2009 Amsoil/Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge Winners - We Have A Winner!

1st Place
Schurbon Engine and Machine/Mo-par City
Schurbon Engine and Machine in Maquoketa, Iowa, specializes in one thing: everything. Engine builder Scott Schurbon says while he is a die-hard Mopar guy, his shop will machine or build anything automotive, from stock to all-out race engines, and even does agricultural work as well. No newcomer to high performance engines, engine builder Scott Schurbon's engines have powered no less than 15 champions in Dirt Series racing as well as IMCA late model national contenders. Schurbon Engine and Machine also builds drag racing as well as truck and tractor pulling engines, and is currently working with Mo-Par City to provide powerful Hemis for Larry Griffith's 2009 A-Stock Drag Pak Dodge Challenger.

For this year's dyno contest, Scott Schurbon and his employees Mike Rude and Darrin Anderson worked with Michael and Larry Pontnack and Shawn Hazey at Mo-par City, carefully interpreting the rules and calculating which approach would give them and advantage. Scott claims they ran the numbers building an all-out engine for power, and just didn't think they could make enough power to cover the costs of a big-inch motor and that building an engine on a budget was the way to go. Using a stock 400 block combined with a factory forged 440 crank, Schurbon utilized stock connecting rods and hypereutectic cast pistons to keep costs down. Knowing he'd be sacrificing power by not using a roller cam, Scott chose to again keep costs down by ordering a single-bolt flat-tappet cam and lifters with matching springs from Comp Cams. Other stock or inexpensive parts included a factory oil pan from an industrial crane, a single row timing set, and used ductile iron adjustable rocker arms.

On Comp's dyno, Scott and his team made their qualifying pulls using a Single-plane intake and 1,000 cfm Holley carburetor, but then quickly changed the intake to a less expensive-and used-Weiand tunnel-ram with a pair of used Quadrajet carbs built by Bob Siegworth. This change made a huge difference, allowing Scott and his crew to tune their big-block to a best pull of 582.7 horsepower and 544.6 lb/ft of torque for a combined power score of 1127.3. As the least expensively built engine in the contest, this was enough power to give the Schurbon/Mo-par City entry the least cost per power, winning the 2009 Amsoil/Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge.

2nd Place
Chenoweth Speed and Machine
Engine builders Mike and Dale Chenoweth of Chenoweth Speed and Machine in Morton, Illinois, also decided to build an economical entry for this year's Challenge, putting together a very inexpensive engine for the contest. Specializing in Mopar engines, Chenoweth Speed and Machine is known for their powerful Hemis and big-blocks, building everything from mild street engines to powerful drag race engines for their customers. The Chenoweths have also helped out Mopar enthusiasts by developing great parts like their main stud girdle for big-blocks and Hemis.