302's are scarce as hens' teeth, and priced accordingly. People are using 216's for doorstops and boat anchors because they don't know how to work on Babbit rods, and I'm figuring out ways to make "original-looking" engines in 1940's and 50's trucks keep up with traffic without swapping to a 235 or a 261. The idea of modern internal parts in an original-looking package interests me, and I believe if I show up at car shows and swap meets with one of my engines on a trailer with a dyno attached, I could rake in orders for them like leaves in the fall.
Back when GMC 270's and 302's were plentiful, they got hotrodded frequently. but those days are long gone. My father said the 270's gave his flathead Fords a little competiton on the dirt tracks, but they were so torquey the Fords were halfway down the straightaways before the Jimmys quit spinning their wheels coming off the turns. On a long, high banked track, they had a lot better performance because they could stay above the torque peak RPM.
Jerry
