The old bronco 302 needs the heads rebuilt. I figure it will cost about 300 to do the job (machine shop work and all) or maybe a little more. I decided to try to upgrade. I am looking at some gt40 heads. The heads i'm looking at came off a 5.0HO efi. My engine is stock, carb and all. My question is will any 302 head fit on any 302, or does it need to be carb specific?

You COULD try some 351 heads too. :p

I belive any will. I bought my gt40p's for 150 on ebay. There are a bunch of them on there for sale. Consider going with a brand new set from,( I'll find the name here soon but it's in the swap thread) They are around $600 and that's probably what you are going to be at once you have them checked and rebuilt if they need it.

i have read about some clearance issues. I saw that the gt40p heads will not clear the drivers side clutch linkage on an EB and it's tight on the passanger side. Should I just run stock 302 heads? If I use a 351 head (stock) will i have to make any type of mods? What other options do i have?
Sorry if these are some dumb questions...i'm new to the ford world.


Thanks in advance.

Matt

anyone?

I highly doubt its the heads themselves that dont clear the linkage. I have never heard of any physical dimensions on any aftermarket head on any engine be different with the exception of some serious HP heads that would have a taller physical height to them for bigger ports.

If anything I would more likely say with saying i could be wrong that the gt40P probably has some raised exhaust port that interferes with the exhaust clearance to the linkage.

To run 351W heads, you'll should use special headbolts. 302's use a 7/16th bolt, while 351W's use 1/2" bolts, they are readily avalable however

You can also use head bolt spacer's for 351w heads. About $25 bucks for spacers or spend the $65-$70 for stepped bolts. You could also use gt-40p/explorer heads that flow good for stock type heads. Yeah, you read that right, gt-40p heads are late model explorer heads. (check the local junk yard, save a buck or two) Header fitament may be an issue with these heads. Use stock explorer manifolds or adapt Ford Racing Parts and Performance(FRPP) mustang headers to your application.

I highly doubt its the heads themselves that dont clear the linkage. I have never heard of any physical dimensions on any aftermarket head on any engine be different with the exception of some serious HP heads that would have a taller physical height to them for bigger ports.

If anything I would more likely say with saying i could be wrong that the gt40P probably has some raised exhaust port that interferes with the exhaust clearance to the linkage.
It's the header selection. the P heads use a different angled plug that won't clear most standard ford headers.. so I assume they tried to use a explorer header and that particular header had clearance issues in an EB.

You need to identify the heads you have. GT-40's will have a large "GT" embossed on them, GT-40p's will have a large "GTP". Neither came stock on a mustang.... but there arent many mustang 5 liters out there that are stock. Both are a very good stock head (something rare for Ford). The main issue you will have is header clearance around sparkplugs, as either head will have a very angled spark plug. This usually requires the use of a GT-40p style header, which likes to get in the way of things.

Related question.
If you put the late model heads(gt40) on an early block, which pushrods would you use? The ones that match the head or the ones that were with the old heads?

more than likely whatever matches the head. but ALWAYS measure first! It's not very hard, and it'll only help in the long run.

most all factory engines have the same deck height, save for early 351W, which I believe is 9.480" deck height, in 71 i think they went to 9.500" height. the 302 never changed deck heights so it doesn't matter there, it's based on the heads, and what valve train you decide to run.

i just had a set of 70` 351w heads built.then scored a set of alum. they have had about $1500.00 worth of work done and should work just as good if not better than alum heads.the heads have 1.94 stanless valves,full porting,etc.etc. not much you can do to make these heads better.best offer takes `em.call 619-339-3656 i can ship anywhere for about $50.00.

the big thing on pushrods is that any motor that had GT-40's or GT-40P's was a roller cam motor, your EB motor is not. Roller motors took a shorter push rod.

This is untrue, Lightning 351W's ran GT 40 heads, and they were flat tapppet engines, except for maybe part of the 1995 prodution.

well.. I purposely excluded them because the taller deck height on a 351 uses longer pushrods... so it was irrelivent.