Thread: 302 build

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Hi all, I've got a late 70s to early 80s (going to have to check) SBC sitting in my yard and I've decided to lift it and put it to some real use.

Now before you look at me all crazy like, I can imagine what you're thinking, "Why destroke the 350?" the answer is complicated, this engine will most likely be tagging out a tired V-6 from a Pontiac Fiero, the limited selection of transmissions for these cars puts a serious damper on how much bottom end torque I want to be wielding around it's fragile little 1st and 2nd gear teeth... the emphasis here is on as LIGHT shock-loading on the transmission off the line as possible. As I am 19, will be taking it to the strip, and will most likely be stressing the engine, I am simply going on the knowledge that 302s were known to be a bit tamer torque-wise in the bottom end than similar displacement, or larger, small block Chevys, until they reached some higher RPMs where they picked up like mad. I know camshafts have a huge effect on powerbands, it's also the high-reving nature of the engine that is appealing to me (despite similar revs from 350+ these days).

The concept I have is to pull the 3" crank/ 5.940" rods from a 1994-1996 4.3L Caprice block and to swap them into the 350 bottom end, effectively destroking it to 302CI. Heads will be essential to reach my initial 350ishHP (havn't decided weather this is going to be WHP or not yet...) goal, and I am seriously considering a set of small-port Iron Bow-Tie Vortec heads paired with a single plane Vortec intake (I have a link to 105 dyno pulls where this setup hit the highest numbers for Vortec combos). I have to consider a cam as well as aftermarket valve-train components, which is where I could use a little bit of advice.

As I'm leaning towards iron heads obviously this is a bit of a budget build, I would LIKE to spend less than 3x the cost of the car and insurance combined on just my engine but any input or particularly any experience with 302s is welcome!