Engine Masters Competition Pushes Hard - Engine Masters

Power Unleashed!
As this is being written, we have just completed the selection process for the '09 Engine Masters Challenge, and from the hole-shot, we could see that the builders are not holding back. When the object of the game is to come away with more power than the next guy, it isn't surprising to see some serious hardware coming out to play. With this year's rules changes allowing a far wider selection of equipment and engine types to legally compete, the result is predictably more variety, with the wildest combinations ever seen at an Engine Masters competition.

From the standpoint of organizing the event, we were waiting with anticipation to see if the new rules, such as that allowing the use of fuel injected engines, would tip the balance of engine entries away from traditional combinations. As the applications for the competition rolled in, we were pleased to see that both carbureted and injected engine combinations were well represented. With the competition open to new modern domestic V-8 engines, it was good to see plenty of eager builders willing to build these previously prohibited engine types, with LS-Series engines being especially well represented. While these late-model engines will certainly add to the contest, there was no shortage of builders ready to take on these marvels of technology with good old traditional iron. This combination provides a match up that has us excited to see how it will play out.

It was also interesting to note that our competitors seized on the opportunity to run multi-carbs in carbureted applications. With the increase in available rpm range increased in this year's competition from our traditional limit of 6,500 rpm, to a racier 7,000 rpm, there is justifiable reason for the theory that more might be better in this case. We have seen plans for a wide range of carbureted induction types, notably the proven tunnel ram, though some competitors are leaning toward cross ram induction, while still others are retaining the proven single four-barrel configuration. With theses widely varying induction theories all battling it out at Engine Masters this year, it's going to be a far cry from past events where high-rise four-barrels were seen across the board.

Pouring over this year's engine builder's applications showed us that prospective competitors are closely following the changes allowed by the new rules format in the search for the ultimate engine combination. Our builders are seizing on the opportunity to run roller cams, and by far a majority of the competition engines will be running more aggressive sticks than we have seen in recent years. This fact dovetails with the higher rpm range, not to mention the more liberal displacement rules, with one ultimate end result: this year's Engine Masters Challenge will bring out the horsepower like we have never seen before.

Official 2009 Competitors
It was a difficult task to pare down the mountain of applications we received from prospective competitors to just 30 accepted entries. The following is an alphabetical list of the officially accepted builders for 2009, and their proposed engine types. Applicants that were not selected were ranked in an alternate list and may still make the competition, as allowed by the alternate competitor procedure specified in the competition rules document, available for viewing at www.enginemasters.com.

Engine Masters Challenge Sponsors...        read full caption Engine Masters Challenge Sponsors Eagle Crankshafts Eagle Specialty Products crankshafts are designed to the highest specifications. While some companies purchase generic products and package in their own boxes without having any control or input in production, Eagle strives to offer consistent high-quality products at an affordable price. All of the steel purchased is metallurgically tested and certified before being forged......	......Finished products from...        read full caption ......Finished products from each run are sent to an independent lab for additional testing. All of this is done to guarantee high quality. Eagle may not be the cheapest option out there, but that's because quality is never sacrificed. To check out their complete line of high-performance parts, visit www.eaglerod.com, or call them at 662-796-7373.	Edelbrock Intake Manifolds...        read full caption Edelbrock Intake Manifolds One of the keys to manufacturing a great product is enthusiastic research and development, which is why Edelbrock's dedicated R&D team is comprised of engineers who are also car nuts. They understand what it takes because they know how it feels when a vehicle is running at optimum power levels......
.....Edelbrock has several...        read full caption .....Edelbrock has several styles of aluminum intake manifolds, and each manifold has characteristics that make it ideal for the application. Whether you're building a daily driver, ultra-high-performance street machine, or a motor for the Engine Masters Challenge, an Edelbrock intake manifold will provide the power right where you want it. Find out how Edelbrock can help you get the most from your engine at www.edelbrock.com, or call 310-781-2222.	Pro/Cam Oil Pans Pro/Cam,...        read full caption Pro/Cam Oil Pans Pro/Cam, a division of Baker Engineering, has been building power parts and assembling engines in their 20,000-square-foot Michigan-based shop for over 40 years, and all of their products are designed in-house using state-of-the-art CAD programming. Many of the parts they produce are laser-cut in-house, including their performance oil pans. Their drag-race oil pans feature billet aluminum ends and rails to increase strength and durability.....	.......Better design means...        read full caption .......Better design means more efficient oil management. If you are interested in a high-quality, lightweight aluminum oil pan, you should consider Pro/Cam. They can also customize to fit your specific application, and they have many different wet and dry sump oil pan and pump setups. Visit their website www.bakerengineeringinc.com, or give them a ring at 616- 837-8975.
Engine Quest Cylinder Heads...        read full caption Engine Quest Cylinder Heads Engine Quest offers a large lineup of high-performance and stock cylinder heads for Pro engine builders and the amateur home builder. With thousands of part numbers in six warehouses, they almost always have the cylinder head or hard-to-find engine part you need, and at a price you can afford. They carry cylinder heads for many Chevy, Chrysler, and Ford V-8s. Engine Quest is also the only company to manufacture a low-rail valve cover to fit their early GM heads where clearance is an issue......	..... Engine Quest offers...        read full caption ..... Engine Quest offers a one-year parts and labor guarantee on replacement parts, so you can rest assured you're covered. It's very important to Engine Quest to have their heads competitively priced with other cast-iron heads on the market, but quality and performance remains the primary goal. To see what they have on the shelf for you, visit www.aaeq.net/enginequest, or call 800-426-8771.