I don't know exactly what everyone is talking about in this post, i had stock heads (port,valve work now
) and when i put hookers supercomps on my 302 it woke up. I believe that the exhaust work will hurt you if you leave intake stock or leave cam stock. The heads are PROBABLY fine for a 300hp-flywheel engine, and a change to more head won't necassarily help you unless you've got the cam/intake to go along with it. For your money, i haven't seen a better deal then the edelbrock performer or performer rpm power package. I have had experience with the performer, and although it seems a little timid at first glance, you won't regret the move to a performer cam/intake setup. IME with the performer cam/intake (which i ran for a couple years
) is probably the most inexpensive way to get your 300hp while being VERY streetwise. Anyways, you will notice a small decrease in lowrpm power if you go with long tubes, but for a small block 302, revving is what it's all about. The long tubes happen to agree with the most basic of 302 functions and that's to get rpm fast! So... IMO, there isn't even a question, GO WITH THE LONGTUBES!!
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'63 Merc Meteor hardtop, warm 302, C4 auto, 2.25" Flowmaster Exhaust,
'65 289 heads - ported/chevy valves, performer cam, edelbrock f4a intake, full length hookers, 600 holley, roller rockers, k'n, 10.5:1 hyperutetic pistons... mid 13's hoping to reach into 12's