i put a new intake gasket on my 78 f-100, so i deside to go ahead and put some new valve cover gaskets on as well...as im scraping the heads for the new valve cover i notice stamped in the head 4.2L but every thing elce is obviousely a 302 the intake has a date on it of (10/21/81//1)...the timing chain cover, exaust manifolds, everything apeers to be a 302. but my biggest thing is that a 302 is a 5.0 not a 4.2, so what kind of heads are on it? a friend of mine who is much older than my self says it has 289 heads and intake on a 302 block, but didnt they stop making the 289 before 81 or did they make them later than the 70s? can any body give me some info on this?..oh and i have pics of the intake after i cleaned it up with degreaser and a toothbrush...(its shaped strange to me for what i thought it was)....i need to know what kind of engine or engine combo i am having to deal with....thanks for any info you can give and i dont know how to post pics on here yet but if you will leave me an e-mail addy i can try to email them to you.. its not the factory engine for the truck either.<!-- / message --><!-- BEGIN TEMPLATE: ad_showthread_firstpost_sig --><!-- END TEMPLATE: ad_showthread_firstpost_sig -->

 

did the 302 and 289 use the same heads becaus the 351m and 400m did. that could be what you are seein. the best thint to do is to write down the numbers on the head and ask a tech what u have. like the machine shop.

 

the 4.2 is a 255, ford made these in 1980,1981. You couldn't get a 302 in a mustang even. The 351m/400 heads are totaly different.

 

Happy discussion of the 4.2....

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...-302-help.html

BTW, don't let your "older friend" work on or buy parts for your vehicles....