It's been a while since our...
It's been a while since our first Engine Challenge in 2005 featuring the Hemi engine, and we've learned a lot along the way. This year our contest features the small-block Mopar engine with RHS cylinder heads, and the winner will be determined by one of the oldest standards in hot-rodding.
Back in 2005, the staff here at Mopar Muscle decided that since engine dynos and dyno competitions were becoming so popular, it would benefit our readers if we had an engine dyno challenge of our own, featuring only Mopar engines. Teaming up with Comp Cams, who have graciously hosted our contest each year since its inception, we set out to develop a format that would benefit everyone involved. At the time, we had no idea how popular our contest would become, and how much great information it would provide our readers so they could make decisions regarding the engine in their Mopar. Part of what makes the Engine Challenge so exciting, is that we change the type of Mopar engine each year, and also tweak the rules a little to make it interesting. We also give everyone a chance to see the engines each year, as they are on display at the Mopar Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, and engine builders are on hand to answer questions and discuss your next engine build as well.
Each year of our contest we've enjoyed spending time with the professional engine builders, and love learning from their experience. We must admit it's fun to dyno powerful Mopar V-8 engines, especially without the nervousness that comes when the engine is your own. Some great friendships and business relationships have been formed during our engine challenge as well, and we gain valuable knowledge every year that we can pass on to our readers. One of the best parts of our dyno contest is seeing the diverse methods that engine builders use to make power. It has certainly taught us that no matter how much you know about engines, there is always something else to learn.
Each year, the rules of our...
Each year, the rules of our dyno contest are announced at the PRI tradeshow in Orlando, Florida. The engine builders then have approximately eight months to deliver their engines to the Mopar Nationals in Columbus, Ohio.
The 2010 AMSOIL/Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge features the Chrysler LA small-block, and we've made a somewhat dramatic change in the rules. Instead of limiting displacement or factoring the cost of these engines and dividing it into the power as in years past, we're going to judge these small-blocks by one of the oldest standards in hot-rodding, horsepower per cubic inch. That's right, good old fashioned run what ya brung, and hope you brung enough. To make the contest even more interesting, we eliminated the upper rpm limit of 7,000, which means these small-blocks can rev as high as the builders want them to in search of peak horsepower.
As of this writing, six of the eight competitors made the deadline of dropping their engines off at the Mopar Nationals, and you'll notice some familiar faces as well as one newcomer. One thing is for certain, each of this year's competitors took the contest seriously, and from the sound of the chatter at the Nats, these engines should make impressive horsepower on Comp's dyno. Speaking of Comp Cams, the engines have been delivered to their research facility in Memphis, Tennessee, where they will remain quarantined until we dyno them in random order. So this month, while we speculate about how much power these small-blocks will make, we'll take you through the past five years of the AMSOIL/Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge, showing you the highlights and posing the question to our readers: What would you like to see next? Also, a challenge for engine builders: Show us what you can do in our engine challenge! Remember that we don't care if you run a huge engine shop or build engines on your living-room floor, all are welcome to enter the annual AMSOIL/Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge.
The engines that make our...
The engines that make our deadline are on display at the Mopar Nationals each year, and engine builders are on hand to answer questions regarding the engine they built for our contest, or the engine in your Mopar.
Schurbon Engine and Machine
Scott Schurbon
203 South Clark St. • Maquoketa, IA, 52060
563/652-3100
Schurbo@msn.com
Mid America Racing Engines
David Bruns
1945 W 18th Street • Washington, IA 52353
319/653-6282
mcmail@sorc.com
Team of:
Chenoweth Speed and Machine
Mike Chenoweth
368 Erie Ave • Morton, IL, 61550
309/266-8084
www.chenowethspeedandmachine.com
and
LaRoy Engines
Jim LaRoy
P.O. Box 969 • Challis, ID 83226
208/ 879-2969
Promax Performance
Ben Gorman
30 Gasoline Alley Suite A • Indianapolis, IN
317/484-1451
sales@promaxcarbs.com
After the Mopar Nationals...
After the Mopar Nationals display, we deliver all of the engines to Comp Cams, where they are quarantined until the dyno sessions in September. Comp has graciously hosted our contest each year, providing their facility and staff for the better part of a week to accommodate our contest. If you're in Memphis, we encourage you to visit Comp, and if you happen to be there during our contest, you'll get to see some big Mopar power being made.
During the dyno portion of...
During the dyno portion of the Engine Challenge, we dyno two engines per day on Comp's Dyno, which gives us plenty of time to run and inspect the engines,...
as well as discussing the...
as well as discussing the day's events over lunch...
With the exception of our...
With the exception of our inaugural contest, Rich Smith of Comp Cams has had the pleasure of "throwing the handle" on a whole bunch of Mopar horsepower. We appreciate the hospitality Comp provides, as well as the assistance of their staff during our event.
Rockett Brand Racing Fuel...
Rockett Brand Racing Fuel is the fuel sponsor of the Engine Challenge, providing specially blended high-quality 93 octane gasoline to run these powerful street engines. Rockett Brand engineer Tim Wusz is also usually on hand answering questions about his products and gasoline in general. We won't tell you how much Tim paid us to use this picture from the 2005 contest. . .
AMSOIL is again the title...
AMSOIL is again the title sponsor of the Engine Challenge, providing quality synthetic lubricants for all of the contest motors. We appreciate AMSOIL as well as all of the manufacturers, participants, and people who makes our Engine Challenge possible, and thank them for their support.