The small-block Chevrolet 302 cubic inch engine in the 1969 Z/28 configuration is one of the great sports car engines of the American muscle era. It's not a big-block with torque — it's a rev-happy, high-output small-block that needs to be worked hard to deliver its performance.

The 302 was created by installing a 3-inch stroke crank from the 283 in the 327 block to stay under the 305 cubic inch displacement limit for SCCA B-Production racing. The long-stroke 350 that replaced it makes more torque and is more tractable, but the 302 is a more exciting engine to drive quickly.

The DZ302 engine specification is documented: the large-port LT1 cylinder heads (used in the 302 before they appeared in the 350), the solid lifter camshaft, the 11:1 compression ratio. A correct-specification DZ302 is a rewarding engine to maintain and drive.