The 1972 Ford Mustang arrived with few visual changes from its predecessor, but underneath the familiar skin, the story was very different. Stricter emissions standards forced reduced compression ratios across the board to accommodate lower-octane 91-octane fuel. Making matters worse on paper, Ford and other automakers switched from quoting horsepower in the old SAE gross measurement to the more realistic SAE net method, which made the actual power losses look even steeper.
The 250-cubic-inch six dropped a full point of compression to 8.0:1, resulting in 95 net horsepower. The two-barrel 302 V8 fell to 8.5:1 compression and 136 horsepower. Among the 351 variants, the two-barrel claimed 168 net horsepower on 8.6:1 compression, while the four-barrel was down-rated from 280 to 275 horsepower and lost its "CJ" designation.
Performance fans were understandably disappointed, but Ford made amends at midseason by reinstating an HO 351 option, decompressed to 8.8:1 but still producing 275 horsepower. Three-speed manual was the standard transmission for the six and two-barrel V8s, with four-speed and Cruise-O-Matic optional. The four-speed was standard on the four-barrel and HO engines, with Select-Shift automatic available as an alternative. California buyers faced even tighter restrictions, as the state's stricter emissions levels mandated automatic transmissions with all V8 engines.
The HO 351 had one notable advantage: its emissions were clean enough to be sold in California, something that several competitors, including Chevrolet with its 454-powered cars, could not manage. The thrill factor was inevitably lower than it had been with the short-lived Boss 351, but there was still genuine performance on tap. The 1970s tested the Mustang's identity, but the car endured, and today these models are increasingly appreciated by collectors and enthusiasts. Griffin Thermal Products builds exact-fit aluminum radiators for 1970s Ford Mustangs, delivering the cooling performance these cars deserve.
Available Radiators
44 products available for 1970s Ford Mustang
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 20.19" x 20.17" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 600 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 20.25" x 20.75" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 600 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 24.0" x 20.75" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 700 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 23.0" x 20.18" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 700 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 29.5" x 19.5" crossflow design and 1-row ExtremeCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 900 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 25.63" x 21.21" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 700 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 20.19" x 20.17" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 600 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 20.25" x 20.75" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 600 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 24.0" x 20.75" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 700 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 23.0" x 20.18" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 700 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 29.5" x 19.5" crossflow design and 1-row ExtremeCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 900 HP.
ExactFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 25.63" x 21.21" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 700 HP.
PerformanceFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 31.0" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 31.0" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 29.5" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 29.5" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 29.5" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 31.0" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 31.0" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 29.5" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 29.5" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 29.5" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 20.19" x 20.75" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 600 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 20.25" x 20.75" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 600 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 24.0" x 20.75" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 700 HP.
PerformanceFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 31.0" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 31.0" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 23.0" x 20.18" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 700 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 29.5" x 19.5" crossflow design and 1-row ExtremeCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 900 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 25.63" x 21.21" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 700 HP.
PerformanceFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 29.5" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 29.5" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 29.5" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 20.19" x 20.75" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 600 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 20.25" x 20.75" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 600 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 24.0" x 20.75" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 700 HP.
PerformanceFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 31.0" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 31.0" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 23.0" x 20.18" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 700 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 29.5" x 19.5" crossflow design and 1-row ExtremeCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 900 HP.
ExactFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 25.63" x 21.21" downflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 700 HP.
PerformanceFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 29.5" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 29.5" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.
PerformanceFit ComboUnit Griffin aluminum radiator with a 29.5" x 18.63" crossflow design and 2-row MegaCool core, built for efficient cooling in applications under 950 HP.