I worked for GM at the time and saw first hand HP numbers fudged and given a max at lower cruise RPMs when the engines could actually produce much more HP as RPMs climbed!! I remember stock engines and factory tuning specs given for cruising and family driving, And having to race prep a car and deviating from factory specs and doing what they called a super tune on a dino and at test tracks! (changing jets, power valves , pump cams, increasing initial timing, and total timing, even changing valve lash and cam timing, To bring HP and torque numbers up to as much as you could squeeze out of it without changing any factory parts to stay within the rules for factory stock class
The factory max horsepower ratings were advertised at a lower cruise RPM, and the stock DZ302s made more hp as RPMs still climbed on dino tests to well above 8000 rpm.Its funny how the Ford and Chevy 302s were both rated at 290 HP at a low RPM When both factory engines could go beyond 380 HP as RPMs continued To climb :thumbup: If my memory serves me right NHRA made corrected HP ratings for some engines, and the DZ302 was corrected to over 390 HP. When I was in the class racing wars until the mid 70s.
We super tuned the little DZ engines to over 500 HP with no valve train or short block mods and revved them to 11000 RPM and some over that. The 350s and 327s with the same mods could make the same peak HP but at a much lower RPM and their torque came in much lower then the 302 !! In an 1/8th mile race the 302 is the underdog because of its lower torque out of the hole!! but in a 1\ 4 mile the 302s came into their zone and had room to wind up and pass the bigger block engines!! In MP (Modified production) classes, Destroked engines were the winning combinations ! Till the MP classes were banned in the mid 70s and early 80s and bracket racing was put in its place
! MP was the budget racers class and anyone could build an MP car , But bracket racing took its place bringing non competitive cars and more racers to the track and more money, Any bracket racer could race in some class no matter how slow they were And if they still were no competition they just made the car slower to fit in a lower class LOL
! Not at all like class racing (WGHT TO CU.IN.) Where to compete the car had to be made faster :thumbup: I ran EMP class In the late 60s and early 70s with 302 cu inch DZengines with tunnel rams and 2 950 HOLLEYS or hilborn injection cracking 11000 RPM with no problem! If your not old enough to have lived built ,tuned, dinoed and raced these little screamers ! All any ones statements are is really hear say !! There is no problem with hear say till you search the web and read what you think is fact and have to pick and choose whats true or false or exagerated or understated and re posted over and over by people trying to prove a point
The 302 in my Vett dynos at peek 475 HP with big flat tappet solid cam and 11.5 compression,The 302 in my wifes Camaro Dinos at peek 520 with bigger solid roller cam and bigger carbs and 12 to 1 compression both engines running high tunnel rams and both streetable. Factory stock production cars came as is but if you had the money you could order anything dealer installed and out the door with no warranty, I think it was called "White listed order" back then? you could also order non factory parts not installed and packaged in your trunk when you picked up your new car! You could order a factory prepped and super tuned race car out the door with tags that said not for street use with no new car warranty at all !!
The 302 is easy to build even on a budget , the original parts are getting rare but still attainable if you dig and look hard! They can be built from aftermarket parts very easy! They are very streetable and can be built to cruise or scream at high RPM Whichever you choose ! And its something to be proud of! And the remarks will startle you when you tell people its a 302 Chevy engine! They will range from "Chevy never made a 302 " To just a "WOWWW' :thumbup:
Jester:thumbup: