[pasadenahotrod]

I really hate to say this but when the posters of a hot rod bulletin board board don't know of or remember the Z28 302 engine.....well......that engine set the auto world of the time on it's ear. Small cubes, high revs,screaming tire-melting Camaros....ya shoulda been there!

[engineguy]

The 302" GMC Truck (straight 6 cylinder) engine dates back to the early 1950's. It was a killer engine when prepared properly, and actually whopped a lot of flathead Fords. There was a lot of speed equipment made for the 302" GMC, such as special heads, etc. Nick Arias, Jr. owner of Arias Pistons set several records at Bonneville over the years with 302" GMC truck engine in an assortment of cars, such as Model A Ford roadster, etc.

[dirtlmfan]

I liked the 70 1/2 LT-1 better than the 302. It was basically the same engine as the 302 with almost 50 more cubes. GM sold an over the counter 2nd design off road solid lift cam for the LT-1 that would really bring this screaming 350 to life. What is amazing is that if you look at the HP curve for one of these old engines, they peaked out way up there (say 6500 to 7000 RPM). Today's stock performance 350's peak much lower that that and have more torque. If you get outran by one of these new Z28's or Firebirds, it's like how'd that guy do that, it didn't seem like he was even running hard. Now if you get outran by a 69 with a 302 or a 70 1/2 with a LT-1, you'll definitely know he's running hard.

[81z28]

Light car, low gears, 302, what a combo.nothing like the sound of a small block winding to the stratosphere <img src="graemlins/spank.gif" border="0" alt="[spank]" />

[el]

there is a small jounal chev 302 and a large journal 302 chev. the large journal chev 302 has a unique crank the 283 journal has a round flange and the large journal 302 chev has a round flange with a v notch in it. take a 1957 283 block sonic test it if it can go to a 4 inch bore drop the right size jounal crank into it with 5.7 rods and sone 11.5 -1 pistons some angle plug heads and you have a good start on it .this is only a guess so always cheak to make sure the process is correct before you even begin to look for parts.my best guess is the 283 is small jounal
block the 327 blk was used for the large journal . hey dont bank on any of my info get pro advice.you might even try to find out just how special some of the 302 intakes were.

[nicefrog]

Found out a little bit more about the 302 race cars here.

"The engines feature Chev motorsport aluminium heads and a cast iron Chev block. Four bolt mains are used with a chrome moly crank and 6 inch billet steel rods. The compression ratio is 10:1 and JE pistons are fitted."

Still not sure who makes the crankshafts but they come from the states

[finman]

my old man had a 302 once installed it and it ran really rough {prolly cause it was really tough} so the guy he installed it for thought it was junk and sold it for 200 bucks, big dough in the 70's. my dad found out bout a year later 302's were rare and fast, long story short he was quite upset he didn't grab it.

[Dane]

I may have the chance to purchase a 1969 302. I have known about this 302 for a few years. The gentleman who has it took it out of a 69 camaro that was being set up for the strip with a 454. He has had it for 25 + years now. He needed some cash a few years ago so he sold the heads. I hope to go over and inspect it soon. He said it had 11.1 compression pistons. Any suggestions on what I should look for would greatly be appreciated.
My son's and I are completing restoration on a Military 1953 M38A1 and plan to build a hot rod next. This 302 mite be a good engine to build a hot rod around.

Thanks for any advice that you may be able to offer me.

Dane
Wynnewood, PA
danermarley@aol.com

[reegeemon]

Guys....Back in the 60's hotrodders first convieved the 302 sbc. They were called 301's. As previous stated was 327 bore / 283 stroke. Considering the limited rescources and tech back then these motors were KILLER, due to the bore/stroke ratios were incredible powermakers, very reliable, and would rev forever, if you ever heard a street sbc wind 8k+ rpm you would remember the sound. When gm adapted them to Camaros they became 302's. Has anyone ever heard the term Z28 ???. This was the derivation of Camaro where the 302 resided. These engines were sorta streetable and VERY HOT. In my opinion the cars looked great too, very basic, no frills, just streetable race cars. Back then we didnt care re large journal/small journal, long as it fir together it was ok.
I was so impressed with these motors I built one for a 64 chevelle ss, 302/muncie/5:14 posi.....street driven daily and deadly quick, with ancient parts, assembled in a garage, most of which came from gm with little or no modifications would run high 11's/low 12's on state of the art 7 1/2" cheaters.
Ahh for the good old days.

[302 Z28]

There never were 302 Z/28 crate engines, it just didn't happen. Back in 69 I was a senior in high school working at the local Chevy dealership. We got in a 69 Z/28 that had dropped a valve. It messed up one head, and a piston. The owner insisted on a new complete engine under warranty. The factory guy told him they didn't exist and his engine was going to have to be repaired with OEM parts to new condition, which it was. I did however later see a 302 shortblock go across the front counter of the parts department...go figure.

Vince

[FEDDO]

I was alive and racing in the 50's with a 301/302 chev. we would bore a 283 block out to 4'' and we had our eng's. not long on hp but 8/9 thousand was common.I have a duplicate eng now for my FED that will be at the Hot Rod Reunion in Bowling green, Ky next yr.Sure would like to find a set of spacers for a small journal 3'' crank into a 350 block. i have one of the early trans am cranks from Smokey Yunick . blocks are getting scarce.

[doit]

Just got lucky, purchased an original 1969 Chevy 302. What's it worth?

[sbchevfreak]

Originally Posted by doit

Just got lucky, purchased an original 1969 Chevy 302. What's it worth?

As far as I know, if it's in good shape, it's worth just about whatever you want to ask for it.

[smallblocker2]

Hey Vancouver, How much are you lookin' to spend? If you can't find one, I'll build one and sell it to you. I have a couple 4" bore blocks kickin', few 4 bolts, a 2bolt. I also have a 90's roller cam block

I was gonna build one anyways to replace my 327 that's goin' into my goat.

[jhs914]

FEDDO,

Bearing spacers can be found here, top left of the page:

http://www.raceeng.com/Pages/Page_17.html