DZ302 engine horsepower rating

[@wot]

i recently saw a dyno test on an l78 chevelle with 60-70,000 miles, all stock, and it pulled 331 horsepower at the rear wheels. if you consider a 25% loss through the drivetrain, it would gross at about 415HP. a fresh stock engine would do much better

[Stuart Adams]

Whatever the hp is, my Z never felt fast. Overrated IMO.

[@wot]

the feeling your looking for is torque. try a big block. your small block isn't coming to life untill you get above 4500 rpm, and is happier at 7,000.

[@wot]

just checked your profile. you know plenty about torque!

[JoeC]

NHRA "corrected" the factory HP rating on some cars. I think they rated the 302 at 380hp. You can look it up but you have to look up the old ratings because NHRA changed the ratings sometimes. One year they really hammered the rating on the 302 because it was winning too much.

[NCGuy68]

[ QUOTE ]
One year they really hammered the rating on the 302 because it was winning too much.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep....the little small block that could out run the big blocks in "D" and "E" Stock Class way back when NHRA was for 'grass roots' guys and not "Pros" as is today. Same thing happened in the late 60s when NASCAR outlawed the Hemis. Said they made too much power and don't bring them back! Go tell Richard Petty that!

[Salvatore]

In 2004 NHRA rated the D and E Stock 302's at 305 H.P. Too much H.P. rating for there class because they had to run the low compression 351 fords with low factory ratings. Made the 302 fast but not always fast enough to win class. It is all about how NHRA rates the motors. Getting back to not feeling fast.....Mr. Adams is correct! ALL Z/28's need M20's and at least 4:10's to pull away from a traffic lite. Most all old magazines feel that the Z in factory form is 325-350 h.p.