It's the time of year when car guys get their machines out of hibernation, wash the winter's worth of dust off of them and make plans to drive, race, and or improve their cars. One again, it's time for the All-Chrysler Nationals held each year in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Each year, the folks at Carlisle Events, Muscle Motors of Lansing Michigan, and us here at Mopar Muscle magazine, work together to build a cool engine that one lucky show participant or spectator can win.
This year, we chose to build an LA-based small block, in order to make sure that even the small block guys have a chance to win something cool. This year's engine features a seasoned Magnum block, RHS' new cast-iron cylinder heads, a complete Eagle rotating assembly, Comp Cams valve train and cam, an Edelbrock intake, and an Ultra Holley carburetor.
The base for this 408 small...
The base for this 408 small block is a seasoned Magnum-style block. This makes it easy to use a roller cam, as opposed to retrofitting one into an older LA block. The block was treated to a complete machining process.
The engine is a pump-gas friendly 408-inch stroker that will be right at home in any muscle car or street rod. Now, we couldn't give an engine to someone with actually dyno testing it, now could we? Well, we could... So, once the guys at Muscle Motors had the engine together, it was time to hook it to the lie detector.
Keeping in mind that this is a pump-gas friendly engine with a hydraulic camshaft, when the numbers came in at a respectable 439 horsepower at 5,900 rpm, and 493.9 lb/ft of torque at 3,900 rpm, we were more than satisfied.
Once again, the guys at Muscle Motors have assembled an engine that will make any Mopar enthusiast proud to open his or her hood at a cruise night, or at the weekend street/strip event.
The bottom side of the engine...
The bottom side of the engine features an Eagle rotating assembly kit, PN 20502. This kit includes a 4.00-inch Eagle cast-steel crankshaft, and we had Eagle balance our assembly.
Since this is a Magnum style...
Since this is a Magnum style block, a roller cam was the obvious choice. A Comp Cams' PN 20-813-9 Extreme-Energy stick with .544/ .541 inch lift, and .236/ .242 degrees of duration at .050-inch lift was chosen.
The kit also comes with I...
The kit also comes with I beam connecting rods, forged pistons and moly file-fit piston rings, and main and rod bearings. We ordered our pistons with a .030-inch overbore. Again, having Eagle handle the balancing chores meant we got a product ready to go, and we didn't have to mess with it.
We also turned to Comp for...
We also turned to Comp for the Timing chain and gears, as well as the rest of the needed valvetrain parts
Insuring adequate oil through...
Insuring adequate oil through the engine, is a Milodon pan, and pick up.
The heads on this engine are...
The heads on this engine are RHS' new Indy X head. This cast-iron replacement head is better than OE, with its 62 cc closed chamber design, and 179 cc intake runners. Since the head's come without valves, Milodon also supplied the valves.
The intake is a dual plane...
The intake is a dual plane design Edelbrock Air-Gap, so streetability is not a problem, and the engine will also breathe very well at its upper rpm range.
Knowing that streetability...
Knowing that streetability is a key need of this engine, a Holley 750 c.f.m carburetor was chosen. We actually went with the Ultra series with black billet metering-plates and base. It's a mechanical secondary carb with proven performance.
If you're looking for a cool...
If you're looking for a cool way to dress up your Mopar engine, Edelbrock has come out with these new finned aluminum valve covers with matching air cleaner.....
....The winner not only gets...
....The winner not only gets a good, solid engine, but one that looks great also.
You didn't think we could...
You didn't think we could give this engine away and not show you a dyno sheet, now did you? This engine will definitely be right at home in any Mopar, but imagine a 408 making 439 horsepower, and 493 lb/ft of torque in an A-Body.