DZ 302 value??

[UNGN]

Ungn, BracketChevy & all; Ungn is your dad older then me, 72 here. The reason I ask is about 1962 when I was building that first engine (previously mentioned 301), 265 blocks were shunned. After destroying my baby (301) with a dropped valve I salvaged what I could & punched a 265" out to 292" (cheaper). Max recommended by my preferred machine shop. So you math guys, check my memory but I seem to recall 3.934 finish bore?? And a 265 was 3.75" (?) bore to start, so machinist removed .1875". And that was a common combination if ya couldn't find good 283" block. I feel like a time warp, Ole' Bob.

Vanrah,

Dad is 79. He grew up in Lincoln, NE with Dick Wells (founder of the NSRA and SEMA) and Speedy Bill Smith and was one of the original members of the Rebels Auto Club. We went to their 60th aniversary car show last summer. Dad was a "Studebaker Guy" back then.

His latest project is a 2002 Lincoln Blackwood he bought last December, making the bed cover operate without the computer by using relays.

 

[vanrah]

Ungn; Ya 79, did I call that or what! 7 year perspective difference, I'd sure like to sit down & have a beer with your dad , Ok you too. I should make serious effort to see you guys run that Fine Fast Back. Bucket list addition, please keep us guys informed when & where you're going to make another Open Road Run. And of course growing up in Lincoln & around that group Completely explains your Affliction. Oh my first car was 49 Studebaker, my Grand Dad was a factory trained Studebaker mechanic. He sold it to me for a $1.00 knowing that I was going to sell it to attain a 55 Chevy. So touring the Studebaker grounds, old factory - museum & mansion, I might add with restaurant. I had prime rib lunch thank you. During 2009 Power Tour we took a day away from the main path, so did a few others (power tour) folks. Thank you for bring back that fine memory.
Say Hi to your Dad for me, I always respect my elders? Later, Ole' Bob.
Ps: OP Sorry about changing the subject, hope you enjoyed the trip.

 

[testcase448]

The 302 was very popular for a few reasons especially with us in the modified production classes.
Simple fact it made a lot of horsepower per cubic inch, a lot of HP for the day. The 4 inch bore allow the use of big valve, unlike the later 305 which was a turd. The short stroke was an advantage IF you twisted the f.. out if it.
The cylinder heads of the day only flowed so much, so smaller cubic inches turning high rpm.
Generally speaking you work toward as much gear as you could carry, seems like the 5 speeds were 3.25 first gear and the rear were as big as you could fit in the housing.
The 302 is Legend and it's not overhyped if you understand what it was and why it was.
For the same reasons a 377 which is a 400 block a 3.48 stroke crank will flat stomp 383. If you turn it.

 

[UNGN]

Hp per cubic inch is something we ALL mocked Ricers for for over 20 years (until they finally got fast). The facts are in the 1970's/1980's if you had a good Big Block and you saw the Z28 badges at a light, you knew it was an "easy kill".

If the guy argued HP per cubic inch, he got an eye roll.

 

[fleming442]

If the guy argued HP per cubic inch, he got an eye roll.

Because torque wins in drag racing, and the easiest way to do that is cubic inches.

 

[1badgbody]

Not worth buying the car because the owner "thinks" it has a dz302. Most people that have a dz302 know what they have. They're not worth that much unless you find the right person and even then you might not turn a profit. A guy here locally thinks he has a treasure on his hands. He's been trying to sell a complete rebuildable dz302 on Craigslist for $5000 for over 2 years now. Even people that have the cars that the dz302s belong in are going to ls swaps and other options because it just makes more sense ecomically and performance wise. Don't pay more than the car is worth because the dreamer selling it thinks it has a 302. Tell him you'll buy it as a roller and he can sell the million dollar 302 or find yourself another Chevelle, there's plenty out there. If you have to think about whether its a good deal or not, it isn't. Hope this helps, good luck!!!

 

[testcase448]

Hp per cubic inch is something we ALL mocked Ricers for for over 20 years (until they finally got fast). The facts are in the 1970's/1980's if you had a good Big Block and you saw the Z28 badges at a light, you knew it was an "easy kill".

If the guy argued HP per cubic inch, he got an eye roll.

I must have missed the "good big blocks" on the street cause I paid for my small block Camaro (s) street racing them.
Had many a loser tell me "if I'd had ten more feet.."
Of course we pasted a big block Road Runner one night with a 2000cc NHRA Legal Pinto... Stocker... The times in a row. He had all the HP in the world.
In his defense that Pinto held an NHRA record for years.

It isn't all about CI, pounds per HP mean a lot more.

 

[UNGN]

A 383 Road runner wouldn't be a good big block, though it would have zero problem smoking a stock manifold Z/28 or Boss 302. My stock SC360 or '71 Cuda 340 would easily smoke all 3.

A 429CJ or aa 440-6bbl would be a "good big block"

 

[testcase448]

A 383 Road runner wouldn't be a good big block, though it would have zero problem smoking a stock manifold Z/28 or Boss 302. My stock SC360 or '71 Cuda 340 would easily smoke all 3.

A 429CJ or aa 440-6bbl would be a "good big block"

Had a 70 AAR and no.

The 429 CJ was a boat anchor in heavy cars. No problem.

The car that was MOST troublesome was the Buick Stage One cars in the hands of a driver

 

[UNGN]

Had a 70 AAR and no.

The 429 CJ was a boat anchor in heavy cars. No problem.

The car that was MOST troublesome was the Buick Stage One cars in the hands of a driver

You are talking a about a built race car. I'm talking about stock street cars with stock exhaust manifolds. In the Bizarro world of built race cars , 351 clevelands were the fastest things on the street in the late 70s' early 1980's.because their heads flowed 320 CFM and you could run a 300 shot of nitrous through them.

Any idiot could get in a 100% stock, C6 automatic '70 torino CJ with 3.90 gears and crack off a 13.9 on F70-14 Polyglas tires. That would NEvER HAPPEN IN MILLION YEARS in a stock '69 Z/28 even with grumpy Jenkins driving.