Engine Masters Challenge 2008 - Tuesday Updates!

Adney Brown and the guys from Performance Crankshaft brought an unusual and exotic combination this year, a stout Boss 429. How is it possible? Given the rarity and restoration value of these legendary powerplants, and scarcity of parts, the big, bad, Boss is more normally seen in high-dollar restorations than in competition. That has changed with the introduction of the Kaase Boss head, which is designed to fit a common Lima (429/460) block. Do they make power? Adney's engine showed its stuff with a power curve that wouldn't let up and enough juice to take the current lead in the standings.

Semco Performance is a shop that knows Pontiac performance, and the team had high expectations for their sharp-looking 400. The crew went into warm-ups and it became apparent that something wasn't working at the very top of the rpm range, with a noticeable loss of valve train control. Knowing there is little that could be done to correct the problem, and with the numbers otherwise looking good, the Semco team elected to leave the engine alone for the full twenty minute tuning period. Giving up the top portion of the power curve certainly hampered the overall score potential, though output right up to that point was very good, earning them the current second place position.

Robinson Analytical brought an atypical engine from a traditional performance point of view with a 307 Olds. The engine sounded strong in the warm-up period and revved nicely through the required rpm range. Taking the small displacement approach, the Robinson team was looking to take advantage of the small denominator in the cubic inch factor for a strong score. The team attacked the Edelbrock AVS carb during the tuning period looking to dial in the air/fuel ratio, and then decided to let it run for the numbers. The performance was enough to put the team on the bump spot at sixth position in the standings.

Weingartner Racing brought a Chevy 350 that suffered mechanical problems and was not able to complete the required warm-up pulls resulting in a disqualification.

The Revolutionary Performance and Machine (RPM) small block Chevrolet is a seemingly simple combination sporting a set of AFR cylinder heads and an Edelbrock RPM intake as well as an ICE Ignition system. This engine is based on the famous 327 combination of the 1960's, an engine known for power despite its relatively small size. Thanks to the know-how of the guys from RPM, the engine lived up to its reputation. With the warm-up pull showing strong numbers, the team went on to tune the fuel and ignition for even more. The result was enough power to put the Chevrolet in the top position.

Ford FE experts Survival Motorsports brought a stout version of the storied 427 Ford. This engine was configured in high-riser form, featuring a set of Blue Thunder heads and a Dove intake. The much modified FE poured on the twist during the warm-up pulls, but team leader Barry Rabotnic figured there was more in it. Taking advantage of the twenty minute tuning period, the Ford was optimized with jet and timing changes in the search of even more. With 670+ peak hp on tap, the final point score proved enough to grab the third position in the standings.

Taking pride in Oldsmobile Performance is the team from BTR Performance. The highly detailed Olds had a definite look of excellence in execution, and the team comes to the show with a reputation for knowing how to unlock the secret of Olds power. It was apparent from the dials on the DTS dyno during the warm-up pulls that this engine would put out a healthy performance, and the numbers didn't disappoint, with the score in qualifying being sufficient to capture the lead position.

DCI Motorsports brought a 455 Pontiac that was very much an untested combination. The team suffered through a difficult warm-up session with a hefty oil leak at the belt drive and significant miscalibration. The team went to work during the tune-up period, but it wasn't enough to make up for lost time. The engine finished out of the running.