Thread: 302ci sbc

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Considering the company it was travelling in, the original Z-28s with the 302 were not all that quick. In order to get them to perform with the big blocks on the street you needed to run 4.10 gears at least. They only came with 4 speeds as I recall. They would spin to 6500-7000 without a problem. But when you could get a 375 hp 396, or if you knew the right people a 425 hp 427 in the same model car, that also carried 4.10 gears and would rev too, then the Z-28s were not all that impressive in the street wars. They were built originally so Chevy could compete in the Trans-Am series which had a 5 liter (305 cu in) limitation. For 1970 they changed the rules in Trans-Am and allowed the manufacturers to destroke production engines to meet the 5 liter rule. So in '70 1/2 the Z-28's came with the 350/370 hp LT-1. Now that motor had a bunch of respect on the street. Hope that gives you some perspective.

Pat