Engine Masters Challenge is sponsored by AMSOIL, Presented by HOT ROD, and Operated by the University of Northwestern Ohio.
John Kaase and Royce Brechler’s 473ci MEL engine just rocked the dyno at the University of Northwestern Ohio with an amazing performance. Built to the 2017 Engine Masters Challenge Vintage class rules, the engine produced a plateau of torque that never dipped below 630lb-ft during the entire scored rpm range of 3,700-6,200rpm, carrying them into the lead with a peak of 769hp along the way.
You can see a video of them both in action here.
Vintage class rules for this year require factory iron head castings and prohibit welding or filling ports with epoxy. That rule is thanks to Jon Kaase’s Y-block entry from 2015 that had totally reshaped ports that essentially turned the top end of the engine into a high-flowing small-block Chevy. How could the MEL’s unimpressive factory heads produce such numbers?
A quick glance at the engine reveals thick adapter plates on the intake and exhaust that allow the engine to use speed parts made for the much better breathing Ford 385 engine family, but all of the airflow afforded by the intake and headers have to squeeze through the head ports, so what gives? Look a little more closely and you may notice what looks like a deck plate. Class rules forbid those as well, and it turns out they aren’t deck plates at all, they’re head gaskets!.
Removing the cylinder head reveals the true magic, as the combustion chambers appear to be sunken below what was formerly the deck surface. Indeed they would be if it weren’t for the head gaskets. Jon referred to these as “valve seats” and true to the rules they aren’t welded or epoxied in place.
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