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The 1969 Camaro Z/28’s DZ 302 engine is one of the most legendary small-block V8s ever built by Chevrolet, created specifically to dominate the SCCA Trans-Am racing series.
The rules limited displacement to 5.0 liters, so Chevrolet engineered a high-revving hybrid: a 4.00-inch bore 327 block paired with the short 3.00-inch stroke crankshaft from a 283.
The result was a 302-cubic-inch screamer that loved RPM like no other small-block of its era. In showroom trim, it was officially rated at 290 horsepower, but anyone who drove one knew the real number was far higher, easily over 350 horsepower and even more when paired with headers and proper tuning.
What truly set the DZ 302 apart was its personality. This was not a lazy torque engine, it was a race-bred V8 that demanded to be revved.
With its solid-lifter camshaft, big-valve 2.02/1.60 cylinder heads, and a high-flow aluminum intake topped with a Holley 780 CFM carburetor, the engine came alive above 4,000 RPM and pulled hard all the way to a 7,000 RPM redline.
The sound was unforgettable: a sharp, raspy, mechanical snarl that made the Z/28 feel like a factory-built race car hiding in street clothes.
The DZ 302 also featured heavy-duty internals designed to survive high RPM abuse. A forged steel crank, beefy pink connecting rods, and high-compression pistons made the engine extremely strong for its size. Its aggressive camshaft created a rough, choppy idle that became a signature of the Z/28.
While it wasn’t the easiest car to drive around town, once the revs climbed, the engine transformed into a precision weapon light, responsive, and perfectly matched to the close-ratio Muncie 4-speed and 4.10 or 3.73 rear gears.
Today, the 1969 DZ 302 engine is considered a crown jewel among Chevrolet collectors and enthusiasts.
It represents the peak of Chevrolet’s race-inspired engineering during the golden age of American muscle.
More than just an engine, it’s a symbol of the Trans-Am wars, an era when high RPM, road-course handling, and pure driver skill mattered more than brute horsepower.
A well-tuned DZ 302 remains one of the most thrilling small V8s ever created, still capable of delivering spine-tingling excitement more than 50 years later.
The rules limited displacement to 5.0 liters, so Chevrolet engineered a high-revving hybrid: a 4.00-inch bore 327 block paired with the short 3.00-inch stroke crankshaft from a 283.
The result was a 302-cubic-inch screamer that loved RPM like no other small-block of its era. In showroom trim, it was officially rated at 290 horsepower, but anyone who drove one knew the real number was far higher, easily over 350 horsepower and even more when paired with headers and proper tuning.
What truly set the DZ 302 apart was its personality. This was not a lazy torque engine, it was a race-bred V8 that demanded to be revved.
With its solid-lifter camshaft, big-valve 2.02/1.60 cylinder heads, and a high-flow aluminum intake topped with a Holley 780 CFM carburetor, the engine came alive above 4,000 RPM and pulled hard all the way to a 7,000 RPM redline.
The sound was unforgettable: a sharp, raspy, mechanical snarl that made the Z/28 feel like a factory-built race car hiding in street clothes.
The DZ 302 also featured heavy-duty internals designed to survive high RPM abuse. A forged steel crank, beefy pink connecting rods, and high-compression pistons made the engine extremely strong for its size. Its aggressive camshaft created a rough, choppy idle that became a signature of the Z/28.
While it wasn’t the easiest car to drive around town, once the revs climbed, the engine transformed into a precision weapon light, responsive, and perfectly matched to the close-ratio Muncie 4-speed and 4.10 or 3.73 rear gears.
Today, the 1969 DZ 302 engine is considered a crown jewel among Chevrolet collectors and enthusiasts.
It represents the peak of Chevrolet’s race-inspired engineering during the golden age of American muscle.
More than just an engine, it’s a symbol of the Trans-Am wars, an era when high RPM, road-course handling, and pure driver skill mattered more than brute horsepower.
A well-tuned DZ 302 remains one of the most thrilling small V8s ever created, still capable of delivering spine-tingling excitement more than 50 years later.