Question for Camaro experts.

[sak]

Got into a debate the other day. Were talking about first generation camaros z28s, and got into a debate over what engine was available in them. I always believed that the 302 cubic inch V8 was the only engine available. However three people told me that the 302 was standard and that any motor could be ordered. They said chevrolet had to make a certian amount of 302 camaros but most were not 302's. Is this true? I argued that if that was the case, would not a 396 or 427 z28 be more desirable and more likely to be seen at barret jackson and what not, instead of 302 camaros even if the 302 was more rare.

Edited July 25, 2012 by sak

[MachinistMark]

302 was the only mill available in first gen zeds. Period. 350 lt1 was avail. In 1970.

[Terry Sumner]

Confirm Mark... The only engine in the RPO Z-28 option was the 302. This was to make it under the 305 cu. inch displacement limit for the SCCA Trans-Am racing series of that time. The original prototype had a 283 but at the last minute it was decided to throw the 283 crank in the 327 block for a 4" bore and a 3" stroke. This gave a cu inch number of 302.4.

Other engines were of course available in the Camaro but not under the RPO Z-28 order.

[george 53]

That's ONLY caz your talkin with the WRONG people. ALL Z-28's from 67/69 ran 302's ONLY. THAT was the Z's ONLY engine for those years! In 701/2 they bought out the LT-1 for the Z, and THAT became the standard engine, you COULD NOT order a different motor in the Z, EVER.

[mikemodeler]

To add a few more tidbits to the discussion, you could only get a 4 speed manual trans and air conditioning was not an option either. Most Z-28s were not heavily optioned as they were viewed as factory ready race cars for SCCA Trans Am competition. The 4 wheel disc brake and cross ram intake manifold options found in the Revell kit are pretty rare in the real world.

[tubbs]

this coming from a mopar guy, but a musclecar nut!!!

i always believed that cheverolet named some of thier cars after the actual engine (or package) code.....

Z/28 - 302

L/88 - 427

ZL/1 - 427 (aluminum, of course)

is that not true?

[rhs856]

this coming from a mopar guy, but a musclecar nut!!!

i always believed that cheverolet named some of thier cars after the actual engine (or package) code.....

Z/28 - 302

L/88 - 427

ZL/1 - 427 (aluminum, of course)

is that not true?

Yes, some General Motors production codes have made their way into the name of the car - Z-28, ZR-1, ZR-2, ZO-6 all come to mind.

[MachinistMark]

Z71...

[Longbox55]

Z86, which is the 2wd version of the Z71 package.

BTW, the cross ram intake mentiond, as well as the factory supplied headers for the Z/28 were not installed at the factory. They were shipped in the trunk of the car to be installed after delivery.

[Tom Setzer]

The 302 is the only true Z28, as Z28 stands for Zora Arka Duntov 28, which was the 302 Engine. I had one of the first Z28s and the only place on the Car that said Z28 Was the plates on the Valve Covers!

[Casey]

The 302 is the only true Z28, as Z28 stands for Zora Arka Duntov 28, which was the 302 Engine.

Zora Arkus-Duntov..."father" of the Corvette. The "Z" in Z28 came from Chevy's (maybe GM's) RPO (regular production option) codes list, not Arkus-Duntov's first name. Vince Piggins was the main force behind getting the '67 Z28 approved and into production.

Check out Michael Lamm's excellent "The Great Camaro" book for plenty of first and second generation Camaro info. Worth every penny:

[Skip]

Maybe they are confused with the trim options which could be factory ordered on top of the Z/28 Package.

I had a '69 Le-Mans Blue / White Striped / Black Interior / Factory 8-Track/AM/FM, Console 4 Speed RS SS Z/28 it's Stock factory motor was a DZ Code 302 Single 4 Barrel Holley. Traded straight across for it. My '70 Big-Block, Automatic, Black/Black 'Vette Roadster, With Slotted US mags, the guy loved the mags so much that he didn't want the stock Corvette Ralley wheels with their Goodyear Polyglass GT's, which I got to keep until a couple of years ago. They sold for almost as much as originally I paid for the (used) 'Vette!

Enough with the day dreaming and back to the question at hand. Z/28's '67 thru '69 came factory stock with a DZ Code 302, '70'ish switched to a 350. Trim options - since most of the time in the case of high performance cars the customer was ordering a car from the factory as most dealers didn't have the special optioned cars just sitting on the lot. Hence the existence of RS Z/28's, SS Z/28's and RS/SS Z/28's.

Back then it wasn't uncommon for people to order car's at their local dealer and pick it up at the factory as part of their vacation. Not like it is today where the dealer has stock on hand, customer either buys it there or keep looking.

[IHSS]

Not that it matters here but the DZ code was only for the 69 302. 67 the 302 code was MO or MP and 68 was either MI or MO.

[mini trucker]

Sidebar on Zora, he was also the godfather to the famous ARDUN ohv head conversion for the flathead ford motor

[Skip]

Not that it matters here but the DZ code was only for the 69 302. 67 the 302 code was MO or MP and 68 was either MI or MO.

My flub, I think I knew that once. Too many miles and cars ago!! Thanks for correcting my talking out of where I usually sit!!