2005
It was a groovy year back then, you might notice the bell-bottoms and pork chop sideburns . . . just kidding. 2005 actually wasn't that long ago, but you may notice some of us with less gray hair during our first dyno contest. The 2005 Engine Challenge featured the 426 Hemi engine, and displacement was limited to 500 cubic inches. A flat-tappet camshaft was required, and the cost of the engine's parts was factored into the combined peak torque and horsepower, for a power per dollar score. Lofgren Auto Specialties won our first contest, but hasn't made a return appearance. J D Engine and Machine made the most power that year, a trend that would continue throughout our contests.
The inaugural Mopar Muscle...
The inaugural Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge featured the baddest engine on the planet, the 426 Hemi. Limited to 500 cubic inches and a flat-tappet cam, most of these engines screamed to 700 hp or more, setting a high standard for future contests.
Chuck Lofgren and the crew...
Chuck Lofgren and the crew from Lofgren Auto Specialties won the contest, beating out future Engine Challenge winners like Indy Cylinder Head and Mid America Racing Engines. With the best power per dollar rating of the Challenge, the Lofgren entry impressed everyone in attendance.
Engine builder Jeff Dickey...
Engine builder Jeff Dickey of J D Engine and Machine impressed everyone by making the most combined power the first year, and continues to place well in this category each time he enters our contest.
2006
In 2006, the rules varied little other than changing the featured engine to a big-block Chrysler and allowing roller camshafts. The engines all had to be based on the RB block, and displacement was again limited to 500 cubic inches. Engine builders could use any choice of cylinder head, so long as they would bolt up to our Hooker Super Competition headers. Thanks in part to the roller camshafts, several of these engines made more power than the Hemis of the previous year, but it wasn't the most powerful engine that won the contest. David Bruns of Mid America Racing Engines built a powerful big-block with economical parts, winning based on the lower cost of his engine. Rich Nedbal and the crew from Mopar Engines West impressed all in attendance by making the most power in 2006.
The 2006 Engine Challenge...
The 2006 Engine Challenge featured the RB big-block Mopar, again limited to 500 cubic inches. We were surprised to see these engines make similar power to the Hemis the year before.
After building a relatively...
After building a relatively mild Hemi for the first Engine Challenge, David Bruns of Mid America Racing Engines came back with a vengeance, taking full advantage of our rules to win the contest in 2006.
Led by Rich Nedbal, the crew...
Led by Rich Nedbal, the crew from Mopar Engines West made the most power in 2006, handily beating the competition in this category with their Indy-headed big-block. Though there's no prize for making the most power, some competitors consider this rating just as important as winning the contest.
2007
Our 2007 dyno contest featured the small-block Mopar, with displacement limited to 410 cubic inches. 408 cubic inch stroker 360s were a popular choice in 2007, but engine displacement ranged from an over-bored 318 all the way to the contest limit. The cost of the engine parts was again factored in 2007 and the engine builders could use roller camshafts and any cylinder head they chose. Indy Cylinder Head won the contest with their somewhat exotic, but within the rules, tunnel-ram equipped small-block making the most power-per-dollar and narrowly beating the second place engine of Schurbon Engine and Machine. Mid America Racing Engines made the most power in 2007, at over 567 horsepower.
The small-block Mopar engine...
The small-block Mopar engine was highlighted in the 2007 Engine Challenge, and we likely had the most diverse field of engines so far.
Indy Cylinder Head pulled...
Indy Cylinder Head pulled out all the stops in 2007, winning the contest and narrowly beating second place finisher Schurbon Engine and Machine. This was a powerful, economically built small-block and Indy really had to sharpen their pencils to win our closest competition so far.
After winning the 2006 contest,...
After winning the 2006 contest, David Bruns of Mid-America Racing Engines set the power benchmark in 2007, at over 567 horsepower.
We made a dramatic rules change...
We made a dramatic rules change in 2008...
In 2008, we decided to feature one of the most commonly built Mopar engines in our contest, the Chrysler 440, limited to a .060-inch overbore. Additionally, we required all the competitors to utilize the same Indy SR big-block aluminum cylinder heads, for what is commonly referred to as a "spec" engine. Because each builder used essentially the same major parts, we didn't factor the cost in 2008, which meant the winner simply had to make the most combined horsepower and torque to beat the competition. Indy Cylinder Head had what it took in 2008, placing first in our contest for back to back wins. As a function of our rules, the win meant that Indy also made the most power in 2008, at nearly 760 horsepower, for a win in that category as well. J D Engine and Machine was a close second in terms of power, narrowly missing a win in the '08 contest.
... requiring all the competitors...
... requiring all the competitors to run engines with the same cylinder heads and displacement, for a true test of engine building skills.
Indy Cylinder head captured...
Indy Cylinder head captured their second consecutive win during the 2008 contest, as their sixty-over 440 screamed to nearly 760 horsepower on 93 octane Rockett Brand gasoline.
J D Engine and Machine placed...
J D Engine and Machine placed second in 2008, making just shy of 740 horsepower with their single-carb equipped 440. Since Indy did have the advantage of using their own cylinder head, we consider this a powerful showing for engine builder Jeff Dickey.
2009
We featured a big-block again in 2009, hoping to show our readers the advantages of a low-deck Mopar B engine, and decided to again factor the cost of the parts into the combined peak torque and horsepower of each engine for a power per dollar score. There was no displacement limit on these engines, but all of the engine builders had to utilize the same Edelbrock Performer RPM cylinder heads. Additionally, since the economic times have forced us all to cut back, we decided that second-hand, or "seasoned" parts would be factored at fair market value, instead of full retail cost. While this scoring system made the contest a junkyard war of sorts, it also highlighted the fact that you don't necessarily need to break the bank to make good power with this combination.
We stayed with a big-block...
We stayed with a big-block in 2009 as our contest featured a low-deck engine with Edelbrock Performer RPM cylinder heads. You'll be surprised at the power these engines made.
Schurbon Engine and Machine...
Schurbon Engine and Machine took top honors in 2009, ensuring their place in history and earning a guaranteed entry in the 2010 contest. Engine builder Scott Schurbon paid attention to every detail of the rules, using a factory 400 block and 440 crank to build a powerful engine using very economical parts.
Did we mention that Jeff Dickey...
Did we mention that Jeff Dickey of J D Engine and Machine knows how to make power? In 2009 his entry again made the most power of any in the contest, though the cost of his parts kept him from a top finish.
2010
It's 2010, and as of this writing all of the contest engines have been loaded up and delivered to Comp. This year, we again changed the rules to keep things interesting, deciding to score the contest based on an old standard: horsepower per cubic inch. The engines will all run the new RHS cast-iron cylinder head, but there is no limit on displacement. While at Comp, the engines will be run on the dyno, and we've eliminated the upper rpm restriction so the sky is the limit. Displacements for the 2010 engines range from 408 cubic inches, to just over 273. Who'll have the advantage in this year's challenge? We'll let you know as soon as we get back from Comp!
The 2010 AMSOIL/Mopar Muscle...
The 2010 AMSOIL/Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge will feature the small-block Mopar, with RHS/Indy cast iron cylinder heads. The scoring this year? Horsepower per cubic inch!
Well, we loaded the engines...
Well, we loaded the engines at the Mopar Nationals and they've been delivered to Comp Cams where they'll by dyno tested. Be sure to check out moparmusclemagazine.com for same day dyno results and video of the engines being run, and while you're there, let us know what we should consider for future engine challenges.
Seriously guys, I'd help with the engines but someone has to take the pictures...
Editor's note: if you noticed the burn out marks going into the trailer, ask editor Bolig's wife about that, she was driving!