I'm have a 63 Chevy Nova and NEED advice. I'm in the process of buttoning up the 302 chevy I 'm dropping in, but I'm stumped as to which intake to run. I'm running an m21 tranny and plan on 4.11 or 4.56 gears. What I wanted to know was, should I run a tunnel ram or one of the popular single plain high rises (i.e. Wieand Team G or Edelbrock rpm airgap)? At the drag strip the rpm airgap seems really popular. I don't plan on 'cruising' too much with this car... more of a stoplight to stoplight kind of car that will see a little bit of the strip too. I'd appreciate any advice, Thanks, Josh
Air gap best all around choice IMO. With that said, it also depends on how the motor is set up cam,compression etc.
I'm debating between the old 30-30 cam(or comp cams version anyways) or the '140 offroad' cam that I've seen in a lot of 302's on youtube. As for compression, 10.5 ish. I know there are 'better' cams available for what I am trying to do, but I just really want to keep the original 302 feel or characteristics for now.
Unless you want to continually tinker go with a single 4 bbl and give up the 3 hp you MIGHT gain with the multiple carburation. Frank
For a high winding 302, the "almost stock" 30-30 cam is pretty mild. I had a 57 Chevy WAYYY back when, with a 302, Muncie, and 12 bolt with 4:88's. Ran a 12 1/2 to one engine, with full rollers...solid roller cam incl. Kinda over the top, but it RAN! I'd go with a bigger solid cam, or go with a mild solid roller, if I were you. Mine had a 750 Double pumper and a single plane intake, probably a Tarantula or similar, weren't too many choices with them back then.
If you are trying to keep the original 302 "feel", why not cam it similar to what it was back then, but with a more modern profile? A solid lifter cam is what you need, not the 30/30. And why a modern intake? If you want a traditional 302 build a traditional 302. If not, build a modern 302" engine (Ours is a 303.6" SB2). vic
Just look at what Chevy has ran throught out the years on the Z-28's and the Corvettes etc. A single highrise Holly or AFB style aluminum manifold. Edelbrock, Weiand, Offy, Holly all make one. The differences in HP does not amount to that much as compared to agravation or driveability with some race set-up or exotic intake. I'm older now and much wiser Pat
I see what you guys are getting at... I guess I shouldn't be looking to reinvent the wheel. I guess what I'm really asking, is what is the best set up to get this 302 running like a raped ape? I don't have a problem with the new goodies, I just want stuff that works well together time after time. I know the rpm air gap is tried and true, but i just remembered it was a dual plane =o. This motor is going to wind up high so I was looking for a good intake carb match, stuff a healthy cam, have dependable spark and valve train. I want to hear what has worked for you guys in the past, so I can do this right the first time and so I don't have to pick up connecting rods off the street!
why not use the cross-ram thing folks were sporting in the originals. Smokey Yunick liked them......I'd do the RPM Air Gap and call Comp Cams and tell them what you want to do and they'll get you the cam you need. They've heard it all before and they probably have a cam that will fit the bill perfectly for you. I don't get a kick back from Comp, they're just really big and have a tech line just for situation like this. Good Luck!
This is the set up I have in my 62 Chevy II, it's a 350 that had an M 21 with 4;10 gears that I recently changed over to a T-5 and 3;50 gears for better highway milage. It is very streetable and fun to drive. It runs 500 Edelbrock's. Adding the extra carb made a huge difference in performance, don't let someone talk you out of a tunnel ram if that's what you really want, they work great on the street, I have two cars that both run 2X4 tunnel rams on the street and highway. Good luck with your Nova.
Single plane hi-rise that will fit. Put enough solid lifter cam to make good power w/out losing cylinder pressure. 10.5 isn't a lot to start with so keep duration reasonable in your choice. Top it off with a 780 dbl pumper or an 830 annular discharge carb and hang on. Definately go with the 4.56 gears. That motor at 3500 will feel like a 350 at 2500 because of the stroke and rod length assuming they're both stock.
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