'71 Boss 302

[gsjohnson]

Excellent find and reading.

[Mike G.]

I have a NOS D1ZE shortblock and NOS D1ZE assembled heads if interested. Mike    giordanome@aol.com

[crossboss]

Hey Mark--just replyed to your PM.
--Scott   "crossboss"

[1F02G100053]

Carbs and engine pieces will always bring money as they have value to the non-restorer, it is teh 71 specific parts like decals and such that tend to be cheap. I hate to think what air cleaner that car should have though! When I get a chance I will see if it is listed in my fall of 70 MPC's. Hawkrod

Hawkrod, I was just wondering if you ever found the air cleaner(s) in the 1970 or 71 MPC? Since this car was apparently displayed as a non-ramair version of the Boss (as seen in the publicity photos), and the Ford memo asks Dearborn to "send out a new aircleaner decal", do you think it had the same aircleaner as the 1970 non-ramair B2's? 

However,since the car still has ramair hood springs, and the since the first invoice (1F05R) calls for the NASA hood on the car, it may have originally had a unique B2 ramair cleaner while the "G" code motor was still under the hood, like the one in the black and white photo of the other (pilot?) car.  Need photos of my car, from that Las Vegas Car Show!

I am also wondering if the California DMV might have a microfilm copy of the original Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (wouldn't that be something if Ford never changed it?  There is no mention of it in the communications memo, so the dealer probably made the changes, or I assume the title would have had the "G" code in the VIN.) -Andy

[Hawkrod]

I have not done much this week. I had reconstructive surgery on my right shoulder Wednesday. Only the comedown from the happy pills even lets me be lucid. As soon as that next 8 hour window opens I am back in bed with drugs flowing through my veins! I am typing one handed and not lifting anything heavier than a single sheet of paper for the next few days. Hawkrod

[1F02G100053]

Hawkrod- It hurts just to read about it!  Hope you can rest easy and get well soon.  -Andy

[Hawkrod]

Thanks. Yes, it hurts but hopefully it will turn out not to be as bad as the chronic pain I have been living with for the last few years. I was electrocuted about 2 1/2 years ago and and it damaged tisue and bone in my shoulder. The surgery was to remove some bone and repair as many torn muscles as possible. The hope is the chronic pain will go away and I won't be so damn grumpy all the time! LOL The air cleaner for a 71 Boss 302 was a D1ZZ-9600-B and was a Boss 302 unit. I do not have pictures but I will bet it is basically the same as a 429 CJ with either a different top ring, the ring indexed differently or it is the same but has a taller rubber seal (it is about 3/4 inch taller but same diameter). The snorkel was the same as a 70-72 429 non CJ so the base is not the familiar flat plate bottom like CJ's and Boss' are known for. It is also similar to the 351 Cleveland base but without the thermal switch and the ring for the seal is smaller in diameter. Hawkrod

[Hawkrod]

Thanks. Yes, it hurts but hopefully it will turn out not to be as bad as the chronic pain I have been living with for the last few years. I was electrocuted about 2 1/2 years ago and and it damaged tisue and bone in my shoulder.

You were killed?

I am actually still fuzzy on that one, If by killed do you mean my heart stopped? Then yes, if you mean a lack of brain activity some would still argue yes! LOL Hawkrod

[1owner]

Whoa Hawkrod!!!  Good to know you are still here with us!! You have probably forgotten more than a lot of us will ever know... lol

[1F02G100053]

The air cleaner for a 71 Boss 302 was a D1ZZ-9600-B and was a Boss 302 unit. I do not have pictures but I will bet it is basically the same as a 429 CJ with either a different top ring, the ring indexed differently or it is the same but has a taller rubber seal (it is about 3/4 inch taller but same diameter). The snorkel was the same as a 70-72 429 non CJ so the base is not the familiar flat plate bottom like CJ's and Boss' are known for. It is also similar to the 351 Cleveland base but without the thermal switch and the ring for the seal is smaller in diameter. Hawkrod

Hawkrod-  Thanks for the valuable information.  Sounds like I won't find one of these in a local garage sale!    Hang in there, and speedy recovery to ya!  -Andy

[jvkblue70boss]

I was an engineer at Ford and worked on the 1971 Mustang program from the time it was transferred from the Advanced Program Department to our Production Design Department.  The design originally included a sub-frame under the front end similar to the Camaro, but the design would have cost considerably more due to the large assembly plant tooling changes required.  My chief engineer asked my principal engineer and me to investigate the use of a more carryover front end design to reduce the cost.  We were required to make space to accommodate the Boss 429 engine without the kind of modifications necessary in the 1969-70 vehicles.  This of course required the structure to be wider and heavier to handle the weight of that engine and the 429CJ/SCJ engines that were also planned.  The Boss 302 engine and Boss 351 engines were both in the program.  The Boss 302 to allow the car to be raced in the TransAm races and the Boss 351 to provide a more powerful street vehicle to compete with the Camaro, Firebird, Cuda, Challenger, etc.  With the decision to pull out of the TransAm racing series as a factory there was no longer a need for the Boss 302 production car. 

I drove a 1971 Boss 302 on the Ford Dearborn Proving Ground ride & handling track where we were taking pictures to be used in the Long Lead Press conference in June 1970.  That vehicle was an engineering prototype that was built many months and possible a full year before the car in question that was built in August 1970 at Dearborn Assembly Plant.  I did have pictures of that car and I will try to find them and if any good I will post a few on this forum.

I had suggested that the Mustang could be smaller and lighter if we limited the engines to the Boss 351 and smaller as insurance rates for large engines were going thru the roof in any case as well.  But being a lowly engineer my opinion was not considered “worthy” of much consideration by the executives in charge at the time.  The car as a result became too large and heavy in my view, and no Boss 429 and not many 429 engine equipped Mustangs were even sold.  We ended up using a modified 1970 Torino front structure and dash panel (firewall) on the 1971 which also allowed use of the Torino’s heater and heater/air conditioning systems.  As a result we did reduce the tooling cost for the vehicle by a considerable amount.   

At least we were able to get the improved integral power steering system in the vehicle by using the GM Saginaw Steering Division’s variable rate unit which was a improvement over the linkage assist system used before.  We also proposed using a tunnel-mounted parking brake lever for 1971 and had a 1969 Boss 302 so equipped for evaluation by company management.  The system was lighter and less expensive and worked great plus being more sporty as well.  The idea was considered too extreme apparently as they would not approve changing to that design.

I’ve enjoyed reading all the input on this subject.  I did see the article in Mustang Monthly and find it interesting that apparently one Boss 302 1971 Mustang did get built at Dearborn Assembly and was sold after being modified.  Anything is and was possible in the past.  It immediately got my attention as I remembered driving a 1971 Boss 302 many years ago.

I hope some of this information is interesting to you guys.   

[fajr22]

I think this is a great find, However, how do you determine legally what this car is???  It is a DMV nightmare, 3 different vin codes, Even if you can verify this you can by no means change the VIN to suit your needs.... This has been discussed here in lengths in many ways and many fashions...The fact is that it was changed by the only one legally allowed to do so Ford Motor Co.  Its a 1 of 1 H code 4speed and thats awesome.  I really other then the fun of it, and history of it, cannot denote anything else from this.  You can buy all the Boss stuff assemble it, paint it, but it will legally be a 71 H code Mustang. Thats the way it was sold to the public. The only issue being somebody didn't do there job removing the old door sticker.  I believe this sticker to say "Not for title or registration"  Ford did this for a reason and the reason was they did not want people showing up to buy B2's... Awesome car and great history but the final chapter is H code 4 speed, any way you look at it...The history is worth as much as the car...Find all the history you can, keep the car as it was sold to the public and that will be how its worth the most!! Start talking to the DMV about swapping vins and they will probably come get you and the car...Again good luck and nice car,,,

FRED ASHMORE

[Mike G.]

jvkblue70boss thanks for your post, very interesting. I am sure you have some great stories about your days at Ford. Would love to hear more! Mike 

[pinboss9]

Very interesting in deed!!!

Joe

[1F02G100053]

jvkblue70boss-  Thanks for the Post!  I would apprceciate it if you could post any photos you have whatsoever, no matter what the condition.  What color was the 71 Boss 302 that you drove?

I have a suspicion that this car may have been built long before the date stated on the door Patent Tag.  Notice that the original Boss 302 tag on the car (the one it was born with) is actually a 1970 door tag, while the top "over-tag" is a 1971 door tag.

Also, none of the paperwork on the car from the August 3, 1970 "supposed" build date, shows the original VIN of 1F02G100053.  How could the car have a dash tab and door tag installed on Aug. 3rd, while on the same day the first known invoice is printed and shows 1F05R and states the car is a Boss 351?

Naturally, you are an invaluable source of info on this topic and it's great that you have signed in!  Thanks! -Andy