What SBF head is this? 289hipo/302/hi-port iron hybrid

[Calypso]

A curious pair of heads with Ford stampings. Valve sizes 1.89/1.6:

[n2omike]

Late 289 hipo heads that have been ported... at least on the exhaust... and had larger valves installed. Standard heads did not have the cast in valve spring seats.

[1972ho]

Are you going to sell them.

[Calypso]

Are you going to sell them.

No, they belong to a friend, just puzzled what they are. Didn't know C8 hipo heads existed...

[1972ho]

These are the service replacement hp heads for the 289/302 with the 1970 date code that they were cast.

[Joe-71]

The 289 had 2V heads, 4V heads, and 289 HP heads. 2V just had 289 cast, 4V had one dot above 289, and 289 HP had two dots cast above the 289. In the picture, you can see the two dots indicating true HP heads. Also all HP heads had the recessed spring pockets cast in. Joe-71

[Calypso]

The chamber and intake flange looks like 302 and the ex-port is clearly higher with nice short side, which seemed odd. Apparently these were an improved version.

[Walter R. Malik]

A curious pair of heads with Ford stampings. Valve sizes 1.89/1.6:

Either a ported 289 Hi-Po head if the casting number is C5OE or
CRANE used to sell a ported cast iron head like that ... they called it the "Crane Fireball Head".

[Calypso]

It's C8ZE
Google search on the crane Fireball head shows a same head. Didn't notice Crane stamping on these though. May have just missed it, or it wasn't there...

[mag2555]

The better Exh short side is due to the bigger Exh valve which allows re- arcing of the short turn when porting work in done which makes for a more gentle radius.

[Calypso]

Makes sense, but it did seem different enough to be cast differently. Can't claim expertise however.

[Walter R. Malik]

It's C8ZE
Google search on the crane Fireball head shows a same head. Didn't notice Crane stamping on these though. May have just missed it, or it wasn't there...

The Crane "Fireball" head was a Ford Motor Company pre-production casting which never made it on a production factory Ford engine and Crane bought all the castings from Ford when they were slated to be destroyed.

They could not be sold by Crane in un-modified form.

[1972ho]

Check the mustangtec sight you have a replacement 289/302 HIPO aftermarket head from ford 1970 casting date just like a replacement Cj holley carburetor that you could buy if you lost your original.

[Calypso]

Check the mustangtec sight you have a replacement 289/302 HIPO aftermarket head from ford 1970 casting date just like a replacement Cj holley carburetor that you could buy if you lost your original.

Those look like the same casting, but without the plugged thermactor holes.

[piston guy]

It's C8ZE
Google search on the crane Fireball head shows a same head. Didn't notice Crane stamping on these though. May have just missed it, or it wasn't there...

The Crane "Fireball" head was a Ford Motor Company pre-production casting which never made it on a production factory Ford engine and Crane bought all the castings from Ford when they were slated to be destroyed.

They could not be sold by Crane in un-modified form.

+1. Ford was "going" to make a HiPo 302 for '68 but it was dropped for the Tunnel Port 302 which was also dropped BEFORE production as Randy noted. "Some" of the heads did go to Parts and Service Division for over the counter sales BUT a couple of truck loads went to Crane to be made into "Fireball " heads as noted. The round exhaust port never caught on ( or worked). Special "short" (5.090) 3/8ths bolt rods and vibration dampners were also made in BIG quamtities and sold off later through the Muscle Parts program.