Crate motor vs. rebuilding DZ 302...?

[musclecarjohn]

[ QUOTE ]
No one will mistake that for a 302. The pad is a different size,
the heads won't have the "humps" it will be obvious that it is a "new" engine.

It's your car, You can do whatever you want.
You need to be happy. Crate motors do come with warrenties.
But an era correct crate motor - no way.

Why not find a 1969 010 block (very comon), port your 202's use ARP's everywhere, HiPO pistons and rods, use rollers, and all HiPo internals.
But when you are done, you have a screemer all authentic "302"
Well it will really be a 383, but you don't have to admit.

With a crate motor it is not a Z/28 anymore.
The Z/28 was the 302 engine option.

I just really hate to see crate motors in authentic cars.

[/ QUOTE ]

All valid points indeed.

My biggest problem is time...time that I could be spending pounding the pavement. I'm really not too concerned about the double-bump heads or the wrong engine pad because if you saw my car (think Trans-Am,1969),it's so far away from a stock-appearing '69 Z/28 it's not funny but as you said...it is my car and I must be happy with the engine too.

The logical thing would be to re-build this engine (or another block if this one isn't repairable)and that would all make sense if I lived in Minnesota and it was 20 below for the next 4 months...but I live in sunny California and all I want to do when I'm not at work is drive and play with my cars .As I get older,I realize I won't be at this forever so I want to enjoy my cars NOW and I mean tomorrow!

Still torn...looking at the World Products site now.