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The 2011 AMSOIL/Mopar Muscle Engine ChallengeA variety of big-blocks are delivered to the Mopar Nationals From the January, 2012 issue of Mopar Muscle By Dave Young Photography by Dave Young
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Comp Cams hosts our annual... Comp Cams hosts our annual contest, providing their research facility and dyno cell for a full week to test the engines. Last year's challenge drew quite a crowd as small-block Mopars tried to make the best power per cubic inch. Each year at Mopar Muscle magazine we host a contest for engine builders across the country to highlight their skills by competing in the annual AMSOIL/Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge. The challenge begins at the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in Orlando, Florida, where the rules are outlined and applications are handed out. Engine shops then have two months to apply to be in the contest, and we choose eight competitors to build engines, which are then delivered to the Mopar Nationals, and tested on the engine dyno at Comp Cams the following month. In previous years we've featured most popular Mopar engine combinations, including Hemis, big-blocks, and small-blocks, and we try to keep the contest interesting by changing the rules slightly each year. This year the challenge features the big-block Mopar engine, and to ensure these are real-world engines like our readers would build, we've limited the budget for each engine to $5,500. On the dyno at Comp, the engines will be run on Rockett Brand 93 octane fuel, and judged by their peak horsepower divided into the cubic inch displacement of the engine for a horsepower per cubic inch factor. By limiting the budget, the engine builders in this year's contest will be forced to spend carefully, putting money where it counts to make power, while not sacrificing durability. It's a blast to experience... It's a blast to experience Mopar V-8 engines making power on an engine dyno, and to see what tuning techniques are used to optimize power. Last year Schurbon Engine and Machine actually performed a camshaft change during the timed dyno session, losing power but still winning the contest. Unfortunately, a last minute issue kept Schurbon from making this year's deadline. There's a good chance one of these engine builders has put together an engine that would be perfect for your Mopar, so be sure to follow along as we dyno these engines and then tear them down to see what parts were used to make power. In previous contests engine builders have impressed us with stout numbers, using moderately and economically priced parts to achieve their goals. Any of the engine builders in our contest would be happy to discuss, build, and even dyno your next Mopar engine, and can ship your engine to you no matter where you live in the U.S. or abroad, so be sure to give one of them a call about your next project. This should be an interesting... This should be an interesting year for the AMSOIL/Mopar Muscle Engine Challenge, with a wide array of parts and techniques used throughout these engines. Next month we'll bring you the details as we dyno the engines at Comp, so be sure to pick up an issue and see who won. For videos of these engines running on the dyno, visit www.moparmusclemagazine.com. Seven of this year's eight competitors made our Friday deadline, delivering their engines to the Mopar Nationals where they were on display for the weekend. We're sure some of you recognized several of the competitors in this year's contest, and we have some newcomers to the 2011 Engine Challenge as well. At the Mopar Nationals, engine builders were on hand to discuss their combinations and speak to our readers regarding their Mopar engines. This month we'll give you a quick rundown of the competitors and their combinations, and be sure to follow future issues of Mopar Muscle to find out who wins and how much power these engines make.
| B&G Speed and Machine | HP Engines |
| Bill Hess | Hollis Page |
| 140 East Old Plank | 436 Railroad St. |
| Bargersville, IN, 46106 | Norwood, NC, 28128 |
| 317/752-0389 | 704/474-0109 |
| Moparbill47@yahoo.com | hollispage@windstream.net |
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| Hinkle Performance | LaRoy Engines |
| Buck Hinkle | Jim LaRoy |
| 6358 E. Laurel Rd. | P.O. Box 969 |
| London, KY, 40741 | Challis, ID 83226 |
| 606/864-6897 | 208/879-2969 |
| ltmkad@windstream.net | jglaroy@custertel.net |
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| Mid America Racing Engines | Prism Racing |
| David Bruns | Darren Tedder |
| 1945 W 18th Street | 2050 Old Covington Hwy SW, Unit 7 |
| Washington, IA 52353 | Conyers, GA, 30012 |
| PH: 319/653-6282 | 770/602-3237 |
| midamericadb@iowatelecom.net | darren@prismracing.com |
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| T&B'Z Race Engines | |
| Tom & Brenda Foley | |
| 917 6th AVE | |
| Monroe, WI, 53566 | |
| 608/329-6800 | |
| tbperformance@tds.net | |
 B&G's Speed and Machine ...  B&G's Speed and Machine
Greenwood, Indiana
Engine Builder Bill Hess of B&G's Speed and Machine in Greenwood, Indiana, built a 451 cubic inch low-deck for the contest, using Indy cylinder heads, Ross pistons, and Eagle connecting rods. This engine may be slightly over budget, but should make impressive power on the dyno.  HP Engines Norwood, North...  HP Engines
Norwood, North Carolina
HP Engines is a newcomer to our contest, using a 383 crankshaft in their factory block for a displacement of 406 cubic inches. Engine builder Hollis Page's combination also utilizes a Comp camshaft, Icon pistons, and Eagle H-beam connecting rods, as well as Edelbrock heads and intake combined with a Holley carburetor. We're eager to see how this entry performs on the dyno at Comp.  Hinkle Performance Engines...  Hinkle Performance Engines
London, Kentucky
Another first time entrant to our Engine Challenge is Hinkle Performance Engines from London, Kentucky. Using one of the smallest Mopar big-blocks, the 361, engine builder Buck Hinkle chose a Comp cam, Eagle connecting rods, Mahle pistons, and factory 915 casting cylinder heads for his relatively small big-block. Remember, horsepower per cubic inch within a budget will win this year's contest, so small displacement engines may have an advantage.  LaRoy Engines Challis, Idaho...  LaRoy Engines
Challis, Idaho
LaRoy engines placed well in the 2009 challenge, as well as in the Dynomax Power to the Wheels chassis dyno contest. Known for their prowess with factory cast-iron cylinder heads, Jim LaRoy and his son Cody prepped a set of 906 castings for their entry this year, using a 400 block and 4.15 stroke 440Source crankshaft for a net displacement of 500 cubic inches. Reading one of their dyno sheets from a lower compression test engine, we expect LaRoy Engines to post some stout number in this year's contest.  Mid America Racing Engines...  Mid America Racing Engines
Washington, Iowa
Engine builder David Bruns of Mid America Racing Engines is a prior contest winner, always bringing a powerful and competitive engine to the challenge. This year his big-block claims 450 cubic inches, and utilizes Ross Pistons, RPM connecting rods, and 440 Source Stealth aluminum cylinder heads. We love the variety in this year's contest, and look forward to seeing what kind of power per cubic inch these big-blocks will make.  Prism Racing Covington,...  Prism Racing
Covington, Georgia
This is the first year Prism Racing has entered our challenge, but engine builder Darren Tedder is no stranger to powerful Mopars. For our contest, Darren brought a 451 cubic inch engine topped with factory cast-iron cylinder heads, and filled with JE Pistons, Eagle rods, and a Comp camshaft. We expect some good numbers from Prism Racing and look forward to seeing Darren and his crew when we dyno these engines at Comp's Memphis facility.  T & B'z Race Engines Monroe,...  T & B'z Race Engines
Monroe, Wisconsin
Husband and Wife team of Tom and Brenda Foley built the T & B'z Race Engines entry for our annual dyno contest, using a factory 400 block and a factory steel crankshaft to net a displacement of 426 cubic inches. The Foleys chose 440Source's Stealth aluminum cylinder heads, along with Diamond Racing forged pistons, Harland Sharp roller rockers, and a Comp roller cam for their engine, and should be very competitive on the dyno at Comp.  AMSOIL is the title sponsor...  AMSOIL is the title sponsor of the Engine Challenge, providing their synthetic lubricants for each of the contest engines. So far, none of the engines in our contest have had any oil related failures while using AMSOIL products.  Rockett Brand provides specially...  Rockett Brand provides specially blended 93 octane gasoline for the engines, keeping compression at pump-gas friendly levels, and Representative Tim Wusz attends each year to answer questions and provide technical information.
 | Choose yours for around $5,500 |  | We Tried For 8, But Here are 7 Power Combos For You |  | When most of us imagine our favorite Mopar street engine, we generally tend to think of stroker big-blocks, small-blocks, or Hemis as being the best choice for big power. |  | When it comes to making a Mopar fast, it doesn't matter what body style your car is, or the transmission or rear end ratio it's equipped with, if it doesn't have a powerful engine, you'll likely be disappointed in the performance. |
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AMSOIL
925 Tower Ave.
Superior
WI
54880
800-777-8491
www.amsoil.com
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Cometic Gasket, Inc.
8090 Auburn Road
Concord
OH
44077
440-354-0777
www.cometic.com
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Comp Cams
3406 Democrat Road
Memphis
TN
38118
800-999-0853
www.compcams.com
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Clevite/Mahle
7670 Hacks Cross Road
Olive Branch
MS
38654
662-893-2860
www.engineparts.com
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Rockett Brand Racing Fuel
411 East Business Center Drive
Suite 115
Mount Prospect
IL
60056
847-795-8400
www.rockettbrand.com
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