The 2011 AMSOIL/Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge - Part 3

Seven engine builders met the deadline for this year’s Challenge, delivering their engines to the Mopar Nationals where they were on display for the weekend, and then quarantined and taken to the dyno cell at Comp Cams’ Memphis, Tennessee, research facility. The engines were then tested on the dyno in random order. To judge the engines in this year’s contest, we chose to use one of the oldest standards, horsepower per cubic inch. Each engine had to make a minimum of three qualifying dyno pulls, and then three judged pulls. The highest peak horsepower achieved during the judged session was divided into the displacement of the engine. To ensure the contestants remained within our $5,500 parts budget, a 10 horsepower deduction was applied for every $100 the budget was exceeded.

After making the dyno runs at Comp, we tore down each engine to inspect it for legality, and also to ensure the parts in the engine were the same as the engine builders listed on their tech sheets. With the dyno numbers and inspections complete, we then used a third party source to calculate the retail cost of the parts in each engine, and added the cost of the factory parts at fair market value. The allotted price of the factory parts was listed in the rules, and most engine builders utilized a factory block, crankshaft, and even cylinder heads to remain in budget. With our calculations complete, this month we’ll feature the engines in the order they placed.

We know you’ll join us in congratulating Prism Racing, as they carefully interpreted our rules to build an engine within budget, making nearly 1.6 horsepower per cubic inch, to capture a win in this year’s challenge. Engine builder Darren Tedder spun his 406 cubic inch low-deck big-block to nearly 8,500 rpm to achieve his goal, narrowly beating T & B’z Race Engines for the top spot. All but two of the engines remained within budget, with the Mid America Racing Engines entry being the most economically built big-block in the contest. Also worthy of note was the LaRoy Engines entry which was over budget, but impressed everyone by making 730 horsepower using factory 906 casting cylinder heads ported by Cody LaRoy.

First Place
Prism Racing

As a newcomer to our annual dyno contest, we were all curious how Prism Racing would perform. With a big-block displacing 406 cubic inches, the Prism entry answered all questions as engine builder Darren Tedder took advantage of no upper rpm limit set by the rules and spun his big-block well over 8,000 rpm on his final pull, making 647 horsepower for a score of 1.593 horsepower per cubic inch. This purpose-built dyno engine performed well, turning the highest rpm of the contest, but Darren did comment that he would make a few changes before putting this engine in a street driven Mopar. Prism Racing's owner Daren Tedder would like to thank all the employees of Prism Racing, as well as Ted Fischer for helping with this project. Additionally, Darren would like to thank Wills Machine Service who turned his crankshaft three separate times while he waited, helping Prism achieve a top finish in the 2011 contest. We congratulate Prism Racing for winning the 2011 AMSOIL/Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge.

Second Place
T & B'z Race Engines

Another newcomer to our contest is T & B'z Race Engines, who nearly scored a win as their 426 cubic inch big-block made 676 horsepower for a horsepower per cubic inch factor of 1.586. Engine builder Tom Foley says he and his wife Brenda treated this like any of their customer's engine builds, putting together the best package for the money. They did their research well, coming the closest to hitting our budget of $5,500 and bringing a real-world big-block that makes peak power and torque at a very reasonable rpm. Tom and Brenda would like to thank their kids, Leeza, Lez'lee, McKenzy, and Dempsey, not only for their help, but for tolerating the extra time their parents spent at the shop working on this project. T & B'z also says they couldn't have performed so well without the support of Engelking Dyno Service and German Valley Machine, and would also like to thank Cometic, Total Seal, AMSOIL, and especially Comp Cams for hosting the challenge. We congratulate T & B'z Race Engines for their outstanding performance, placing a very close second in the 2011 AMSOIL/Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge.

Third Place
H P Engines

H P Engines is another engine shop that made its debut appearance in the 2011 Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge. Engine builder Hollis Page decided that a big bore, short stroke big block would have an advantage, and built a low-deck big-block displacing 406 cubic inches. Deciding to build a real street engine and not just a "dyno-mule", H P Engines used quality parts and stayed well under our $5,500 parts budget. Making 608 horsepower, for a rating of 1.50 horsepower per cubic inch, the HP Engines big-block earned third place in our 2011 dyno challenge. Engine builder Hollis Page would like to thank his fellow employees including wife Kim, engine builder David Klottz, and machinist Brett Gibson, as well as Liberty Engine Parts and the sponsors of our contest: AMSOIL, Comp Cams, Cometic Gaskets, and Rockett Brand Racing fuel. We congratulate H P Engines on their third place finish in the AMSOIL/Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge.

Fourth Place
Mid America Racing Engines

As a previous winner of the AMSOIL/Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge, engine builder David Bruns of Mid America Racing Engines is known for building powerful, reliable engines. This year he really sharpened his pencil, building the least expensive engine in the competition. The Mid America 450 cubic inch big-block made 622 horsepower at a leisurely 6,700 rpm for a rating of 1.38 horsepower per cubic inch. And while placing fourth overall, this engine does feature the most horsepower per dollar of the contest. Mid America Racing Engines owner David Bruns would like to thank employees Alex Ross, Scott Bruns, and wife Diane Bruns, as well as John Rosenbalm from PBM for making a last minute Saturday delivery during the build. We congratulate Mid America for their fourth place finish, and for being the most economically built engine in this year's contest.

Fifth Place
LaRoy Engines

LaRoy Engines is a past competitor in our annual dyno contest, and engine builder Jim LaRoy leaves nothing on the table when it comes to making power. This year at the Mopar Nationals Jim made his goal clear, to make the most power of the contest and do it using 906 cylinder heads ported in-house by his son, Cody LaRoy. Though a dyno error contributed to a problem as described in a previous issue, the LaRoy team pulled it together and met their goal, tuning a contest leading 730 horsepower and nearly 600 lb/ft of torque from their 500 cubic inch big-block. Jim LaRoy says he's happy to lead the contest in terms of raw power, and to show our readers what factory heads are capable of. Jim also thanks his sons Cody and Tay, as well as the countless other contributors to this effort. We congratulate LaRoy Engines on their fifth place finish, and are especially impressed with the numbers this big-block made using factory cast-iron cylinder heads.

Sixth Place
Bill's Speed and Machine

Engine Builder Bill Hess has competed in prior Engine Challenges, and this year placed sixth as his 451 inch big-block made just over 623 horsepower running on Rockett Brand 93 octane unleaded gasoline. Keeping the build simple, Bill's Speed and Machine chose a 440 block and crankshaft, treating the engine to full machine work before topping it with 440-SR heads from Indy Cylinder Head. Bill says this is a real world engine that would perform well in a street car, with a custom cam making it a dependable combination. Engine builder Bill Hess would like to thank Speed Services and Speed Junkie Carbs, as well as his assistants Lynne Hess, Billy Hess, and Kyle Hess. We thank Bill's Speed and Machine for bringing a solid engine to our contest.

Seventh Place
Hinkle Performance

2011 Participants