2019 Engine Masters Challenge rules posted.

[Joe-JDC]

Sounds like it has gone full circle and geared now towards the Chevy crowd.  Cutting out the  Boss 302/351, 351W/C, 429CJ/SCJ leaves a void in Ford's ability to combat the quicker evolution of the Chevy for the street.  Now they spend two days on the LS, and expect to cover all BB/SB iron headed engines in one day.  What would be neat would be a flood of OLD IRON entrants.  Joe-JDC

[Barry_R]

I should build a wicked LS entry and dress it out as an FE.  I actually have some local contacts who could probably deliver an absolutely evil scrub to that deal if they were so inclined.  Or maybe build an FE and dress it out as an LS & see if they noticed?

[shady]

Maybe Hemi Joel with a straight eight 420 Duesenburg. Stroked & bored, sheet metal intake, two fours, zoomies...

[CaptCobrajet]

Historically, it takes a High Riser, or an SK Medium Riser, to go head to head with a rectangle port BBC.....at least in the world I came from.  Stock and Super Stock are a pretty good yardstick for comparing the factory iron.  The  A, B, C and D Super Stockers, and A and B Stockers show this.  You won't see a Cobra Jet until SS/E, and in Stock they run much lighter than the 427/425 and 396/375 Chevrolets.  Still, with the 10% stroke in the rules, the CJ combo would get a longer arm than the Chevs, which would help from 3500 to 6300.  Without a big roller, or RPM and using the closed chamber head, the BBCs may not be invincible.  For sure, they will be ultra competitive.  I am going to look through my stash and see if I have anything interesting in the corner for a 428 that fits the rules.

[Barry_R]

Kind of what I figured too.  You are probably the best chance we've got considering the number of SS CJ pieces you've done - I have minimal experience with competitive iron headed engines since I went aluminum some twenty years ago.

[CaptCobrajet]

NHRA allowed the aluminum replacement Edelbrock stuff in 2004.  In some cases it is not worth the weight penalty, but some engines really benefit.  In Super Stock, the closed chamber BBC got better chambers that help them alot.  Our 428s got a little more runner volume and more meat in the ports.  Everyone got easier material, and availability in Super Stock.  The Stockers are kinda funny.  An iron headed 390 with a C6-R head can be better than the Edelbrock when you figure in a .481/.490 cam and 120 lbs. more weight for the Ed head.

Anyway, back to iron and EMC......epoxy and brass can really make the stuff work.  There are benfits to porting, but some places would be better filled.  Just going bigger doesn't do it.  The .600 lift and no runner volume rule to fight does help, but it helps everyone else too.

I think I have some old Super Stock stuff that I kept.....not sure why til now.....from when we had to run iron, that has not been filled and welded.  It would be a good place to start.  I just wonder if the N head will be considered legal.  The High Riser could really shine if they allow it based on regular production Galaxies, which did happen.  That would be our best bet.  I appreciate your compliment Barry.  I should have my dyno going here by spring.  That is a must for being competitive in a dyno contest. If I do it, I ain't gonna play around......I will put the long clip in and file the pin.  It will all depend on what they allow.  If the High Riser is out, I would still think about a CJ.  If the N head is out, the FE is in serious danger of being non competitive.  I also think if they would let a 352 run as a small block, we would have good chances with the C4-G or EDC and a small engine.  If they make it run as a big block at 360 or so cubes, it will be disadvantaged compared to a SBC which is allowed 500 more rpm.  I still scratch my head a little......there is no legal 350 head that can get on the same planet as a worked G head in terms of flow.  That might be a way to go...... I think a long armed 352 at 400 inches might do better with a G head in the "average per inch" game than a CJ anyway.  The carb limits also favor 400 inches.  That may be a better way.....

[TomP]

They could have simplified those rules by saying "Engine must be made by Chevrolet."

 It appears they went out of their way to give Chevy the advantage it needs.

[machoneman]

They could have simplified those rules by saying "Engine must be made by Chevrolet."

 It appears they went out of their way to give Chevy the advantage it needs.

But, but....don't they always???

[RJP]

They could have simplified those rules by saying "Engine must be made by Chevrolet."

 It appears they went out of their way to give Chevy the advantage it needs.

Thats about the only way they can win. But wouldn't it be funny if all the Chevys lost...again?

[mbrunson427]

I'm also interested in what the "future builders spec class" rules might be. It says rules TBD. Sounds like a potentially interesting deal.

If it is what I think it is...... hand guys a pile of all the same parts and see who can make the best engine with the parts on-hand. This is what I always thought Engine Masters should have been. However, then everybody would be building some form of a 350 chevy and it would put everyone to sleep. Didn't they do something similar to that in past years?

[Royce]

I'm also interested in what the "future builders spec class" rules might be. It says rules TBD. Sounds like a potentially interesting deal.

The talk was that a long block would be delivered to the builder, then they get to make the cam and intake selection and do any fine tuning.   The engine type was up in the air but dollars to donuts it will be the dreaded 350..  Although, I am sure they were looking for someone to pony up to donating the long blocks, so who knows..  Maybe a 302

[Royce]

I would volunteer to forward all the questions that are coming up here on what is and is not legal as far as FE parts and combos are concerned.  I can compile a list and send it as one email. 

Something around 400 inches with a longish stroke and good head would be my guess on the best scoring combo..  If we could run against the small scrub so much the better.

[Joe-JDC]

Yes, I agree with around 400 cubic inches with iron heads.  My choice after looking at all the possibilities would be a declared 360 FE with an offset ground 390 crankshaft to 3.850" stroke, 2.200 rod journal, and 4.110" bore.  Should be fairly inexpensive to duplicate, and with 10.5 compression, and 6300 rpm with .600" camshaft, the torque and hp should not overrun the head flow.  4.110x 3.850" x 6.2832 = 408.625 CI, or 409 FE!  Joe-JDC

[Barry_R]

Just declare it as a 1966 410 merc engine.  I was working up the math on that one this morning....

[Barry_R]

They could have simplified those rules by saying "Engine must be made by Chevrolet."

that would be the LS class