(kinda OT) DZ302 sbc?

[Stone]

I was wondering what you guys thought about the chevy 302 motor?Any experiances?I was wondering what would be a good motor to build for my truck project later.I hope to build a mid 30s model truck chopped channelled and worked.I wanted to go with something trad but also a GM product.I have a 283 from a 63 impala that will probally go in it.Just wondering about the 302.I'm a camaro guy so I have always heard stories about the little monster 302.

[chopolds]

The DZ 302 is a pretty rare and valuable engine, as it only came in 67-9 Z-28 Camaros. I wouldn't try to find one, or pay for one for a hot rod. You can make your own 302 by using a 327 block (I gues a 350 would also work), and run a 283 crank in it. 283's also have a desirable crank (can't remember which large or small journal) that you should try to find for this engine.
My experience: Back in the mid 70's I built a 57 Chevy convertible, after driving back and forth to college for a year or 2. I had a couple of local hot rodders, who now run a 'real' shop, the Bontempo Brothers, build me an engine for it. It was a homw brewed 302, with all the good stuff in it. We even scored a set of 'new' angle plug heads, ported and polished, from a guy who was breaking up his dragster. It had a short-track circle track roller cam in it, as rollers weren't used except in serious racing bck then. Roller rockers, Edelbrock single plane hi-rise, and a Holley 750 double pumper, single points, 12 1/2 to 1 pistons. Connected to a Muncie and a 4.88 12 bolt.
My car was the fastest in town until another guy revamped a 69 Camaro race car with a 427, for street use. That engine would rev like there was no tomorrow. I had a mechanical tach, running off a Vette dist., and it would nearly bury the tach! The only reason it ran so well, was the gearing. The engine doesn't make much torque, but since mine was set up for high revs, the 4.88's really made the difference. It would only start making power after about 3500 RPM. In a heavy car like a 57, that meant steep gears!
It would be much more at home in a light car, like an A or a 32 roadster. A heavier car would need a lot of gear, to really run. But it guzzled gas, and really was fun to drive, esp. with the stick. The local guys in the know were amazed at the sound of it, with the rollers and all, and how high the engine could rev when I got on it. Loads of fun!
Great engine, in the right 'package'!

[brjr51]

I had a 302 in a 69 Camaro with a Turbo350 about 25 years ago. Like Chopolds says,it was kind of a dog at low RPMS but would just rev like crazy. Would hit 6500 RPM before ya knew it.Just didn't have any torque. If I would run another,I would at least have a stick behind it and a pretty steep gear.

[roadstar]

The DZ suffix was 69 only. The 67-8 were MO. The engines are worth way more to some restorer to use in a hotrod.

Also all the 69 Z-28 cars were 4-speeds.

[Rocky]

I built my own from a '67 283 block, had it bored out 0.0125" Found a set of forged 11 to 1 pistons at the swap meet and put it all together with a hot-dog hydraulic cam and stuffed it into a 53 Ford pickup... The lack of low rpm torque was a blessing for the "light-in-the-ass pickup but once it hit 3500, HANG ON! If it would stay stuck down, it'd go like crazy with all the drag-strip noise you needed. YEEEHAaaaaaaaaaaaaaw

[Stone]

Thanks guys.I have a 63 283.I have thought about having it checked and monster bored but will probally just wait.I have thought about using a large journal block andjournal spacers to put my small journal 3" crank in a 4"bore 350 block.You can pretty much order everything to rebuild that motor exactly like that built it.I just can't anywhere that sells a large journal 3 inch crank.

[Fat Hack]

Not sure, but I believe you can use your 283 crank in a small journal 327 block to get your 302 cubic inch small block using cheaper factory parts. I think they actually called 'em 301s back in the day, but my memory is foggy on it now!!

[Stone]

I would love to find a small journal 327 block.They are pretty rare around here.

[zman]

another really cool SBC to build is to take a regular 4-bolt 350 block and put one of the 307 truck cranks (forged) in it. you get a really stout 327 that loves to spin up like a 302.

[Rocky]

Fat hack....boring a 283 out to 4" or using a 283 crank in a 327 block, either way gives you 301.59 cu.in. The hot rod boys called 'em 301's and the Camaro dudes call 'em 302's.......same thing..

[38Chevy454]

The 302 is just what has been said, a 4.00 inch bore with 3.00 inch stroke. Or to put it easily, a 327 block with a 283 crank. You can not put a 283 crank in a large journal 327 or 350 block unless you use bearing spacers, which most people do not recommend. I think you might be able to get thicker one-piece bearings though.

A 307 Chevy engine is the opposite of the 302. The 307 is a 283 bore (3.875) with a 327 crank (3.25). However all 307 are large journal. You can put a 307 crank in a 350 block and make a home-made large journal 327.

[Stone]

I have a s10 that will need a motor soon and have been toying with the idea of building a large journal 327 roller motor.

[Phil1934]

See if the rebuilders have any '94-'96 4.3 L 3" crank and rods. Rods are 5.94" so you can use 350 pistons. They do require a one piece rear seal block, though.