
Ford's 302 engine was first introduced in 1964 and was available in various models, including the Mustang, Mercury Cougar, and Ford Torino. In 1982, Ford started painting their engines a Battleship Gray colour, marking the first year for gray engines. This change in colour from the previous Ford Corporate Blue occurred in the early 80s, aligning with the return of the 302 engine in the Mustang in 1982.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year Ford 302 motor was painted battleship gray | 1982 |
| Other names for the color | Ford Gray, New Ford Gray, Ford Corporate Gray |
| Previous color | Ford Corporate (Dark) Blue |
| Paint matches | Duplicolor's 1606, Krylon's Ford Dark Blue, Plasticoat Royal Blue 1134 |
| Ford Gray paint matches | Duplicolor's New Ford Gray DE 1611, VHT SP131, Plastickote #216 |
| Other engine colors | Semi Gloss Black (for accessory parts), medium/light brown rust, black, red (for post-1977 engines), blue, aluminum |
| Engine type | Small block |
| Engine displacement | 302 cubic inches (5.0 liters) |
| Engine design | 90-degree V-8 |
| Engine block and cylinder heads | Cast iron |
| Carburetor | Two-barrel |
| Horsepower | 140 |
| Torque | 250 lb-ft |
| Compression ratio | 8.4:1 |
| Firing order | 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8 |
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What You'll Learn

Ford 302 engine was painted battleship grey in 1982
The Ford Motor Company has a long history of manufacturing small-block V8 automobile engines. The Ford 302 engine, specifically, was produced from 1968 to 2000, with some variations continuing until 2001.
In 1982, Ford reintroduced the 302 engine in the Mustang, coinciding with the return of the GT model to the line-up. This new 302 engine featured several changes, including a camshaft from the 351 Windsor engine and a double-roller timing chain. The firing order was also modified, and the cylinder heads were larger than those of the previous 4.2-liter version.
One notable aspect of the 1982 Ford 302 engine was its colour. This was the first year that Ford introduced a grey engine block, specifically, a Battleship Grey colour (Duplicolor's New Ford Gray DE 1611, VHT SP131, or Plastickote #216). Prior to this, from 1968 through to the end of 1981, Ford engines were painted a dark blue colour, specifically Ford Corporate Blue (Duplicolor's 1606).
The change to grey engine blocks in 1982 was part of a broader shift in Ford's engine colour scheme. Some sources indicate that by the early to mid-1980s, Ford had transitioned to painting all their car engines grey, marking a departure from the previous dark blue colour associated with the company.
It is worth noting that Ford engines have also been associated with other colours, such as red for post-1977 engines, and black for certain components like accessory parts and bolts.
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The 302 engine was used in Ford Mustangs from 1979-1995
The Ford 302 engine, also known as the "Boss 302", is a high-performance "small block" 302 cubic inch (4.9 L) V8 engine. The engine was first referred to by Ford as a "5.0-liter" V-8, a metric unit of measurement. From 1979 to 1995, the Mustang 302 was a liquid-cooled, overhead-valve, 90-degree V-8 engine.
The 302 engine was used in Ford Mustangs from 1979 to 1995, with the 1979 model offering engine options that included the 2.3L four-cylinder, 2.8L V6, and the 302-cube V-8, or "5.0". The 302 engine was a carry-over from the 1978 Mustang 2, with an aluminum intake manifold, a two-barrel carb, and California-bound cars receiving a variable venturi. This engine was rated at 140 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque with an 8.4:1 compression ratio.
In 1980, Ford introduced a new version of its small-block V-8 engine, a 4.2-liter or 255 cubic inch variant of the 302, which had a smaller bore of 3.68 inches. This engine was a direct result of Ford's efforts to meet the more stringent CAFE requirements for fuel mileage. The 1980 and 1981 models did not offer the 5.0 engine, with Ford's only V-8 option being the smaller 4.2L engine.
The 302 engine returned to the Mustang in 1982, coinciding with the return of the GT model to the line-up. The new 5.0 engine carried an H.O. tag, short for high output, and featured a Motorcraft carb rated at 368.5 cfm and a cast aluminum intake manifold. This engine block was also gray instead of blue.
The 302 engine was produced until 2001, with Ford making the switch to 4.6-liter modular engines for the Mustang in 1996.
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Ford engines were blue until the early 1980s
Ford engines were blue from the 1950s until the early 1980s. From 1958 to 1965, Ford engines were painted Medium Blue, also known as Bright Blue. From 1966 to 1967 (or possibly 1966 to 1971, according to another source), all engines were painted Corporate Ford Blue. From 1968 to 1981 (or 1972 to 1982, according to another source), all engines were painted Ford Dark Blue.
During this period, some engines were also painted in other colours. For example, from 1964 to 1965, Canadian-assembled engines were painted Aluminium to distinguish them from US-assembled engines, which were subject to import tariffs.
In 1982, the Ford 302 engine was released in the Mustang, and it was painted gray instead of blue. This was the first year that Ford engines were painted gray.
From the late 1970s, Ford began using aluminium air cleaners, which were painted silver.
By the end of the 1980s, Ford began designing a new OHC V8 engine to replace the small-block engine, and in 1991, the Modular 4.6L OHC V8 was released in the Lincoln Town Car, signalling the end of the line for the OHV Ford small-block engine.
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The 302 engine was first referred to as a 5.0-litre V-8
The Ford 302 engine was first referred to as a 5.0-litre V-8 in 1978. This was part of an attempt to adopt the metric system of measurement in the United States. The 302 engine was also known as the "Boss 302", a high-performance option for the Mustang, and was first introduced in the late 1960s.
The 302 engine was a small-block V-8 engine, manufactured by the Ford Motor Company from July 1961 to December 2000. It was designed as a successor to the Ford Y-block engine and was first installed in the 1962 Ford Fairlane and Mercury Meteor. The engine's displacement was originally 221 cubic inches (3.6 litres), but it was increased over time, eventually reaching 351 cubic inches (5.8 litres). However, the most common displacement, sold from 1968 to 2000, was 302 cubic inches (4.9 litres).
In 1979, the 5.0-litre engine was carried over from the 1978 Mustang. This engine had an aluminium intake manifold, a two-barrel carb, and California-bound cars received a variable venturi. It was rated at 140 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque. In 1980, Ford introduced a new version of its small-block V-8 engine with a displacement of 4.2 litres or 255 cubic inches. This engine was a response to the increasingly stringent CAFE requirements for fuel mileage.
The return of the 302 engine in the Mustang came in 1982, coinciding with the return of the GT model to the line-up. This new 5.0 engine carried an H.O. tag, which stood for high output. The camshaft was borrowed from a 351 Windsor engine used in Ford's Torino, and the firing order was changed from 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8 to the 351 Windsor sequence of 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8. The cylinder heads were larger than those of the 4.2-litre engine, and it featured a Motorcraft carb rated at 368.5 cfm. This engine block was also grey instead of blue.
In 1983, Ford introduced a four-barrel Holley 600 cfm carb for the Mustang, increasing horsepower to 175. In 1984, Ford added central fuel injection to the 4-speed automatic transmission Mustangs, and in 1985, the first roller-cammed 5-litre engine was offered, with a horsepower rating of 210.
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The 302 engine was also used in the Ford Fairlane
The Ford 302 engine, also known as the "Boss 302", was first introduced in 1968 in the Ford Mustang. It was designed as a successor to the Ford Y-block engine and was first installed in the 1962 model year Ford Fairlane. The 302 engine was also offered in the Mercury Meteor, with a displacement of 221 cu in (3.6 L). Over time, the displacement of the engine increased, eventually reaching 351 cu in (5.8 L). However, it was most commonly sold with a displacement of 302 cubic inches, later marketed as the 5.0 L engine.
The 302 engine was a popular choice for Ford, powering various Blue Oval automobiles over the years. It was available in the Mustang, Cougar, Torino, Fairmont, Crown Victoria, and Ranchero. The 302 engine also found its way into several Ford pickup trucks and vans. In addition, Mercury used the 302 engine in many of its mid- to full-size cars.
The Ford Fairlane is a significant part of the 302 engine's history. The 302 engine was first introduced in the Fairlane as a 221 cubic-inch small block. It was equipped with a standard two-barrel carburetor and produced 145 horsepower at 4400 RPM. In 1963, Ford increased the displacement to 260 cu in, and again in 1964 to 289 cu in. Finally, in the late 1960s, the engine was stroked to 302 cubic inches, for which it became famous.
The 302 engine in the Ford Fairlane underwent several changes and improvements over the years. In 1967, Ford introduced the ""Tunnel-Port" engine, which featured straight intake ports and larger valves. This engine was capable of producing 440-450 hp and operating at very high RPMs. In 1968, the Windsor 302 generated 210 brake horsepower, and it was also offered in the Shelby GT350 Mustang, where it produced 306 hp. The following year, Ford introduced a new cylinder head design, creating the Boss 302, which was mass-produced for the Mustang to allow the engine's inclusion in SCCA Trans-Am racing.
In conclusion, the Ford 302 engine, also known as the "Boss 302", played a significant role in Ford's automotive history, especially with its presence in the Ford Fairlane. It was a versatile engine that powered various Ford and Mercury vehicles, offering high performance and power that left a lasting impact on the automotive world.
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Frequently asked questions
In 1982, Ford started painting their engines battleship gray.
From 1968 to 1981, Ford and Mercury engines were painted Ford Corporate (Dark) Blue.
In the 1950s, Ford engines were painted in a variety of colours. In the 1970s, engines were painted red. In the 1990s, Ford stopped painting engines altogether.
The Ford 302 is a small-block V8 engine. It was first introduced in 1961 and was used in various Ford models, including the Mustang, until 2000.










































