If you do a search over at Camaros.net, and here, this has been much discussed! What I will offer is my observations from having studied this a little over the years...if you do run the factort Z cam, follow the lash instructions developed by members here and published as a Tech report. Get your distributor set up by Jerry MacNeish to run with your 302- I have done this and also sent him my 4053 Carb for overhaul. Do a search here and at Camaros.net for "302", and look for building and tune up hints- there are a good many. Finally, the 282S Comp Cam would lower the peak HP RPM, and perhaps change the character of the 302 by making it less "irritable", which is something I am not necessarily wanting to do! It has been '84 since my car was running, so all I can do is recall others experiences.
The threads and associated discussions with pdq67 are priceless- he IS the small motor advocate- you can search his Sig for topics.
Good luck-
I'm looking for something for my engine which doesn't have a cam in it yet. All stock 302 parts. Anyone (maybe Jerry) have an opinion over all these cams described above? Does any one stand out or is it just personal preference. And what would be the difference performance-wise in these last three? (346s, 346s modern, and 282s)