[tonto57]

I am starting a project a 1969 Z28 Camaro that has been in my family for over 25 years and has been sitting sense 1982. My brother in law replaced the original 302 with a 396 back in 1982 and I have been searching for an original block for a year now and think I might have found an entire 302 engine. Can anyone tell me if casting code # 3932386 is correct for this car? The oil pan and heads are on the engine and the man selling it will not allow me to remove them to check for 4 bolt mains. Is there any other way to tell if the block has 4 bolt mains Any help would be appreciated before this engine slips through my fingers.
Tonto

[Richiehd]

From another site:Mortec shows
3932386....302.....69....4...Z-28 Camaro
3932386....327.....69....2
3932386....350.....69....2 or 4

[joelster]

If the block has not been decked it should still have the stamp pad in front of the passenger head on the block. Look for the "DZ" stamp. If it doesn't have a "DZ" it's not a '89 302.

[tonto57]

Thank you so much I will make a trip to his house and check it out tomorrow.

[DoubleVision]

CNA 1970 302 290 4 manual trans.
CNB 1970 302 290 4 tur hydramatic
DZ 1968 302 290 4 Z-28, late prod
DZ 1969 302 290 4 m/t, 4 spd
MI 1968 302 290 4 m/t, 4 spd
MO 1968 302 290 4 m/t,4 spd
MO 1967 302 290 4 Spec. High Perf. 4-speed
MP 1967 302 290 4 Z-28, w/A.I.R.

[ap72]

Unless you have a really damn good reason you may not want to worry about numbers matching, if it was some super rare car it would matter but this isn't super rare. Its not every day but its far from super rare. Any other well built engine probably wouldn't decrease the value at all.

[cobalt327]

He has a family-owned '69 Z-28, he wants to put a 302 back in it. What more reason does he need? Find a correct block and make a project out of restoring the engine. Drive the car w/the 396 BBC or whatever in it until time to sell or restore, then install the 302.

Now as far as this supposed "302" engine that the owner won't allow a proper inspection- unless he's selling it as a core, I'd walk away. The numbers stamped into the block are all too easy to forge.

BTW, how much is he asking for the 302?

[techinspector1]

Originally Posted by tonto57

Is there any other way to tell if the block has 4 bolt mains

Drain the oil and go through the pan drain plug hole with a borescope to look at the main caps. TRUST NOBODY.

[ap72]

Originally Posted by cobalt327

He has a family-owned '69 Z-28, he wants to put a 302 back in it. What more reason does he need? Find a correct block and make a project out of restoring the engine. Drive the car w/the 396 BBC or whatever in it until time to sell or restore, then install the 302.

Now as far as this supposed "302" engine that the owner won't allow a proper inspection- unless he's selling it as a core, I'd walk away. The numbers stamped into the block are all too easy to forge.

BTW, how much is he asking for the 302?

Nothing wrong with a 302, but you don't need to check casting numbers to build a 302...

[cobalt327]

Originally Posted by ap72

Nothing wrong with a 302, but you don't need to check casting numbers to build a 302...

Originally Posted by tonto57

...I have been searching for an original block for a year now...

You do if you want a correct restoration or "original block". Jeez...

[joelster]

You can find "real" 302's on racingjunk every now and then.

Here's one:

http://www.racingjunk.com/Blocks/245...-DZ-BLOCK.html

Another:

http://www.racingjunk.com/Chevrolet/...rankshaft.html

Another:

http://www.racingjunk.com/Engines-Co...ort-block.html

Here's an intake for cheap:

http://www.racingjunk.com/Intake/240...ers-Alumi.html

[tonto57]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I believe the guy is a real squirel with the 302 he came off as a complete fake. The numbers on the stamp pad on front of the passenger head had been obviously changed and made no sense what so ever. I believe it to be a 327 he started out asking $1000 and by the time I was walking away he was down to $600 and he would deliver it. You guys have been great and have me seriously rethinking using a 302. I never wanted to use one to make it more valuable... it will never leave our family. Now to decide what engine to use it will be a driver no show piece.
Tonto