This month we'll show you...
This month we'll show you the parts used and the dyno sheets for each of the powerful 2009 AMSOIL/Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge big-blocks.
The 2009 AMSOIL/Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge has been a big hit, as it really highlighted the power an economically built big-block can make with a little thought and careful planning. This year's engine builders used a variety of techniques to gain an advantage in our contest, and the result was a diverse array of professionally built big-blocks for us to tell you about.
On the dyno at Comp Cams' Memphis, Tennessee, facility, these engines all performed flawlessly, with no real disappointments or failures to speak of. Each of the engine builders tuned their entries to impressive power, especially given that most engines were built with budget priced, and even pre-owned parts. Since this year's contest featured the low-deck Mopar B engine, most of the competitors utilized a factory 440 crank in a 400 block, for a displacement of 451 or 452 cubic inches depending on final bore size. This trick kept costs down and was a good combination with the required Edelbrock Performer RPM cylinder heads.
We couldn't host our dyno...
We couldn't host our dyno contest without the efforts of our many sponsors. We'd like to thank all our sponsors, especially Amsoil, Comp Cams, and Rockett Brand, for making our competition possible.
The rules of our contest change slightly each year, and this year the cost of the parts used to build the engine was factored into the peak combined horsepower and torque, for a dollar-per-power rating. Since used parts were factored at fair market value instead of full retail price, it really paid to utilize seasoned equipment rather than building an engine with all new parts. While the intention of this rule change was to show our readers that you could make big power inexpensively, as a side affect, the 2009 contest took on somewhat of a "junkyard wars" theme, with the least expensive engines taking the top two places.
This month we'll show you the list of parts that went into each of the '09 big-blocks, as well as a dyno sheet for each engine. We enjoyed working with all the shops in the '09 contest and encourage you to call one of them for your next project. Be sure to visit moparmusclemagazine.com to check out the rules for the 2010 AMSOIL/Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge which will feature the small-block Chrysler A-engine with RHS's new cast-iron cylinder heads.
| 2009 participants |
| Chenoweth Speed and Machine | JD Engine and Machine |
| Mike Chenoweth | Jeff Dickey |
| Morton, IL, 61550 | Columbia, MO, 65203 |
| 309/266-8084 | 573/445-4550 |
| chenowethspeedandmachine.com | |
| LaRoy Engines | Mid America Racing Engines |
| Jim LaRoy | David Bruns |
| Challis, ID 83226 | Washington, IA 52353 |
| 208/ 879-2969 | 319/653-6282 |
| jglaroy@custertel.net | midamericadb@iowatelecom.net |
| Promax Performance | R.M. Competition |
| Ben Gorman | Randy Malik |
| Indianapolis, IN | Roseville, MI, 48066 |
| 317/484-1451 | 586/909-1591 |
| sales@promaxcarbs.com | rmcomprandy@yahoo.com |
| Schurbon Engine and Machine |
| Scott Schurbon |
| Maquoketa, IA, 52060 |
| 563/652-3100 |
| Schurbo@msn.com |
All the competitors used the...
All the competitors used the 10W40 synthetic engine oil provided by Amsoil. As a testament to the quality of this lubricant, none of the engines had any oil related issues during the contest.
Rockett Brand specially blends...
Rockett Brand specially blends 93 octane unleaded gasoline for our contest, and provides as much as the engines can burn. Rockett Brand is a great source for all fuels, including racing fuels designed for modern high-performance engines, and E-85 with consistent chemical properties.
Comp hosts our contest each...
Comp hosts our contest each year at their Memphis research facility, and we keep track of each engine's numbers during the dyno sessions. Check out the power these big-blocks made on 93 octane unleaded fuel!