Engine of the Week is presented by Related Articles - Naturally Aspirated 440 cid LT1 Engine - All-Billet 903 cid Pro Mod Engine - Naturally Aspirated 540 cid Big Block Chevy Engine
We almost didn’t stop into Wilkins Racing Engines while we were in Mooresville, NC this summer. Not because we didn’t want to, but because the engine shop wasn’t on our original schedule. However, after passing the shop a couple times between other visits and having some spare time during our week, we found the time to walk in and see if they’d let us check out the shop. Sany Boom
Owner Sandy Wilkins greeted us warmly and was a gracious host, making Wilkins Racing Engines one our favorite stops of the week. It also didn’t hurt that the shop was big, very clean, had some awesome machine equipment, and equally awesome engine builds on hand, like this 347 cid small block Chevy for Comp Eliminator.
Aside from this small block Chevy build, Sandy also walked us through the details of a 632 cid big block Chevy nitrous engine. His shop specializes in all sorts of different race engine applications. The small block Chevy build was for a Comp Eliminator customer, and the engine was just about complete when we were there.
“This is our first time working on this engine,” Wilkins told us. “For this build, we took parts from an old Pro Stock truck engine, and the customer specifically asked for a particular head and manifold combination. That’s what we went with and basically we filled in the blanks.
“For starters, it’s a really unique block. It’s an 8.200” deck block with a 60mm cam core and small 2.000” mains. It’s also a dry sump application.”
As mentioned, the engine was not completely finished, but it was to a point where it was ready for dress out.
“The engine features CFE billet small block heads with a CFE intake manifold,” Wilkins says. “It has a Jesel rocker system and Jesel belt drive, a Bryant crankshaft, aluminum MGP rods, and Gibtec billet pistons. The cam is from COMP Cams. They do a great job for us. We have a .937” diameter Jesel keyway lifter system. It has half-inch Trend pushrods with a ball adjuster and a bronze cup. It’s a little bit different than what you would normally see, but it’s pretty common in today’s drag racing world. Of course, we used titanium valves, but it’s a 2.300” diameter intake valve, which is pretty big for a small block Chevy. This engine should run in the 10,000-10,300 rpm range and make right at 1,000 horsepower.”
The engine’s internals were all top-notch components from quality manufacturers, but Wilkins didn’t stop there. The outside of the engine also features great parts.
“On top, we have a newer designed Holley XP, and it was brought to us by the customer,” he says. “It’s a 2.200” butterfly and it provides a lot of air for this particular application. Holley has been great with everything they’ve made, and what’s nice about these is they pretty much just bolt on and run as they are.”
From this point, all Sandy’s team had left to do was mount the motor plate, the water system, the dry sump system tank, and make the hoses.
“We have our own Goodridge hose system here and we will make all the hoses here in-house and then it’ll go to the dyno,” Wilkins says. “At that point we will know what it’s got. This customer has a number of these engines, not with this particular head combination, but they are typically 980-990 horsepower range. Hopefully, this will break the 1,000 number.”
Engine of the Week is sponsored by PennGrade1, Elring – Das Original and NPW Companies. If you have an engine you’d like to highlight in this series, please email Engine Builder Editor Greg Jones at [email protected].
As drag-and-drive events continue to emerge and grow in popularity, more and more competitors are looking to up their cars’ performance levels on both the track and street. That’s exactly why this particular customer came to Pete Harrell and Harrell Engine & Dyno for a 540 cubic inch billet big block Chevy engine build. Check it out!
Pete Harrell of Harrell Engine & Dyno in Mooresville, NC specializes in forced induction builds and “polishing turds,” as he likes to put it. When we were in Mooresville, NC earlier this summer visiting shops in the area, we knew we had to stop in and visit Pete and his engine shop, commonly called HED. While we were there, Pete had several engines in various stages of progress, but one in particular was a 540 cubic inch billet aluminum big block Chevy for drag-and-drive events.
Boasting 10,000-12,000 horsepower, Top Fuel dragsters run a supercharged, nitro-breathing, billet Hemi engine. To keep these engines living throughout the season, shops like Pro Motor Engines are part of the engine program. Shop owner Dennis Borem walks us through how he helps Rick Ware Racing and Clay Millican’s Top Fuel Hemi engines.
When it comes to Dirt Modified engines, customers are looking for an engine combo that is durable and produces good power. For those reasons, Gibbons Motorsports’ stroker 421 cubic inch small block Chevy engine is a go-to package, and has thrived in this segment of racing. Check it out!
PAR Racing Engines is one of the most successful and well-respected shops on the East coast. When we visited earlier in 2023, we got to see the shop in all its glory, and a pair of 615 cubic inch big block Chevy engines that each crank out over 1,300 hp!
Poteat’s Engine Rebuilding is a shop that doesn’t shy away from any kind of engine work – gas or diesel. When a customer asked to have a Ford 2.3L Duratec short block built, the answer was an easy yes. Check out this stout little four cylinder!
During last summer’s Ultimate Callout Challenge, we got the chance to speak with Dan Snyder of SPE Motorsport about his dragster setup, which is powered by a triple-turbo 6.7L Powerstroke engine. Check out the details in this Diesel of the Week episode! Related Articles – TRE 760 cid Big Block Chevy Nitrous Engine – 17,000
Last fall while we were in Houston, we made the drive out to Cleveland, TX to visit with Taylor Lastor, owner of TRE Racing Engines. His shop specializes in machine work and building big cubic inch drag race engines like this 760 cubic inch big block Chevy nitrous engine. Find out what goes inside it
We got to visit Houston, TX last fall for a few days, and one of our stops had to be to Late Model Engines. This engine and machine shop has been on the rise for two decades now, and co-owner Bryan Neelen and his team are reflective of the pinnacle of LS and LT engine
Developed off of Pat Musi’s now infamous 959 cid engine platform, this 903 cid Pro Mod build is for a customer in Sweden. Hear what goes into an awesome race engine such as this from Pat Musi himself in this episode of Engine of the Week. Related Articles – Naturally Aspirated 800+ HP 540 cid
Sany Excavator Walk Motor Content for engine professionals and enthusiasts