How to identify SB Ford heads without pulling them

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==ID'ing a 302 head==
 
==ID'ing a 302 head==
Let's  ID a 302 head. If you pull the valve cover and it has 302 then it is a 302, but what year is it? Ford used two designs of rockers for the 302, rail and sled fulcrum. If you have a 302 with rail rocker arms it is a 1968-1977 head. If you have a head with no displacement casting numbers and bolt down sled fulcrum rockers, then you have a post 77 255, 302, 351W head. The 351W will follow the same basic rules as the 302. So what is the exact year for 302's and 351W's without having the exact casting numbers?
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Let's  ID a 302 head. If you pull the valve cover and it has 302 then it is a 302, but what year is it? Ford used two designs of rockers for the 302, rail and sled fulcrum. If you have a 302 with rail rocker arms it is a 1968-1977 head. If you have a head with no displacement casting numbers and bolt down sled fulcrum rockers, then you have a post 77 255, 302, 351W head. The 351W will follow the same basic rules as the 302. So what is the exact year of 302 and 351W heads without having the exact casting numbers?
  
The 302's are the tricky ones, so here is how to look for visual clues. In 1968 Ford, used adjustable rail rockers on 302's; the rest were non-adjustable. To tell if you have a 1968 302, look at the rocker arm studs. If the stud is not shanked down at the threads it is a '68 302 head. In 1969, Ford changed rocker studs to a non-adjustable setup; the stud thread will be shanked down. The post '68 302 will also use a smaller rocker retaining nut than the 1968 302 head. So if you have a shanked down stud and rail rockers on your 302, it is a 1969-1977 head. This is close but not close enough, so how do you narrow it down? Again use visual clues to determine what year of head you have.  
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The 302 can be tricky, so here is how to look for visual clues. In 1968, Ford used adjustable rail rockers on the 302; the rest were non-adjustable. To tell if you have a 1968 302, look at the rocker arm studs. If the stud is not shanked down at the threads (aka "bottleneck") it is a '68 302 head. In 1969, Ford changed rocker studs to a non-adjustable setup; the stud thread will be shanked down. The post '68 302 will also use a smaller rocker retaining nut than the 1968 302 head. So if you have a shanked down stud and rail rockers on your 302, it is a 1969-1977 head. This is close but not close enough, so how do you narrow it down? Again use visual clues to determine what year of head you have.  
  
 
In 1975 Ford went to internal smog ports on the the SB heads with a tube connecting both heads together going to the smog pump. So if you have a 302 casting number with rail rockers and tubes on the back of the heads connecting them together, you have a 1975-1977 302 head.  
 
In 1975 Ford went to internal smog ports on the the SB heads with a tube connecting both heads together going to the smog pump. So if you have a 302 casting number with rail rockers and tubes on the back of the heads connecting them together, you have a 1975-1977 302 head.  
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==ID'ing a 351 head==
 
==ID'ing a 351 head==
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[[File:Windsor.jpg]]
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The 351W is quite a bit easier, but it has some quirks. If it says 351 on the top of the head below the valve cover and has rail rocker arms it is a 1969-1977 351W head. The 1969-1977 351W head will use 16 intake manifold bolts as opposed to 12 for the 221, 260, 289, 302 and 255. In 1978, Ford made both the 302 and 351W head interchangeable with no displacement numbers cast on them.The last part is how to determine a 255 from the 302 and 351W head. The 255 will use small oval ports as opposed to the rectangular ports of the 302-351W. The only way is to pull either the intake or a exhaust manifold. If it has oval ports its a 255, rectangular ports it a 302-351W.
 
The 351W is quite a bit easier, but it has some quirks. If it says 351 on the top of the head below the valve cover and has rail rocker arms it is a 1969-1977 351W head. The 1969-1977 351W head will use 16 intake manifold bolts as opposed to 12 for the 221, 260, 289, 302 and 255. In 1978, Ford made both the 302 and 351W head interchangeable with no displacement numbers cast on them.The last part is how to determine a 255 from the 302 and 351W head. The 255 will use small oval ports as opposed to the rectangular ports of the 302-351W. The only way is to pull either the intake or a exhaust manifold. If it has oval ports its a 255, rectangular ports it a 302-351W.
  
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==Ford part numbers==
 
==Ford part numbers==
 
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[[Ford part numbers]]
 
[[File:Ford pn explained.jpg]]
 
[[File:Ford pn explained.jpg]]
  
 
==Resources==
 
==Resources==
 
*[[How to identify a Ford V8]]
 
*[[How to identify a Ford V8]]
*[http://www.hotrodders.com/kb/ford-engine-tech Ford Engine Block Codes, Serial Numbers, Specifications, and Casting Numbers]
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[[Category:Engine]]
 
[[Category:Engine]]

Latest revision as of 21:36, 20 November 2014

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