Z28 302 engine question

Did the 1970 camaro z28 have the 302ci engine as an option? All the info I've found on the net says it had a 350. Reason I ask is because I recall an episode of Car and Driver Television when they had a segment called "classic car and driver". They showed a black 70 z28 and the owner said it had the original 302.

302 was just a 67-69 option. The 1970 model had the lt-1 350 because they were allowed to use engines bigger than 305ci starting in the 1970 season. Unless it was some super rare factory test model, or a late built 1969 Camaro, which could if chevy had decided been labeled a 1970 Camaro it did not come with a 302 stock.

Due to a strike at the factory, the 70 models were late to come out, hence the 70-1/2 designation. The first 6 months of the 70 model year they built the "69" model, so there are some running around with 1970 titles. But everyone still calls them 69's.
Only motor avail in the 70 Z28 was the LT-1 350, slightly detuned from the Corvette, rated at 360 hp. Also 70 was the first year that autos were avail in the Z-28.

Car and Drive screws up lots. They had a bit on the Grand Nationals once and outlined their history.

They then said the engine lived on in the Syclones/Typhoons.

Fools! Those had CHEVY 4.3L not Buick 3.8L :rolleyes:

Due to a strike at the factory, the 70 models were late to come out, hence the 70-1/2 designation. The first 6 months of the 70 model year they built the "69" model, so there are some running around with 1970 titles. But everyone still calls them 69's.
Only motor avail in the 70 Z28 was the LT-1 350, slightly detuned from the Corvette, rated at 360 hp. Also 70 was the first year that autos were avail in the Z-28.

Yeah Car and Driver must have been way wrong, but i am almost certain it was a '70 second gen.

There's no way anyone could misstake one for the other, as they had completely different body styles. I've heard about these 70's titled 69's but I've never seen one. You would also have to have some pretty good documentation as most would think it was a foney.

Once the SCCA allowed manufacturers to destroke engines for the 1970 Trans Am Season, Chevrolet quickly switched to the 350 in the Z28. The 302 was never an "option" in 1970. (They didn't raise the limit, it was still 5.0 liters or approximately 305 cid, they only allowed the manufacturers to destroke production sized engines for competition.) And as Tex said, they also came with optional automatics for the first time.

If you think Car and Driver is bad, you should see all the mistakes American Musclecars makes on their information.

Car and Drive screws up lots. They had a bit on the Grand Nationals once and outlined their history.

They then said the engine lived on in the Syclones/Typhoons.

Fools! Those had CHEVY 4.3L not Buick 3.8L :rolleyes:

are you on crack? they had a 4.3L turbo also found in turbo trans am

are you on crack? they had a 4.3L turbo also found in turbo trans am

umm no...however, you just proved that you are the one on crack :D
The 89 Turbo Trans AM ha the 3.8L--a buddy of mine has one.
GNs, GNX had 3.8L (Buick) Turbo too. Syclones and Typhoons have 4.3L turbos. (Chevy engine)

Just wait a minute and 10 people will say the same thing ;)

if you want to get real technical, the 4.3 and the 3.8 are GENERAL MOTORS engines. There are alot of motors that are cross breaded within gm. The 4.3L turbo and the 3.8L in the gnx and gn are used in only buicks, therefore called a buick motor. The 4.3 was used in pontiacs and gmc's. Not chevy's.

The 4.3 is essentailly a 350 with 2 cylinders hacked off. So maybe the took an oldsmobile 350 and hacked 2 off and now its an oldsmobile engine in the pontiacs and gmc's?

if you want to get real technical, the 4.3 and the 3.8 are GENERAL MOTORS engines. There are alot of motors that are cross breaded within gm. The 4.3L turbo and the 3.8L in the gnx and gn are used in only buicks, therefore called a buick motor. The 4.3 was used in pontiacs and gmc's. Not chevy's.

The 4.3 is essentailly a 350 with 2 cylinders hacked off. So maybe the took an oldsmobile 350 and hacked 2 off and now its an oldsmobile engine in the pontiacs and gmc's?

Whoa! Sure they are GM engines, it doens't mean they have a single part in common. Car and Driver saying that the 3.8L Turbo V6 was used in the Syclones/Typhoons is totally wrong. It s a different engine! How can you defend that by saying that they are both GM engines.

Heres a history lesson. The 3.8L is an decendant of the 215 Buick V8 from the early 60s'.

The 4.3L is from a 5.7L CHEVY that has 2 clyinders chooped off. Its not an Olds 350.

Furthermore the 4.3L has been used in the Chevy Astro, Chevy Monte Carlo, Chevy Caprice and Chevy 1500 trucks. Wow--those are all Chevys! Imagine that. So much for your claim that they are not used in Chevys. :rolleyes:

And I can't think of a Pontiac that ever used the 4.3L V6.

Please go read some books or something. You have no clue what your talking about.

Most 5.0's (305's) or 5.7's (350's) that have been shared within GM (between Chevy & GMC trucks, or between Chevy & Pontiac cars) have been Chevy based engines. Same as the 4.3L V6, used in full-size and S-trucks.

I don't think there have been any Pontiac or Oldsmobile engines shared with Chevy though?:think: Only Chevy engines in the others, since the Chevy motors have always been the best!:D :p

[QUOTE=95_LT1_6SPD] The 4.3L turbo and the 3.8L in the gnx and gn are used in only buicks, therefore called a buick motor.
QUOTE]

So if an engines only used in one GM division--it must be that divsions engine?
Its called a Buick engine because IT IS A BUICK engine. They designed it.

Late 70's Firebirds had Olds 403s and Chevy 350s/305s. BUT they weren't called Pontiac engines and everyone knows they are not.

So if an engines only used in one GM division--it must be that divsions engine?
Its called a Buick engine because IT IS A BUICK engine. They designed it.

Cadillac Northstar is used only in Cadillacs.

There's no way anyone could misstake one for the other, as they had completely different body styles. I've heard about these 70's titled 69's but I've never seen one. You would also have to have some pretty good documentation as most would think it was a foney.

I thought I saw a 70, second gen body style. C&D and the owner must have thought it was a 302 but its really a 350.

If you think Car and Driver is bad, you should see all the mistakes American Musclecars makes on their information.

I love watching American Musclecar.

Cadillac Northstar is used only in Cadillacs.

True only up to 2003. Thats because Cadillac designed it and didn't share it with other divisions.

The 04 Bonnville GXP has a Northstar. And it says this right on the engine cover. It doesn't make it a Pontiac engine. Its still A Cadillac engine.

Go to your dealer and pick up a GM High Performance Parts catalog. In there you will find engines from Chevy, Pontiac, Buick, Olds, and Cadillac. They're listed by the company that designed them, not what cars they are in.

The SBC, whether they're 1955, 265ci or 2005, LS7's are all considered Chevy's because they're based on the same 1955, 265ci. engine platform. The 4.3L has always been considered a Chevy because it's based on the same platform.

FWIW, my 96 Chevy Blazer has a 4.3L V6 and its definitely a Chevy. :D

In days of yore, the different GM divisions used to all have their own engines and just shared chassis/body components. In the late 70's & early 80's, GM tried to economize and reduce the money spent on all those different engines. Then some Oldsmobile buyers got all upset that their Cutlas had a "Chevy" engine in it, sued, and got all the money the GM saved by making fewer engine types (or, at least the lawyers got the money...).

But, the engines they still have typically have some badge identification. The LS1/LS2 line is considered a Chevy engine, but it's used in GTO's, and other things now. The 90 degree V6 found in all those front wheel drives is still considered a Buick engine. Without a doubt, they didn't take an Oldsmobile 350, cut off two cylinders, and come up with the 4.3l V6. Instead, they took the Oldsmobile 350, converted it to compression ignition, and made a very bad engine out of it.

The most interesting thing about this thread is how so little information can make a person so stupid... :eek:

In `67 `68 and `69 RPO Z28 was the 302 DZ engine.
When you ordered this option it mandated several other options with it.
4spd only HD suspension 12 bolt axle. etc.
In 1970 the Z28 became it's own model. until it was cancelled in `75 and then reintroduced in `77 and continued until `02 :cool:

In `67 `68 and `69 RPO Z28 was the 302 DZ engine
Actually '69 was the only 302 DZ.

'67s had either the 302 MO or the 302 MP if they had the factory smog (A.I.R.) pump.

'68s had the 302 MO with or without smog.

In `67 `68 and `69 RPO Z28 was the 302 DZ engine.
When you ordered this option it mandated several other options with it.
4spd only HD suspension 12 bolt axle. etc.
In 1970 the Z28 became it's own model. until it was cancelled in `75 and then reintroduced in `77 and continued until `02 :cool:

While were at it---the Z28 was discontinued 88-90. Although the RPO Z28 still apppeared on the.....ah..you know...the sticker with the options. Were getting pretty picky now... :D

'68s had the 302 MO with or without smog.

68s only came with smog equipment.

70 through 74 z 28 was still an rpo on the base coupe, not its own model

70 through 74 z 28 was still an rpo on the base coupe, not its own model

Y'all keep adding to the confussion.
The car is a Chevrolet. The model is Camaro(F-Body). The Z-28 is a production code or upgrade to the base model, ie. RPO Z-28. Just as RPO WU8 is for the SS. It has never been it's own model.
If you look at the VIN on the car, it will tell you many things about it. Country of manufacturer, name of manufacturer, make, carline series(model), etc. What it wont tell you is if it's a Z-28 or SS or LT1, or anything else.

the 302 was only available in 67-69, 70's had a 350 from the factory.....