats why they look like the HP blocks.------------------
"Just Falcon Around"
1962 Falcon 351W
1958 Morris Minor 289
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jkilroy
Gearhead Posts: 1811
From: Vicksburg, MS
Registered: DEC 99
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posted 08-29-2000 11:39 PM
Guys guys guys...A BOSS block is a 4-bolt block, its REALLY easy to tell it apart from a two bolt block. The BOSS blocks are the only 4-bolt factory small blocks put in Mustangs. This guys is obviously a dumb ass if he thinks you can't tell it apart from a regular block.------------------
Jay Kilroy
68' Fastback GT 390
"No such thing as a cam thats too big"
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kcode
Gearhead Posts: 3415
From: alvaton,ky,usa Suburb of Bowling Green, M&M #79, MCA #29208
Registered: JUN 99
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posted 08-29-2000 11:50 PM
The Boss 302 also has screw in freeze plug on the sides. The Mexican 302 is more desireable because of the thicker main caps, almost identical to the Hi-po but not the same.. The Mexican block is very identifiable by two casting projections on the front of the block about an inch in diameter and about an inch long. There is also a flat milled area under the right head surface. They are selling for higher pricing. Alex has a couple of extras he was selling.Mike
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T5owner
Gearhead Posts: 724
From: Germany
Registered: APR 2000
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posted 08-30-2000 01:12 AM
As I have a D1ZM-6015-AA 302 block in my 68, I would like to know the code of that offered block. I was told that the M stands for the Mexican block (alernatively for Ford Motorsport). I have been told about some other code ...M blocks, one of them was indeed still in Mexico. Pls. check the offerers block code.
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sigtauenus
Gearhead Posts: 3969
From: Va Beach
Registered: JUN 2000
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posted 08-30-2000 04:38 PM
Ok guys, I'm not much of an engine guru, but it looks like a lot of b.s. floating around this guy on ebay and the whole boss 302 block/mexican 302 block stuff. From what I understand (please correct me if I'm wrong), the BOSS 302 is a small block that displaces 302 cubic inches, but it has nothing else at all in common with the 289/302 block we are all familiar with. I think it is more like a Cleveland block in design except instead of displacing 351 ci its 302 ci. I do not believe that you can take a Mexican 302 block (which is the same as a regular 302 block but heavier, as correctly described in the above posts) and put in your BOSS 302 crank, rods, etc. The seller says lots of guys do that so that they don't "grenade" their original BOSS 302 block. Well, I have a problem with that in two ways. 1) as I said, I don't think the parts interchange, and 2) if you own a real BOSS 302 and are driving your car in such a way that you may no kidding blow the engine, you either have enough money to waste that you can afford a new block, or you are an idiot. I think the guy is hyping up his block to sell it and its not a very fair or accurate description.
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DidgeyTrucker
Gearhead Posts: 1813
From: Greenbrier, TN USA
Registered: OCT 99
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posted 08-30-2000 05:06 PM
sig....,
The Boss 302 block is a 4-bolt main version of the stock 302 block. You can ID the block with the pan still on because it is the only small block with screw-in freeze plugs (from the factory). Yes, they could be added by an individual. The Boss 302 debuted in '69, the 351C debuted in '70.
The 351C was in development and Ford needed something for Trans-Am racing that was better than the '68 302 Tunnel Port heads they were using. The Cleveland heads got put on the 302 blocks and the rest is history.
If you know what you are doing you can build a "Bogus Boss" with Cleveland heads and a 302 block.
Use the 2bbl versions or the 351M/400 heads for smaller ports that work much better on the street and locate the out of production B&A manifold for the small port heads and you've got an intersting little motor.
B&A also made a monifold for 351C heads on a 351W block. The current NASCAR 351 Ford motors are based on this conversion! Some people have called this hybrid a "Clevor".------------------
1956 Panel w/429
Music City F-100's,
1966 GT-350 S/C
Music City Mustang Club
Don't focus on the destination....make the JOURNEY the adventure
Visit my Web site: http://members.xoom.com/didgeytruck
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fordfan
Gearhead Posts: 3176
From: Walla Walla, Wa, USA
Registered: JUN 99
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posted 08-30-2000 07:28 PM
Bush Performance makes the Cleavor Intake manifolds , we have a Catalog on the way from them, they make the street, and Track boss manifolds for both the Small blocks and 351 W blocks (they don't make the Street boss for the 351W though, as the Casting mold is busted. ------------------
Joseph J Shaffer IV
Walla Walla, WA
'68 Mustang Coupe, 2.79 gears.
'64 Mercury Comet, 2.80 gears
'64 Ford Falcon, maybe 3.55 gears
'43 Dodge WC-53,FACTORY 5.83 gears i belive!
'41 Chevy Pickup, No rear, no gear!
'70 Chevy Pickup Heh, and you think Sam needs Gears?!
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sigtauenus
Gearhead Posts: 3969
From: Va Beach
Registered: JUN 2000
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posted 08-31-2000 01:43 PM
Didgey,
So, are you saying that everything on the bottom end of a BOSS 302 is interchangable with a regular 302? that except for the mains being 4-bolt they are the same? So, that being the case, the only real difference is the valvetrain and heads? Is the front timing cover and water neck set-up the same too? Keep in mind this is ignorance asking, not isolence.
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Gearhead
Gearhead Posts: 2177
From: Brisbane, Australia
Registered: MAR 2000
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posted 08-31-2000 02:50 PM
I'm almost certain that all the internal components are interchangable between the Boss 302 block and a regular 302 block. The reason that I say this is that when Jack Roush built the engine for the 79 Mustang that paced the 1979 Indy 500 he used the Boss 302 crank, rods, pistons and cam (and 69 351W heads) in the stock 302 2-bolt main block.Just FYI.
------------------
Cheers,
Ian
------------
'79 Mustang Indy 500 Pace Car http://79indypace.stangnet.com
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Nos351C
Gearhead Posts: 3000
From: Rohnert Park, CA USA M&M member#591
Registered: JUL 2000
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posted 08-31-2000 06:25 PM
Yes all bottom end components of a boss 302 wil interchange with a regular 302. The difference lies (mostly) in the valvetrain and heads.
The Boss 302 block is very similar to a reg production 302 block. (with the exception like the screw in core plugs, the 4 bolt mains etc.)
Before the advent of FRPP and the A4 adn R302 blocks, some of the racers used to frqunetly hunt down boss blocks for use in their own high performance builds.
hth  ------------------
Marcus
68 Mustang giggling and flying. New combo coming, shooting for low low 11's
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T5owner
Gearhead Posts: 724
From: Germany
Registered: APR 2000
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posted 09-01-2000 01:46 AM
Just to throw in.
Tim is the seller and here is his information ont he block code. Apparently the M really decodes as a Mexican block.
Quote:
'If your block is a mexican block it will say made in Mexico in the lifter
gallery. My block has a C8AM-6015-B.'
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Nos351C
Gearhead Posts: 3000
From: Rohnert Park, CA USA M&M member#591
Registered: JUL 2000
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posted 09-01-2000 03:02 AM
I think if you look it will really say, "hecho in Mexico" 
I knew that four years of Spanish would pay off sooner or later ...  ------------------
Marcus
68 Mustang giggling and flying. New combo coming, shooting for low low 11's
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DidgeyTrucker
Gearhead Posts: 1813
From: Greenbrier, TN USA
Registered: OCT 99
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posted 09-01-2000 08:52 AM
Sig,
Been on the road from TN to NC. To answer your question the only things NOT interchangable are the main caps. You can't put 4 bolt main caps on a two bolt main block. The Mexican block is a desirable block. It's beefier than the the regular blocks but not quite as bulletproof as the 4 bolt main Boss blocks. I'm looking for a Mexican block for my GT-350 S/C.------------------
1956 Panel w/429
Music City F-100's,
1966 GT-350 S/C
Music City Mustang Club
Don't focus on the destination....make the JOURNEY the adventure
Visit my Web site: http://members.xoom.com/didgeytruck
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Butch Jennings
Gearhead Posts: 637
From: No. California
Registered: APR 2000
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posted 09-01-2000 11:50 AM
One thing to add to the interchangability of the bottom end parts. A Boss 302 uses a 289 length rod (5.155) with a 3/8 bolt, it will not interchange with a standard 302 rod (5.090). In order to use a Boss rod in a standard 302 you would need a custom piston. The 289 and 302 use the same piston, hence the different rod length to compensate for the difference in stroke, the Boss 302 has the pin higher in the piston to use the longer rod. Butcher ------------------
Butcher's Home Page [This message has been edited by Butch Jennings (edited 09-01-2000).]
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Sixty9Fstback
Journeyman Posts: 78
From: Colton, CA 92324
Registered: JUN 2000
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posted 09-01-2000 01:08 PM
When people talk about the block being beefier, does this mean that you can bore it out bigger, or that the block is just bigger all around? ------------------
69 Sportroof
302w/headers and a holley
FMX tranny
3.00 rear
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DidgeyTrucker
Gearhead Posts: 1813
From: Greenbrier, TN USA
Registered: OCT 99
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posted 09-05-2000 12:27 AM
Usually a "beefier" block means the cylinder walls are a little thicker and the main caps and/or saddles (in the block) are larger - which means stronger. The Mexican caps are nearly identical to the 289 hi-po caps which have more metal between the bolt heads and the block. The bolts aren't longer, the cap is bulkier. They're a litttle stronger - which means you can rev a little higher before the oil pan gets ventilated.------------------
1956 Panel w/429
Music City F-100's,
1966 GT-350 S/C
Music City Mustang Club
Don't focus on the destination....make the JOURNEY the adventure
Visit my Web site (the September Web Site of the month!): http://members.xoom.com/didgeytruck
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Moneymaker
Administrator Posts: 29200
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: MAY 99
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posted 09-06-2000 11:03 AM
Mexican block is a very sturdy and desirable unit. I have two for sale std. bore. The early models did have a higher nickle content and all of them have the 289 hipo style main caps as the tooling is indeed the same. All 289/302 cranks, rods, and pistons will fit in each other as long as the correct rod is used.  Alex------------------
Alex Denysenko Co-Administrator and Moderator
Fleet of FoMoCo's too long to list! http://superstockers.homestead.com/week.html
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